Guild of Food Writers

Guild of Food Writers

Founded	1984
Affiliations	IAWG
Website	www.gfw.co.uk

The Guild of Food Writers is the professional association of food writers and broadcasters in the United Kingdom. It has over 370 authors, broadcasters, columnists and journalists amongst its members.

Activities

The Guild:

(a) brings together professional food journalists, broadcasters and authors, both at Guild events and via the internet;

(b) prints and issues a comprehensive and detailed Annual Directory of Members;

(c) broadens the range of members’ knowledge and experience:(i) by arranging discussions, forums, comparative tastings and visits, including an annual lecture dinner and monthly workshops, and(ii) by publishing a regular journal, Savour;

(d) encourages the development of new writers by every means including competitions and Annual Awards for Food Writing and Broadcasting;

(e) contributes to the growth of public interest in, and knowledge of, the subject of food, including running an annual children’s cooking competition, CookIt, and an annual young people's food writing competition, CookIt-WriteIt;

(f) campaigns for improvements in the quality of food; and

(g) offers professional support and guidance to its members.

Objectives

The objectives of the Guild, as set out in its Constitution, are as follows:

To bring together professional food writers.

To print and issue an Annual Directory of Members.

To extend the range of members' knowledge and experience and keep them informed.

To encourage the development of new writers by every means, including competitions and awards.

To contribute to the growth of public interest in, and knowledge of the subject of food.

To campaign for improvements in the quality of food.

International affiliations

International connections include:

Guild Food Policy

The Guild aims to contribute to the growth of public interest in, and knowledge of, food and to campaign for improvements in the quality of food produced and consumed in the UK.

Current Guild Food Policy extends to such issues as:

Pressing for the introduction of practical food skills into the national curriculum and of healthy meals into schools

Calling for a halt to the commercial sale and development of GM products until they are proved to be safe both for our health and the environment

Campaigning for more government assistance for organic farming and supporting those working in organic food production

Working for food labelling that protects the consumer's right to choose

Campaigning for a reduction in food miles

Working towards the elimination of food poverty

History

The Guild was founded in 1984.

Membership

Membership is open to those who, for payment, under their own or a pen name, write or broadcast on food for consumer, trade, professional or academic publications or organisations, and whose work is regularly published or transmitted in the UK.

Prospective members should be able to show one of the following: at least one substantial food or cookery book already published by (but not limited to) an established publisher; the equivalent in food or cookery work e.g. editorship/cookery series/food column etc; have been in regular employment over a six-month period writing or broadcasting about food for a recognised professional publication or organisation. Applications are discouraged from those whose work is entirely or predominantly on behalf of a client or clients who pay the applicant a fee for promoting a specific product or service.

External links

• Guild of Food Writers official site.