2022 seeing changes to the young writer program collated by Press Service International and published in Christian Today.
The young writer program was initiated in 2008 when then Christian Today editor Szeiling Chan invited Australian cricket chaplain Dr Mark Tronson to become a daily columnist.
In 2009 new editor David Chang met with Dr Mark Tronson asking for a second daily article on sport. That was too much - Mark Tronson found 5 young people to write sport (one article each – covering each week day).
That initiated the young writer program with additional young people writing Comment pieces, science, entertainment, social issues and the like. Today there are 110 such writers. The program is sponsored by Mr Basil Sellers AM.
Succession plan
Dr Mark Tronson turns 70 in 8 days – Guyforks Day – 5 November – with the four year succession plan - was pulled out of the archives (as it were) to have it reviewed and updated.
There are two functional major changes to the existing succession plan. By this we mean the personnel are the same, but the program is freshened.
First
Every writer will be published on the same publishing day in each of the 10 Cycles. This will make it much more straight forward for the Week editors – adding the same day publishing date each Cycle.
For example - 2022 joint winner of the Australian Basil Sellers Award Cartia Moore - has the set publishing day as the Monday of the second week of each Cycle throughout the year.
Second
The week scheduling is changing to better fit the young writers
2022 week scheduling per Cycle of 5 weeks
Week 1 - Kiwi young writers - existing 3 weeks into Week 1
Week 2 - Aust young writers - existing Weeks 1-2 into Week 2
Week 3 - Senior writers - and fill-ins Weeks 1 and 2
Week 4 - Internationals 18-30 and NZ senior writers
Week 5 - Internationals and Australians Over 31s
The succession plan therefore sees the same writers in the same week and on the same day for each Cycle. There are 10 cycles in the year. Do the maths – everyone writes 10 articles a year.
2022 looks to be a great year following the succession plan schedules. Yes, Dr Mark Tronson is looking forward to a great year ahead with the succession plan updated.
By the way we are always looking forward to additional young writers 18-30 - no formal writing experience required - we have very good editors - contact timeout@bushorchestra.com 0419 917 713
This video provides the back ground the functioning of the program
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
