The 2017 Young Writers' Conference was held on the Sunshine Coast at the Alexandra Park Conference Centre with the key speakers Mark Furler on news angles and John Lemmon on blogging in a Christian context.
Mark Furler is group digital editor for News Corp Australia's regional websites. He has had more than 30 years’ experience in journalism, including as editor-in-chief of the Sunshine Coast Daily, as a political, crime and courts reporter. His job involves the oversight of about 50 websites. He also writes about technology in his spare time. His session was widely anticipated as the young writers have become acutely aware that a news angle can gain a readership.
He dealt with a wide range of experiences with today's media with a huge emphasis on video and the amazing statistic that those on social media and news sites spend on average 1.02 sec—you cannot capture an audience unless the reader is interested—this means headlines, interest and presentation.
John Lemmon is a blogger of note and spoke on this subject at One Day in Melbourne on June 3, 2017. Once again, John Lemmon presented a detailed account of the value of blogging and why blogging has captured a worldwide market place. Every young writer had some form of a blog and John Lemmon's statistics demonstrated the nature of readership of blogs—it is massive.
PSI—Press Service International—Christian Today
The young writer program is coordinated by PSI in conjunction with Christian Today with 85 young writers from Australia, New Zealand and around the world.
These young writers are published once every five weeks with 10 articles a year, submitting 'comment' pieces on a wide range of subjects. Published in Christian Today which is part of CMCI, an organisation that has 100 mast heads around the world conveying Christian news along with specific publishing programs such as our young writers.
This is giving these young people a voice into the international marketplace of ideas. Young people between the ages of 18–30 are invited into the program and once these young writers hit 30 they are welcomed to continue to 35 whereupon they might become 'senior writers'.
Conference features
First up was the celebrated swashbuckling, in period dress, of sword skills by two of the young people, Cartia Moore and brother Jesse, to the acclaim of all the young writers.
The day saw several young writers interviewed—their names were pulled out of a hat, and were out squarely on the sport.
Miranda Menelaws—Canada
Matthew Joils—Christchurch
Jo Fuller—Sunshine Coast
Wesley Tronson—Brisbane
Justin Monaghan—Adelaide
Irenie How—Christchurch
Jessica McPherson—Christchurch
The afternoon sessions were focus group session by the young writers
At 4.00pm were the annual awards.
Today's other article is the 2017 Australian Basil Sellers Award Winner.
Tuesday's article is the New Zealand Basil Sellers Award winner.
Wednesday's article are the Aust and NZ 'Consistency' winners (2nd place).
Thursday's two articles—International and Theology awards.
Friday, the Tony Dunkerley Sport Awards.
Next Monday is a complete list of all the awards while Monday's second article and Tuesday's article are the Best Articles of each young writer. Wednesday is an overall comment on the 2017 young writer conference.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret.) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html
Dr Mark Tronson - a 4 min video
Chairman – Well-Being Australia
Baptist Minister 45 years
- 1984 - Australian cricket team chaplain 17 years (Ret)
- 2001 - Life After Cricket (18 years Ret)
- 2009 - Olympic Ministry Medal – presented by Carl Lewis
- 2019 - The Gutenberg - (ARPA Christian Media premier award)
Gutenberg video - 2min 14sec
Married to Delma for 45 years with 4 children and 6 grand children