b>1 September 2009
Search for best beer writer launched

So have you got the words to be Beer Writer of the Year 2009 and win the Michael Jackson Gold Tankard Award?

The British Guild of Beer Writers is giving writers, broadcasters, photographers, poets illustrators, designers and webmasters the chance to enter their work in six different categories, with one of the category winners to be named as the British Guild of Beer Writers' Beer Writer of the Year and receive the Michael Jackson Gold Tankard Award.

This year, for the first time the British Guild of beer Writers is honouring the memory of the world’s greatest beer Michael Jackson, who died in August 2007, by renaming its Beer Writer of the Year Award - the Michael Jackson Gold Tankard Award.

Nominations and entries are being sought for six categories:-

Coors Brewers National Journalism Awards – prize £1,000 & £500 – for the very best writing in the national press, consumer magazines, national television and radio.

Wells & Young's Business to Business Journalism Awards - prize £1,000 & £500 - for the very best writing in trade and company newspapers, newsletters, magazines and websites.

Brains SA Gold New Media Award - £1,000 & £500 – for the very best writing using new communication technologies on beer websites, company beer sites, news websites and blogs.

Bishop's Finger Award for Beer and Food Writing – prize £1,000 – the objective is to encourage journalists to write or broadcast material on the subject of matching beer with food a subject area formerly dominated by wine. Entries can be written or broadcast in national, local or regional media, it could be in a trade magazine or a company publication, on the internet or part of a video.

Budweiser Budvar John White Travel Bursary - prize £1,000 plus trip to Czech Republic - for the entrant considered by the judges to benefit most from a travel bursary. The winner will be encouraged to write a feature on wherever they visit.

Deuchars IPA Regional Journalism Award – prize £1,000 & £500 – for the very best regional beer writing or broadcasting - includes local and regional newspapers, radio and television, CAMRA newsletters.

The winners will be chosen by four experienced judges. Current Beer Writer of the Year Zak Avery has agreed to be Chairman of the judges.

The other judges are: Larry Nelson, publisher of Brewers Guardian, Sean Franklin from Roosters Brewery and Jamie Goode, wine writer at the Sunday Express.

To enter the British Guild of Beer Writers Annual Awards send four copies (photocopies or PDFs accepted) of each entry, published or broadcast in the 12 months up to 30 September 2009 - stating where it has been published – authors of books need to send four copies of the book.

The entry should be accompanied by a letter stating which category or categories are being entered.

Website entries - send web address together with four printed copies of home page plus other selected pages.

Entries should be sent by with a covering letter by 9 October to Beer Writers Competition, c/o Seal Communications Limited, Commercial Street, Birmingham B1 1RH.
T – 0121 616 5800 E - birmingham@seal.uk.com www.seal.uk.com

The winners will be announced at British Guild of Beer Writers annual awards dinner – 3 December – Tower Bridge, Hilton

Entrants are asked to nominate which category they would like their work to be entered into but the judges reserve the right to consider work for other categories.

Third party entries are accepted.

Entrants do not have to be members the British Guild of Beer Writers – they just have to communicate about beer or beer culture, new products or the ingredients and brewing of beer.

There is no limitation on the number of categories that an individual may enter.
Entries can only be returned if accompanied with a self-addressed, stamped envelope or packaging.

For more information on the British Guild of Beer Writers Awards contact Tim Hampson Tel: 07768 614283 – Email: tim@infopub.co.uk.

www.beerwriters.co.uk