Our picture shows Rt Hon Michael Martin MP, Speaker of the House of Commons and Hon President of the Press Gallery, presenting the 2008 Speaker Abbot Award to Jonathan Paye-Layleh and his wife. Jonathan, who was nominated by the BBC World Service, received his award on 27th October at a ceremony in Speaker’s House. His fellow award winner, Michel Kilo, was represented at the ceremony by his son Ayham. {Picture by Deryc Sands.) To read more click on Abbot Award SCHOOLS WRITING COMPETITION Hurry - Deadline for entries Thursday 13th November For more information go to our Writing Competition and How to Enter Pages or visit the separate competition website at www.writenow.org.uk” MEET THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO MAKE THE NEWS The Press Gallery’s annual search for the best young political writers of tomorrow is in full swing. We are inviting young people from across the country to put forward their ideas for making Britain a better place and in the process to win the opportunity to see the heart of government at Westminster and meet senior Parliamentarians and some of the journalists who report on their daily work. The competition was launched in 2003, part of celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of the Gallery’s presence at Westminster. We have run the competition every year since, as a contest open to students in years 10-13 in all schools across Britain. This year we’re asking young writers in year groups 10-11 (S3-4) to imagine they have half an hour to brief the Prime Minister on the one thing you think he should do to make Britain a better place. For our writers in year groups 12-13 (S5-6) the task is to come up with an effective media campaign to promote a more positive image of young people. For more information go to our Writing Competition and How to Enter Pages or visit the separate competition website at www.writenow.org.uk. *************************************************** The Parliamentary Press Gallery Committee was formed in 1881 to safeguard the interests of parliamentary reporters and political correspondents at Westminster. The establishment of the Gallery, however, dates back to an Order of the Commons Speaker in 1803. TO READ OUR HISTORY IN DETAIL, CLICK HERE - http://www.thepressgallery.org.uk TO READ A COMPLETE LIST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PRESS GALLERY, CLICK HERE: http://www.thepressgallery.co.uk In 2003 the Parliamentary Press Gallery celebrated the 200th anniversary of that event in 1803. Its Bicentenary celebrations highlighted the long and distinguished role of Gallery journalists in the development of the United Kingdom's system of parliamentary democracy. During the year, The Gallery encouraged discussion and interest in democratic debate among young people, with an essay competition for school children, and to commend journalists worldwide who have upheld the values of parliamentary democracy through their work, the Gallery organised an international journalism award. (See Abbot Award) ****************************************** Journalists do not join the Parliamentary Press Gallery in their own right but as representatives of newspapers, news agencies, television and radio broadcasters, news magazines, internet publishers and the specialist press who sponsor their application for a House of Commons pass.