The Guardian Weekend magazine and gal-dem have launched a memoir writing competition for young black writers on the theme of ‘conversations’.
Open to UK-resident black women and non-binary people aged 16-21, the Guardian is once again collaborating on a special issue of Weekend with gal-dem, the online and print publication which shares the perspectives of women and non-binary people of colour.
The competition asks for a 700-word journalistic personal essay that shows off the entrant’s talents on the theme of conversations.
The winner and two runners-up will be paid £250 for their essays which will be published on the Guardian website and in the upcoming Weekend x gal-dem issue in December 2020.
The lucky winner will also receive three months of mentoring from a member of the gal-dem editorial team and a 1-1 video workshop with a Guardian journalist.
Entrants will have their writing read by judges including gal-dem CEO Liv Little, bestselling author of Queenie Candice Carty-Williams as well the editorial team of gal-dem and editors of Guardian Weekend.
The brief states:
“We’re particularly interested in essays that take a creative approach to the theme. Did you have an unforgettable conversation with your grandmother about her youth that changed how you viewed her? Do you find having certain conversations really hard, and if so, why? Is there a conversation you regret, or one you regret you never had? We’re keen to hear about your personal experiences.”
The deadline for entry is Monday 9 November. For more information visit the Guardian website here.
Picture: Guardian and gal-dem collaboration launched in 2018
The Times launches essay competition on racial bias
The Times has launched an its annual student law competition offering six finalists the chance to win prizes totalling more than £10,000.
In this year’s essay competition, students have been asked submit up to a thousand words on stereotyping and unconscious bias in relation to the law.
The successful student commentators are offered the prospect of having their entry read by the lord chancellor and senior members of the judiciary as well as the editor of The Times.
Announcing the question this week, the paper said:
“The question for this year’s Times, sponsored by One Essex Court, is: “Stereotyping and unconscious racial bias: stumbling blocks for parties, witnesses and aspirant lawyers alike. How should the law and the profession respond?”
“The crux of the question is the extent to which stereotyping distorts the approach of lawyers and judges to defendants in criminal cases, to parties in civil cases, to witnesses, and to other members and would-be members of their own professions, who come from ethnic minority backgrounds — and what should be done to remedy the problem.”
The competition is open to all students registered with UK higher education institutes. Essays should be no more than 1,000 words and must be received by November 30. Full rules and entry details can be found at oeclaw.co.uk/times-law-awards.
