The Orwell Prize is recruiting

Wednesday 18 September 2013

ORWELL PRIZE ADMINISTRATOR ‘My ambition has been …to turn political writing into an art.’ George Orwell Job Title: Orwell Prize Administrator (full-time) Employer: The Media Standards Trust Location: London Salary: in the region of £25,000 pro rata The Media Standards Trust is looking for a new administrator for the Orwell Prize, Britain’s most prestigious prize for political writing. Job description “The Orwell Prize needs someone with a keen interest in politics and literature and an appetite for identifying what matters. Candidates have to care about political debate and about the quality of journalism. The administrator has to have a calm temperament, a sharp eye for detail and a wider strategic sense of the journey of the prize (and journalism and writing). In a very short time The Orwell Prize has managed to turn itself into an institution. The challenge is to grow and professionalise it” Professor Jean Seaton, Director of the Orwell Prize. Applicants should have:

  • An interest in and understanding of journalism, politics, new media and political writing
  • Some knowledge of the life and works of George Orwell and willingness to learn more
  • A commitment to Orwell values
  • Excellent organisational, time management, research and computer skills

    • The successful candidate will be required to:

  • Administer the entry process (which includes calling for entries from publishers, editors, and journalists; logging entries and upholding eligibility rules; and liaising with judges)
  • Organise events (including the launch debate, shortlist debate, awards ceremony), and explore organising standalone events and debates at literary festivals. This includes identifying and liaising with potential speakers, and recording events
  • Promote the Prize to the press and the public, especially press around the longlist, shortlist and winner announcements
  • Manage relationships with publishers, news organisations, bloggers, literary festivals, Orwell experts, bookshops and others, including managing, and constantly updating, a contacts database
  • Maintain, edit and curate the Orwell Prize website, diary blogs, twitter feed, newsletter, YouTube channel and Facebook stream
  • Work with the director of the Prize, the director of the Media Standards Trust and the Council of The Orwell Prize
  • Grow and professionalise the Prize, in association with the director and the MST

    • Please apply with a CV and covering letter to OrwellPrize@gmail.com. Closing date: Monday 30th September 2012 Interviews are likely to be conducted from 1st October Start date will be in October or November 2013.