Suzanne Franks's blog

I have three spare tickets for Wednesday night (14 December) going cheap for the play/musical at the Arcola Theatre in Hackney, Goodbye Barcelona. It is all about the Spanish Civil War and the idealistic youngsters who went off to fight there.  Contact me if you are interested  

London Met University are holding an event on 15 November, next tuesday evening at 6pm looking at the future of magazines and whether the digital version can ever replace the glossy physical product. Speakers include Louise Chunn editor of 'Psychologies' and the president of Conde Naste. Free entry and drinks reception. Details are here

 This House Believes the media should show the horrors of war, 

This is the title of the debate next Tuesday in Keynes College Canterbury campus at 6pm  (Lecture Theatre 6) With the arguments about showing  Colonel Gadaffi's body  still fresh and the daily dilemmas faced by editors who have to balance taste and accuracy, especially in an era of user generated content and multi platform coverage  - come along and put your  own views.

Seymour Hersh is one of the greatest investigative journalists of the modern era. I have been lucky enough to meet him a few times as one of my favourite cousins was his lawyer and close friend. Acting as Sy's lawyer was a challenging and fascinating role. Decade after decade Sy broke stories, landed amazing scoops, challenged successive governments and held authority to account. Very often he was working as an independent freelance journalist which made the potential legal risks even greater.

Have a listen to this excellent 3 part Radio 4 series which takes its title from the famous book by Bernard Crick 'In Defence of Politics'. It will be especially useful and of interest for the MA class where we will be discussing political apathy and participation next week. And the two episodes about cynical attitudes towards politics and unfair treatment of politicians by the media is relevant to the topic next week in the Power without Responsibility class.

'The Hour 'was one of the surprising hits of the summer TV schedules. This BBC mini-series set in the 1950s was all about  the very early days of television and the start of a TV news show.  It was fascinating viewing and in  addition there is plenty of sex, drama and even politics - as it is set against the emerging Suez crisis. There is also interesting social history, with wonderful fashions and everyone chain smoking in the newsroom and even on the set. In particular it is recommended viewing for  the second years.

I am sure that all tomorrow's  Public Affairs candidates will have remarked that the most recent inflation figures were released today - and are still way ahead of target, both on the CPI and RPI measures! And you will also no doubt reflect on what this means for the newly enobled Sir Mervyn King and the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee.

A reminder to everyone and in particular the first years and MA students that Sir Robert Worcestor - chancellor of the University and also a well known  guru of political opinion will be coming to talk next Wednesday 18th May at lunchtime in the Newsroom, 1pm. He is a lively and entertaining speaker and will give you a very up to date account of the current political scene.

This looks like an interesting and lively event with a good cast of characters, including even the recent Daily Star exile. Also good revision for some of the topics we covered in Power without Responsibility.

On Wednesday 16th Antonia Mochan who is head of media at the UK European Commission office will be talking about Europe and the media in the large newsroom.  There have been a number of controversial and high profile decisions coming out of Europe recently so there is plenty to ask her about. This talk is mandatory for all first years and MA students who will shortly be sitting the NCTJ Public Affairs test. Anyone else is welcome and Antonia is happy also to give advice about media careers in the European Union.