Young Columnist Award encourages understanding of history

Goldsmiths, University of London is on the look-out for the UK’s best young opinion piece writer, with a £1,000 cash prize on offer for punchy work bringing historical insight to contemporary issues.

The Young Columnist Award for writers aged 16-18 has been launched by Goldsmiths BA History and Journalism course convenor Dr Maurice Walsh and the university’s Student Recruitment team.

They are encouraging emerging writers to use their knowledge of history to illuminate current problems by submitting 1,200 words on a topic in the news of their choice.

Dr Walsh said: “There has never been a time when history has been more important for understanding events such as Brexit and the rise of populism. Why is there a border in Ireland? Are the right-wing movements a re-run of the 1930s?

“All these events – from Brexit to Trump to climate change – have engaged young people to an intense degree; they are clearly experiencing a sense of frustration over past failures. This competition is an opportunity to capture some of these new voices who can provoke fresh thinking about the major challenges of the present.”

I was a foreign correspondent before I became a historian and in all the stories I covered across the world, from revolutions in Latin America to the effect of oil exploration in Africa, a knowledge of history was essential to understanding contemporary issues.

“We’re looking for someone who can apply that knowledge, while also writing in a fresh, punchy, engaging and persuasive style.”

The award will be judged by historians and journalists at Goldsmiths. The winner will receive a £1,000 prize and there will be four runners-up, who will each receive £50. The deadline for submissions is 31 July 2019.

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