What are the benefits?

• It’s FREE to enter
• No previous experience required, just an enthusiasm for citizen journalism!
• Your work will get seen by a range of journalism experts
• You could win amazing prizes and have your entry showcased on the London Voices website

See below for details of the awards and prizes on offer!

What are the aims of the competition?

London Learning Foundation is proud to be building on last year’s successful competition to support London’s aspiring citizen journalists (whether you want to be a professional, contribute to citizen papers, or just find a way to voice your opinion on London issues).

We want to support new journalism talent, and encourage all Londoners to have a go at producing news articles about the issues that are important to them. Whether you are interested in writing, video, radio, photography or working online, this is your opportunity to talk about stories which have caught your imagination. There are thousands of stories in London which are not being heard. This competition is about changing that!

We welcome entries from complete beginners, students and those getting started in the world of journalism, as well as anyone who wants to have a go at being a citizen journalist.

No previous experience of journalism is required. All you need is enthusiasm!

Please note we do not permit you as an entrant to use your entry as a platform to express discriminatory or prejudicial views or to incite hatred, violence or criminal activities whether this be actual, virtual or accidental. This is not a vehicle for political views or for lobbying.

Entrants must:

• Be over 14 years old
• Live, work or study in greater London
• Not be in full-time paid journalism work

 

How can I enter the competition?

1.    Choose your theme
Your entry can be about anything that affects London, including sports, art, culture, politics, lifestyle, entertainment, community, environment, fashion, science, travel, or anything else that is important to you.
As a guide we are looking for a maximum of two thousand words for a written piece of journalism, 10 photographic stills, or 5 minutes of video or audio material.

2.    Choose your journalistic media
Your entry can use whatever media you are interested in. Last year’s competition entrants wrote traditional news or magazine-style articles, produced videos or audio articles, or told their story through photo journalism. You decide what works best for your story.

Click here to have a look at the winners from last year

3.    Download and complete the Competition Entry Form
Download the Competition Entry Form here.

London Voices Competition Entry Form – 2018

Competition Guidelines and Rules
Email your completed form to Amanda at londonvoices@londonlc.org.uk

4.    Send us your competition entry form along with your entry by 5pm on Monday 21st May 2018
Email your written entry to londonvoices@londonlc.org.uk, or send us a link if your article is published online. If your entry is a video or audio file, upload it to our Dropbox account at https://www.dropbox.com/request/eaQv9R9Rn8g2avKacH11

Please note, by entering this competition, you are agreeing that your work can be freely exhibited and used for promotional purposes by London Learning Foundation and other partners. No personal details will be used or published without your permission.

 

What are the prizes?

Sponsors are still coming on board, but we have the following awards confirmed:

 

Award: Best Urban Video

Sponsor: Your News UK TV www.ynuk.tv

Prize: You choose! Spend time on location with YNUK.tv’s editor (and renowned international broadcast journalist) Rosie Hayes  or guest edit a day’s news. All this, plus see your winning video hosted on the news site, and take home £50 as well!

 

Award: Best Written Piece (either online or in print)

Sponsor: Journo Resources http://www.journoresources.org.uk/

Prizes: There are two prizes for this award, which can include a feature story, a news story or an investigation. Please click  Journo Resources prize for more information.

Prize one is for those with no formal journalism training or experience. Win a one-on-one clinic with the founder of Journo Resources, Jem Collins to go through your CV, and get advice on how to pitch ideas to outlets. Journo Resources will also take a professional byline photo for you, and chat about routes into the industry, plus provide free coffee!
Prize two is for those who are studying journalism, or have had some training / experience (eg. student media). Win a pair of tickets to Byline Festival, an independent journalism festival on the bank holiday weekend of 24-27 August.

 

Award: Best Multi-Media Journalist

Sponsor: London South Bank University’s Journalism Department http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/

Prize: Win a day in the Elephant Studio Newsroom, gaining work experience and learning from the best!

 

Award: Best Young Journalist aged 14-18

Sponsor: Update News https://www.updatenews.co.uk/

Prize: Guest editing a live broadcast on the BRIT live TV show, along with work experience in the Update News studios. Plus get advice and guidance from Jamie Moreland, the Producer of both Update News and The BRIT Live. For more information on this prize, please click here.

 

Award: Best Audio Journalist

Sponsor: Panda Radio http://pandaradio.co.uk/

Prize: You choose! Spend a week with the breakfast show on Panda Radio, or benefit from some mentoring from the team