Stephanie Flanders, Economics Editor of the BBC will deliver the annual Bob Friend Memorial Lecture in the Pilkington Lecture Theatre at 7pm on Thursday, 28 February, i.e. this Thursday. Before Stephanie speaks, Neil Dunwoodie of Sky News will award the 2013 Bob Friend Memorial Scholarship to this year's scholar, Georgia Fry.  Previous Bob Friend Scholars will also be in attendance.  This is the most important public event in the Centre for Journalism’s calendar.  Our established tradition is that every student, undergraduate and postgraduate, should attend.  Dress code is smart/formal (i.e. as you dress for news days). I look forward to seeing you there to celebrate and share in Georgia’s success and show our gratitude to Sky News and the Friend family. 

The Sunday Telegraph invited me to comment on the rogue amendments  to the Defamation Bill that were introduced in the House of Lords. You can read my piece here.

Any students who are Times subscribers (print or digital) should take advantage of the latest Times+ book offer - a free download of a collection of Marie Colvin's journalism. The offer is available now from The Times website, www.thetimes.co.uk

Two current stories must make us look closely at aspects of our court system. The Vicky Pryce trial fiasco yesterday showed how woefully inadequate that particular jury was at understanding even the basics of their role. But, of course, under the Contempt of Court Act we are completely barred from discovering anything about this jury and their discussions or deliberations. I wonder if any news organisation is going to go risk giving it a try?

I was appalled, but not particularly surprised, to hear about some of the fallout to a story in the Mancunion this week, which demonstrates some of the attacks student journalists are facing nationally.

As so few of you now come in on Fridays, voice training is being moved to Thursday mornings 1100 - 1300. The first sessions will take place on Thursday March 14th. I will put a new rota on the newsroom door. As before, please make every effort to come to your session - if it's really impossible, please organise a swop with a colleague so that the time slot is not wasted.

Tracey Crouch, the Conservative MP for Chatham and Aylesford, will visit the Centre on Monday 18 February. Tracey will talk to students and take questions in the main undergraduate newsroom at 1300. As a member of the Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport, she has been actively involved in debates surrounding the Leveson Inquiry. She is also a loyal supporter of the Centre for Journalism, a qualified referee and a talented footballer. Tracey has responded to countless requests for information and she has appeared on CfJ Television and CfJ radio. Please attend armed with good questions. This session is a must for all students. 

Huge congratulations to Georgia Fry, 2013 Sky Bob Friend Memorial Scholar. This is the most prestigious and valuable scholarship available to an undergraduate student of journalism in the UK. Georgia won it against stiff competition from an immensely talented shortlist of candidates, all of whom deserve our congratulations and thanks. She will spend a month at Sky News this summer, learning the ropes in a top international newsroom.

Congratulations to the 32 CfJ students who passed last month's NCTJ Essential Media Law exam.  We had a pass rate of 85% - with ten people gaining A grades! This is a seriously good result in an NCTJ law exam - and I'm delighted both for the students and the Centre. Special mention must go to Jemma Collins who, with 84%, equalled Kat Cain's best-ever mark by a CfJ student in an NCTJ law exam. Well done everybody!

There is a perfect storm brewing in the aftermath of Leveson that could undermine investigative journalism and radically alter the relationship between press and state.

The government is proposing to change the police’s right to demand information from journalists. It boils down to a lowering of the conditions that must be met before a court can grant police the right to seize confidential material held by a reporter.