Our picture shows the winners of the 2009 Press Gallery writing competition with Rt Hon Ed Balls MP, Secretary of State for Children, Schools & Families.” (Picture: Deryc Sands) Winners of the Parliamentary Press Gallery’s latest writing competition for aspiring young journalists visited Parliament on Tuesday 3rd March to receive their awards from the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon Michael Martin MP, Hon President of the Press Gallery. The winners toured Parliament, visited 10 Downing Street and met Rt Hon Ed Balls MP, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families at a lunch reception held in their honour. They were then presented with their awards by Mr Speaker during a reception in Speakers House. Winners in the school years 10-11 age group were asked to brief the Prime Minister on the single measure they thought he should introduce to make Britain a better place in which to live; winners from years 12-13 were asked to prepare a brief for a campaign to improve the image of young people portrayed in the media. The competition is sponsored by Dods and Parliament’s Education Service and supported by the Association of School and College Lecturers. Phil Willis MP, Chairman of the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee and a judge for the competition commented: “Once again I was impressed by the passionate nature of the essays submitted, emphasising subjects which are highly relevant to young people. There were some excellent responses to the questions set which showed flair, imagination and good execution”. *************************************************** 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.