Author Linda Mann has accepted an invitation to be on the judging panel of Junior Journalist 2013.
She will be joining judges drawn from the editorial team of Isle of Man Newspapers, organisers of the competition in association with the Department of Education and Children.
Mrs Mann, who lives in Ballasalla, is the author of works including The Tavistock Allan Mystery Series set in the Isle of Man, Mist, The Tidemaster and The Corsican Trap.
In 2006 she set up Priory Press and now deals with around 30 writers creating novels and short stories across the UK.
She runs the performance group ‘Voices’ and has been a member of the Isle of Man Arts Council and chairman of the film and literature panel for four years, during which time she set up and ran two literature festivals. She has also served as a judge for the Olive Lamming short story competition.
Mrs Mann, who describes herself as ‘a keen supporter of the written word’, said: ‘Words are to me, one of the most important tools we ever learn to use. And words in the hands of a good writer can shape our perception of people, events and places in ways that can linger far longer than the person, event or place.
‘From the first cave dweller who picked up a charcoal stick to write on a wall to today’s media savvy teenager, the written word is still the only way to say what we want and to influence the way others think, which is why good journalism is as important today as it was when the first pamphlet was printed off the first press.’
For the third successive year the competition is being sponsored by Celton Manx. Executive director Bill Mummery said: ‘I’m delighted that Linda, an accomplished author with such an obvious passion for words, has generously agreed to serve as a judge.
For all the instant communications technology at our disposal today the written word, carefully crafted, will always have the power to inspire, inform and delight.
‘I am confident Linda and her colleagues will find Junior Journalist as rewarding to judge as it is for Celton Manx to support.’
