|
2003 - The Judges
Announcement
The judging panel for The BBC Four Samuel Johnson Prize
for Non-Fiction 2003, the UK’s most important prize
for non-fiction, is announced today, Tuesday 25th February
2003. This year’s panel draws together an impressive
group of judges, whose eclectic backgrounds will ensure a
lively debate. Chaired by journalist Rosie Boycott, the panel
comprises Member of Parliament, Michael Portillo; Science
Editor of The Guardian, Tim Radford; historian Andrew Roberts;
and literary editor of The Economist, Fiammetta Rocco.
Rosie Boycott comments: ‘The BBC Four Samuel Johnson
Prize is the most important non-fiction prize in Britain
today. It is thrilling to be chairing such a distinguished
panel of judges in a year when so many excellent works of
non-fiction have been published. Reading non-fiction always
proves the truth of the saying “All the best stories
are true.”’
The prize, sponsored by BBC Four, aims to reward the best
of non-fiction, from biography, travel and popular science
to the arts and current affairs. BBC Four will televise the
awards ceremony and feature complementary programming in
the channel – forming a key part of their commitment
to diverse, intelligent and culturally enriching programmes.
The BBC Four Samuel Johnson Prize is open to the authors
of all non-fiction books published in the UK, regardless
of nationality. The longlist, which features approximately
twenty-five titles under serious consideration for the prize,
is to be announced at the end of March. The shortlist of
up to six titles will be announced in late April.
The judges will announce the winner of The BBC Four Samuel
Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction at an awards dinner at The
Savoy Hotel, London on Monday 9th June. The winner receives £30,000,
and each of the shortlisted authors, £1,000.
|
