TimLuckhurst's blog

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.

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.

The shortlisted candidates for the 2013 Sky Bob Friend Memorial Scholarship are: Georgia Fry, Cecily Snowball, Stine Wannebo, Victoria Polley, Michelle Gleaves and Clara Easthill. Many congratulations to all of you. The standard of entries was exceptional. We are sincerely grateful to all who submitted proposals. Competition is essential to success in journalism and the competition this year has been impressive. At the next stage the shortlisted candidates must sit a test set by Sky News and face an interview panel chaired by Neil Dunwoodie of Sky News. Academic staff in the Centre are available to offer advice and guidance to shortlisted candidates. I know everyone in the Centre will want to join us in offering congratulations to all who made the shortlist, and sincere thanks to all who submitted entries.

Two CfJ graduates, Kathryn Cain and James Averill, already work for LSN Media. Now the company is looking to recruit new staff. Qualified canddiates are encouraged to apply. The bare facts are as follows:

LSN Media, a division of Local World, is looking for three ambitious, motivated and talented trainee reporters to join its multi-media newsrooms in Milton Keynes, Bedford and Northampton.

An all-rounder with an eye for a story, you will be expected to produce lively, engaging and accurate content for our newspapers, websites and social media.

You will relish reporting on a range of topics, have a knack for looking beyond the press release and bringing in off-diary stories and enjoy making and maintaining contacts in the community.

You will also have completed your NCTJ preliminary exams or equivalent and have a current full driving licence and access to a car.

Read the full details here

Dean Kilpatrick, who graduated from last year’s BA course, was highly commended in the W.F. Deedes Young Journalist of the Year category of the Kent Media Awards last Friday.   

Judges praised his Kent on Sunday articles and said that competition for the young journalist category was particularly fierce.

Kathryn Cain graduated from the Centre in June 2011 with an excellent BA and a full set of passes in her NCTJ exams - including Court Reporting and 120 wpm shorthand. She is now a reporter with Bedfordshire on Sunday and Bedford Midweek. In the main undergraduate newsroom on Wednesday 30 Jan. at 1pm, Kat will talk about her job and answer any questions about how to make sure you get one too. Please come. These sessions are invaluable to all who aspire to success in journalism.

Amid blanket coverage of Prince Harry, a.k.a. Captain Wales a.k.a the Killer Prince, nothing has amused and pleased me more than Hadley Freeman's column for the Guardian. Yes, I know Prince Harry hates journalists for revealing his antics when he is being "more army than prince". Granted, his earnest desire for a timid and obedient press does more to promote the value of raucous free speech than he might imagine. But never mind; the best way for honest republicans to dilute reverence for the royal family is to make fun of them. Thank you, Hadley - and not for the first time.

Professor Jackie Harrison, Chair of the Centre for the Freedom of the Media at Sheffield University, invited me to contribute to CFOM's online debate about the Leveson proposals. Students and colleagues will not be surprised to lean that my piece explains why self regulation of the press without statutory underpinning in both possible and desirable. You can read it here