MA Newspaper Journalism students hear from top Lobby journalists and politicians as part of the Political Headlines module.
By Eve Lacroix (Senior Communications Officer), Published
Who has more influence: politicians or journalists?
MA Newspaper Journalism students asked the tough questions during the highly popular “Political Headlines” module.
Over 40 students took part, attending talks from top journalists and politicians on campus at City St George’s, University of London and at the heart of British politics in Westminster.
They heard from members of the exclusive group of reporters at Westminster termed Lobby journalists, who have special access to MPs and receive regular briefings from the head of communications for the Prime Minister and for the Leader of the Opposition.
The theme: how does a story go from a whisper of an idea to front-page news?
Journalistic heavyweights included Nick Robinson, lead presenter for BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Ryan Sabey, deputy political editor of The Sun, Arj Singh, deputy political editor of the i paper, Stefan Boscia, London Playbook author for POLITICO and Sophie Huskisson, political correspondent for The Mirror.

Talks covered fact-checking, source protection, polling data, building trust with politicians and more.
All these distinguished journalists, bar Nick Robinson, learnt their journalistic skills at City St George's.
Students grilled politicians from across the spectrum about their careers and dealings with the press, with speakers including Rt Hon Michael Gove (Conservative), Jeremy Corbyn MP (Independent), Lord Dick Newby (Liberal Democrats), James McMurdock MP (Reform), Yuan Yang MP (Labour), Emily Chowns MP (Green), Tracy Brabin (Labour, Mayor of West Yorkshire), Torcuil Crighton MP (Labour, Scotland).

The module is run by Barney Jones, Professor of Journalism at City St George’s, who joined the University after a successful career in which he started a new award-winning political programme in the 1990's - Breakfast with Frost - anchored by David Frost, then launched The Andrew Marr Show. Earlier in his career he worked a producer at Newsnight, and BBC Breakfast News, and ran Election coverage at the BBC.
“Being a tabloid writer made me a better journalist,” says Pippa Crerar
Pippa Crerar, political editor at The Guardian and a City St George's journalism alumna, described her network of peers working across Fleet Street and beyond as one of the best things about her time studying at City St George's.
While political editor for the tabloid paper The Mirror, Pippa broke the Partygate story, which revealed that then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson broke his own lockdown rules by attending Downing Street parties – including an infamous party in the garden.
Speaking to students, she said:

“Some journalists don’t get to the top because they love politics too much,” says George Parker
George Parker, political editor at the Financial Times and City St George's journalism alumnus, has many fond memories of his time at City St George's.
He failed his media law exam and returned to resit it the following year. After the exam, the students headed over to the pub afterwards (now called the Dame Alice Owen), where he met his future wife Gabrielle O’Neill, who was in the year below him studying the same course.
The pair have now been together for 30 years and his wife is now a producer on the BBC 10 o’clock news.
His advice to students was to remember their audience of readers:

“The purpose of an editor is not to influence government but to inform readers,” says Rt Hon Michael Gove
The Right Honourable Michael Gove is in the unique position of having sat on both sides of the divide.
He was formerly a journalist for The Times and most recently assumed the position of editor of The Spectator. Previously, he held key cabinet minister roles for PMs David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, and was a prominent figure campaigning for Brexit.

Reflecting on his career and the role of a political editor, he said: