News

Calling all young reporters!

  • 16 Jul 2008

Theresa May is encouraging Maidenhead students to enter the Parliamentary Press Gallery writing competition 2008-09. Since 2003 the Parliamentary Press Galley has run a writing competition for students, designed to complement citizenship lessons in schools and aimed at pupils in years 10 to 13. 

Competition winners get to spend a day in Parliament and will be presented with their award by the Speaker. In previous years winners have also been able to meet Members of Parliament, including those who supported the competition by acting as judges, and the Prime Minister. In addition they have met political journalists from the variety of national and regional newspapers.

The competition is divided by region and into two age groups. This year the Press Gallery is asking young people in years 10-11 to propose to the Prime Minister the one thing they think would make Britain a better place, whilst those in years 12-13 are being invited to devise an effective media campaign to promote a more positive image of young people.

A winner from each region will be chosen and then a final judging panel including well-known MPs and journalists will decide upon an overall winner for this year’s competition.

Theresa said, “The competition provides an exciting opportunity for young people interested in journalism or politics. It is wonderful to see events which promote awareness and discussion of the values of parliamentary democracy and the political process to young people. I encourage all Maidenhead students to give this competition a go. Good Luck!”

Further information, including details of how to enter and the competition rules, can be found on the Press Gallery web site, www.parliamentarypressgallery.org.uk. The closing date for entries will be 10th November and a number of Parliamentarians are being approached to join parliamentary reporters in the judging process, which will be completed by January 2009.