A bumper list of opportunities for your diary
January to December sorted for writers, journalists and book lovers
My dear wordsmiths,
Can you believe we are nearly at the end of January? That’s gone, err, slowly. Anyway, I thought I’d pep you all up this week with a bumper list of events, awards and general good book-ish, writerly, journalistic, geeky events and opportunities, so you can fill up your Google calendar or Filofax (does anyone still have one?)
It’s still freezing in the shire, with much slip and sliding here in the back lanes of Lancashire. The frost on the fields is beautiful though, even if my car (unsuited to rural life) has given up the ghost and is spending a second week of its vacation at the local garage. I’m saving up my pennies for a new one.
However, the British obsession with winter, storms and all things weather has super-powered the performance of our regional news websites online in my day job - even the master manipulator Elon Musk has failed to alter the algorithm and steer British people away from their obsession with weather stories. Thanks goodness. Some things really never change.
Anyway less waffle, more diary, from me this week so here’s your year sorted. Please get in touch if you have events for me to include next week! (in my less bumper edition).
BUMPER 2025 DIARY
JANUARY: Entries close today for the The British Book Awards - aka The Nibbies - a celebration of books and the people who make them. Also know as the Book Trade Awards, it champions the world of reading by showcasing the authors and illustrators who have stirred our hearts and awoken our minds, and the industry behind the scenes who bring them to readers It highlights the creativity, passion and power that occur when an entire industry unites to connect readers to stories. You can look forward to the announcement later in the year..one to aspire to.
FEBRUARY: The BSME (British Society of Magazine Editors) Talent Awards: Celebrating editorial excellence, best practice and ground-breaking creativity and innovation among grassroots teams across all digital, print and social platforms. These awards shine a light on the magazine industry's rising stars, unsung heroes and brilliant teams. The eligibility period for all categories is for content or work completed between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024. The awards ceremony will be held on Tuesday 3 June 2025 at 100 Wardour Street, London. Deadline for entries February 14.
MARCH Future of News Conference: Leading press freedom advocates and some of the biggest names in showbiz journalism will speak at the Society of Editors upcoming Media Freedom conference titled the Future of News. The vent takes place at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in London on 25 March 2025 The first speakers for the conference have, today, been announced and include Sarah Whitehead, Director of Newsgathering at Sky News; Camilla Tominey, Associate Editor at The Daily Telegraph and co-presenter of The Daily T Podcast; Katie Hind, Consultant Editor for Showbusiness at Mail Newspapers; Catalina Cortés, Acting Emergencies Director at the Committee to Protect Journalists; Carole Cadwalladr, Writer at The Guardian and The Observer; Rebecca Whittington, Online Safety Editor at Reach plc; Owen Meredith, Chief Executive at the News Media Association and John Battle, Head of Legal and Compliance at ITN.
APRIL: Booker Prize shortlist to be announced: The International Booker Prize 2025 shortlist of six books will be announced on Tuesday, April 8. The winning title will be announced at a ceremony at London's Tate Modern on Tuesday, 20 May.
APRIL International Journalism Festival in Perugia, Italy: Taking place from April 9-13 , IJF Perugia is the biggest annual media event in Europe. The 2024 festival had 220 sessions and 612 speakers in the five-day programme. All IJF venues are situated in the stunning setting of the historic town centre of Perugia. The English-language part of the festival programme will be concentrated on Thursday 10, Friday 11 and Saturday 12 April.
MAY Deadline for the Bath Novel Award 2025: The Bath Novel Award is a £5,000 international prize for adult and YA manuscripts in every genre. The prize is open to unagented writers, who are unpublished, self-published or independently published. We welcome writers of every age, gender, nationality and residency. Recipients include Abi Daré for the manuscript of international bestseller The Girl with the Louding Voice, new James Bond author Kim Sherwood for the manuscript of Testament and AP Firdaus for BBC Between the Covers pick Remember, Mr Sharma. Closing date May 31.
