A two-week work experience placement with a national newspaper and £1,000 is up for grabs in a competition for young journalists.

The Wyn Harness Prize for Young Journalists was launched in memory of the former assistant editor of The Independent who died two years ago this week from an inoperable brain tumour aged just 47.

Wyn worked for the title for two decades and was a mentor to dozens of young journalists joining the newsroom.

The competition is open to anyone aged 25 or under on 31 December 2009 who is embarking on a career in newspaper journalism, either in training or in their first paid employment.

To enter candidates must write a news report of between 500 and 700 words about an aspect of Britain or British society that rarely makes the headlines.

Along with the cash and work placement, the winning article will also be published in The Independent.

The judging panel includes Wyn’s widow Sue Royal, managing director and editor-in-chief of The Independent Simon Kelner and BBC News director Helen Boaden.

Last year’s winner Anna Leach wrote about sectarianism and Northern Ireland’s gay community.

She said: “My winning story was something I really wanted to write and I’m so glad The Independent published it.

“While I was on work experience, I wrote a feature for the technology pages of the Independent Life section and now work as editor of a technology website Shiny Shiny.

“The exposure, contacts, confidence and money it gave me have been great.”