The  Melbourne Writers Festival starts today,  and upstart wants you be part of our reviewing team.

The festival will feature 350 writers across 300 events including workshops, interviews and book launches.

Former upstart editor Tom Cowie (now a journalist at Crikey) will be discussing his experience with #tomwantsajob and what you need to be a reporter in two events, Our Future? Recruiters Speak And Cheek: Getting and losing jobs online on Wednesday, 2 September. Both events are being held as part of the New News 2010 Conference, which is being held in collaboration with the Melbourne Writers Festival.

La Trobe Media and Journalism staff participating in the festival include Sue Turnbull, who is chairing tonight’s Keynote Address from Joss Whedon;  Lawrie Zion, who will be in conversation with American journalist Peter Beinart at 1 pm today, where they’ll discuss Beinart’s new book, The Icarus Syndrome: A History of American Hubris; and  Rachel Buchanan, who is part of a panel discussion entitled Who Tells the Past, and How? on Sunday 5 September.

If you’re heading to the festival, and like what you see (or have a very different reaction) write a review of one of the session and contribute to upstart.

The festival includes an array of free events; otherwise jump online and book your tickets.

Click here to read a review of Wednesday evenings event, Big ideas: changing the world.