MAY Deadline for the Blue Pencil First Novel Award: The First Novel Award 2025 is now open to entries. Submit your opening 5,000 words, cover letter and synopsis by May 31, 2025 for the chance to win agent introductions and cash prizes of £1000, £500, and £150. Deadline May 31.
JUNE: Borders Book Festival: Join a host of big names at the Borders Book Festival 2025, to be held at Harmony Garden, Melrose, on the Scottish Borders from June 12-15. Four days of talks, comedy, live music, food and drink - full schedule to be released in April.
JULY Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival: Taking place from July 17 – 20, the globally renowned celebration of crime fiction will include Lee and Andrew Child, Irvine Welsh, Attica Locke, Kate Atkinson, Paula Hawkins, Kate Mosse, Steph McGovern, Val McDermid and Mark Billingham in a programme curated by 2025 Festival Chair Mick Herron. Now in its twenty-second year, the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival takes place at the Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate
International bestseller Irvine Welsh makes his Festival debut talking about Resolution, the final instalment in his ‘Crime’ trilogy, now a hit TV series, starring Dougray Scott.
Multi-million copy bestselling writing duo Lee and Andrew Child discuss their latest Jack Reacher thriller In Too Deep - and offer an exclusive preview of Exit Strategy the 30th Reacher novel ahead of its publication in November.
Leading US crime writer and former New Blood discovery Attica Locke will make a welcome return to showcase her hard-hitting, topical novel Guide Me Home.
Unique Festival Double-Acts with ‘Queen of Crime’ Val McDermid teaming up with TV presenter Steph McGovern, who launches her debut Deadline at the Festival
Lee Child interviewing literary crime novelist Kate Atkinson about her latest Jackson Brodie novel At the Sign of the Rook, a witty take on a classic murder mystery.
Fan favourites Mark Billingham, Kate Mosse and Paula Hawkins return to the Festival to introduce their latest bestsellers.
Mick Herron, bestselling author of the Slough House spy thrillers, takes the reins for a very special event, to be announced soon.
AUGUST: Edinburgh International Book Festival: Edinburgh International Book Festival markets itself as the world-leading festival of words, literature, and ideas. Since 1983, it has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors to engage with the world’s greatest and emerging writers, thinkers, artists, and performers. Events take the form of on-stage conversations, workshops, creative masterclasses, think tanks, and more, all informed by a culture of open dialogue. Takes place from August 9-24.
SEPTEMBER: Deadline for British Journalism Awards: The British Journalism Awards will take place on Thursday, 12th December 2024, at the London Hilton Bankside. In its thirteenth year, this event celebrates the best journalism produced for a UK audience. These awards are open to all publishers and journalists, whatever the medium: print, broadcast, or online. The aim is to acknowledge and recognise great journalism that is revelatory and has real-world impact. The judges look for work that displays journalistic skill and rigour and serves the public interest. Deadline for entries September 27.
(Submissions open now!) OCTOBER: The British Academy Book Prize: The British Academy Book Prize, worth £25,000, was established in 2013. It rewards and celebrates the best works of non-fiction, based on exceptional research and written for the general reader, in the fields of the humanities and social sciences. 'Language City: The Fight to Preserve Endangered Mother Tongues' by Ross Perlin was selected as the winner of the 2024 prize. Submissions for the 2025 Prize close at midnight on 28 February. The 2025 winner of the £25,000 British Academy Book Prize will be announced on 22 October.
NOVEMBER: Media at Websummit: Journalists from the world’s most influential publications will gather in November with the people and companies redefining tech. To be held in Lisbon, Portugal, from November 10-13.
DECEMBER: European Press Prize: Not open for entries just yet but this annual event is awarded in five different categories. Each award is for 10,000 euros, to be spent wherever possible on a personal project that may, in turn, enrich the practice of journalism. The judges are also empowered to award a special prize for particular excellence. The nominated works will be published on the website of the European Press Prize. See the website for details of previous winners.
Good luck! Thanks for reading - if you’ve got this far give me a like! Take care and please subscribe, N