Caitlin Moran Launches £12,000 Young Writers Prize to Boost Underrepresented Talent
Aspiring journalists across the United Kingdom have a remarkable opportunity to kickstart their careers with a prestigious new competition offering substantial financial support and expert guidance. The British Society of Magazine Editors (BSME) has launched the Young Writers Prize, which provides a generous £12,000 bursary, a full year of mentorship from acclaimed author and columnist Caitlin Moran, and invaluable work experience placements with top industry editors.
Supporting Underrepresented Voices in Media
This innovative initiative specifically aims to champion young individuals aged 18 to 25 who come from underrepresented backgrounds and face significant barriers to entering the media industry. Many talented writers lack the necessary financial resources or professional connections to pursue careers in journalism, and this prize seeks to dismantle those obstacles by offering comprehensive support.
Dan Green, BSME chair and editor of The Week Junior Science+Nature, emphasized the importance of this mission. "We care deeply about the future of magazines, so we have a duty of care about who gets the chance to write for them," he stated. "We know there are deep-seated issues around access to journalism. The barriers to entry are high, and the wages are low."
Application Details and Submission Requirements
Hopeful entrants must submit original written work through the official BSME website before the deadline of May 8, 2026. Acceptable submissions include:
- Feature articles
- Reviews and opinion pieces
- Personal essays or columns
- Creative writing based on real-life experiences
The competition welcomes diverse forms of writing that demonstrate talent, originality, and potential. In addition to the main prize, highly commended runners-up will also receive work experience placements and mentorship opportunities, expanding the initiative's impact beyond a single winner.
Caitlin Moran's Personal Connection to the Prize
Caitlin Moran brings profound personal experience to her mentorship role, having launched her own career through a writing competition at age fifteen. "Then I won my whole career - my whole future - in a writing competition," she recalled. "God bless everyone behind the 1990 Observer Young Writer of the Year - who gave me my first bylines, and showed me those rooms."
Moran understands firsthand how financial constraints can hinder ambition, sharing a poignant story about being unable to afford a £28.42 train ticket to review a gig in London shortly after her own competition win. "The money is vital," she emphasized. "I know how quickly a lack of cash can crush your ambition." Now at fifty, she's committed to "paying on" the opportunity she received by supporting the next generation of writers.
Industry Context and Wider Support
The prize arrives at a critical moment for journalism, with recent research highlighting systemic challenges. The Next Gen Journalism Report 2025 from Tickaroo found that 80% of young people view low pay as a significant barrier to entering the industry, underscoring the need for initiatives like the BSME Young Writers Prize.
The award ceremony will take place at the BSME Editors Awards in London this November, an event that honors distinguished editors from publications including Vogue, Empire, The Economist's 1843, and Computer Weekly. The prize has garnered support from various partners, including Mantis, the contextual advertising technology developed by Reach PLC, which publishes national and local news outlets such as The Mirror, The Daily Express, the Manchester Evening News, and Birmingham Live.
Caitlin Moran brings substantial credentials to her mentorship role, with a career spanning music journalism at Melody Maker, columns at The Times, and bestselling books like How to be a Woman and What About Men? Her novel How to Build a Girl was adapted into a film in 2019, and her personal experiences inspired the Channel 4 series Raised by Wolves in 2013.
This comprehensive prize package represents a significant investment in the future of British journalism, providing not just financial assistance but practical industry exposure and guidance from one of the country's most successful writers. For young writers facing economic or social barriers, it could indeed be the transformative opportunity that launches their professional journey.
