Judges
Judging the Orwell Prize was an invigorating experience. Reading the dozens of books and articles submitted, one realised just how potent Orwell's spirit and example still are in inspiring the best authors and journalists. The prize celebrates this enduring influence - and, I think, helps to perpetuate it.
Francis Wheen, Judge (2007) and Book Prize Winner (2003)
Since the first annual Orwell Prizes were awarded in 1994, many distinguished persons from literature and journalism have served on its judging panel, including Carmen Callil, James Cornford, Malcolm Dean, David Hare, Ian Hargeaves, Richard Hoggart, Lisa Jardine, Angela Lambert, Penelope Lively, Joyce Macmillan, Blake Morrison, Andrew Motion, Andrew O’Hagan, Tom Paulin, Esme Percy, Donald Trelford, Lynne Truss, Marina Warner and Gwyneth Williams.
Sir Bernard Crick was chair of the judges until the 2006 Prize. Professor Jean Seaton became Director of the Prize from the Orwell Prize 2007.
Each year, the Director is joined by a number of further judges, chosen by the Orwell Trust in consultation with the board of The Political Quarterly. You can learn more about this year’s judges below.
Jean Seaton – Director of the Orwell Prize
Professor of Media History,
University of Westminster
Jean Seaton is Professor of Media History at the University of Westminster. She has written on the history and role of the media in politics, wars, revolutions, religion and childhood, including Power Without Responsibility: the Press and Broadcasting in Britain (with James Curran) and has recently published Carnage and the Media: the Making and Reporting of News about Violence, and (with John Lloyd) What Can Be Done? Making the Media and Politics Better. She is working on the Official History of the BBC between 1974-1987. She is reports editor of Political Quarterly, was married to Ben Pimlott, lives in London and has three sons.
Annalena McAfee – Annual Judge
Founder,
Guardian Review
Journalist and author Annalena McAfee has worked in regional and national newspapers for three decades. She was arts and literary editor of the Financial Times and founded the Guardian Review, which she edited for five years. She has also written and published eight books for children and edited Lives and Works: Profiles of Contemporary Writers (Atlantic Books).
Albert Scardino – Annual Judge
Journalist,
Pulitzer Prize winner
Albert Scardino, 58, is an independent journalist and commentator for British and American news organizations. He is also chairman of Auctionair Limited, an on-line auction, marketing and retailing company providing services to charities, media organisations and commercial operators. Albert spent 35 years as a journalist, including periods as a reporter and editor for The New York Times and as an executive editor for The Guardian. In 1984, he won a Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing at The Georgia Gazette, a weekly newspaper he founded with his wife, Marjorie.
John Tusa – Annual Judge
Chairman,
University of the Arts London
Sir John Tusa is Chairman of the Court of Governors at University of the Arts London. After a career in broadcasting on politics and international relations for BBC radio and television, he became presenter of BBC 2's Newsnight between 1979 and 1986. From 1986 to 2002 he was managing director of the BBC World Service. After returning to daily television journalism, he became managing director of the Barbican Centre from 1995 until August 2007.