Two columns per week, 450 words per column, at least £5000 for a six-month freelance contract, must make people laugh.....STV has put out an appeal, in the form of a competition, to find the "next Richard Littlejohn,..Joan Burnie,...Jeremy Clarkson,...Bill Leckie or Iain Macwhirter".

The winner will write on the stv website. Not wanted are sports, film or music gigs reviewers, but everything else is welcome, including current affairs, showbiz and politics. 

The winner begins next year. Beforehand, up to ten people will be shortlisted and will be paid to contribute a minimum of two pieces per week for four weeks. The most popular contributor, measured by the volume of internet traffic, number of page views and comments generated, wins the contract. 

Says STV: "The winner – or winners, depending on how many high quality and popular submissions we receive – will be paid £100 per article, contributing two articles per week for six months in total as part of a service agreement with STV."

Adds Alistair Brown, Head of New Media at STV: “This is a truly fantastic opportunity for writers out there who are keen to have their voices heard. Whether to stir things up, make people think, offer hilarious commentary on current events, or contribute pieces based around specific subjects, we want to hear from them."

For more information, click here.