Monday 21 October 2013
This year’s Book Prize judges are Sue MacGregor CBE, renowned BBC Radio 4 broadcaster; Trevor Phillips OBE, writer and broadcaster; and Robert McCrum, Associate Editor of the Observer. Judging the Journalism Prize 2014 are Robin Lustig, former BBC presenter, journalist and documentary maker; Michael Parks, multi-Pulitzer Award winning journalist and Professor of USC; and Paul Anderson, former Editor of Tribune and former Deputy Editor of the New Statesman. Looking forward to 2014 entries Director of The Orwell Prize, Jean Seaton, said, “The gap between the very rich and the rest of Britain is spiralling out of decency and the discussion of the limits of surveillance and the capacity of the state to keep us safe is urgent. The Orwell Prize highlights the best journalism and the best writing – you need to read it.” The announcements were made at a launch debate, ‘Internet and the modern self: manners and abuse online’, at London’s Frontline Club. On the panel were Helen Goodman MP (Labour Party politician, Member of Parliament for Bishop Auckland since 2005), Anna Chen (Madam Miaow Says, writer and broadcaster, previously shortlisted and longlisted for The Orwell Prize for Blogs), Professor Suzanne Franks (City University London, Author of ‘Women and Journalism Challenge series: Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism‘) and Dr. Aaron Balick (Author of ‘The Psychodynamics of Social Networking: Connected-up Instantaneous Culture and the Self’). Jean Seaton, who chaired the event, said: “What does ‘trolling’ do to the people who do it? What kind of person are they creating for themselves? Where do they borrow the tone and the words for intemperate attack from? What kind of vigilantism makes them conform so obediently to aggression – and why are women especially the victims? Or is it all a small price to pay for freedom? The Orwell Prize launch brings together politicians, bloggers, academics and a psychoanalyst to explore what kind of selves we want.” Entries for the Orwell Prize 2014 will close on Wednesday 15th January 2014, for work published in 2013. Full entry details can be found on the Orwell Prize website. All entries must have a clear relationship with the UK or Ireland, and there is no charge at any point to enter any of the Prizes. This year’s longlists will be announced on 26th March 2014, with the shortlists being revealed on 23rd April 2014. The winners of the Orwell Prizes 2014 will be announced at an awards ceremony at Church House, London, on 14th May 2014. The Prizes are awarded to the work which comes closest to George Orwell’s ambition ‘to make political writing into an art’. Each winner receives £3000 and a trophy commissioned by students at Goldsmiths, University of London. ENDS 1. The Orwell Prize is Britain’s most prestigious prize for political writing. Every year, prizes are awarded to the work – for the book and for the journalism – which comes closest to George Orwell’s ambition ‘to make political writing into an art’. 2. The Prize was founded by the late Professor Sir Bernard Crick in its present form in 1993, awarding its first prizes in 1994. It is run in partnership with the Media Standards Trust on behalf of the Council of the Orwell Prize. The Prize is supported by Political Quarterly, Media Standards Trust, Richard Blair (Orwell’s son) and A. M. Heath. 3. For further information, please contact theorwellprize@mediastandardstrust.org, or on 0207 848 7930.