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.

Young City journalism alumni sit in row and smile as they speak to students in an amphitheatre
Left to right: Bill Bowkett (Daily Mail), George Grylls (The Times), Stefan Boscia (London Playbook POLITICO), Sophie Huskisson (The Mirror), Isabel Loubser (Islington Tribune)

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).

Students sit in wooden chairs at wooden desks in a room at Westminster. The walls have intricate wallpaper and a TV shows the news. At the front, Labour MP Yuan Yang sits in a chair and looks towards Prof Barney Jones
Labour MP Yuan Yang and Prof Barney Jones speak to students at Westminster

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:

Your first job does not restrict what you end up doing in your career. You might start in sports reporting and move into political journalism, or start in political journalism and move into entertainment news.

If you know what you want to do in journalism, persevere. Don’t be put off by hurdles. You'll be told 'no' a hundred times but stick with it.

An image of Pippa Crerar and City students smiling to camera. They are sitting in an amphitheatre-style lecture room
Pippa Crerar, political editor at The Guardian, sits with City St George's journalism students.

Being a tabloid writer made me a better journalist. It’s much easier to write 800 words about your specialist area for an informed broadsheet audience than 350 words for an audience with less knowledge and possibly less interest in the area. It has given me better news judgement and I’m much more disciplined about my writing.

There’s a difference between being friendly with contacts and being friends. I’m church and state about my relationships with politicians; I don’t have friends that are politicians or aides. You have to be very vigilant about that at Westminster.

My first question when a source comes to me is what their motivation for sharing information is. I only pursue a story if the information is of public interest.

“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 people who are consuming political coverage aren’t necessarily as obsessed with politics as you are.

If you regard politics as a game or talk about it in a way that’s alien to the people reading the news, that can become a problem.

George Parker, Political Editor at the Financial Times and Prof Barney Jones sit next to each other
George Parker (Financial Times) and Prof Barney Jones

“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.

Rt Hon Michael Gove (left) sits next to Prof Barney Jones (right)
Rt Hon Michael Gove and Prof Barney Jones

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

You have more sway over politics as a cabinet minister than as a journalist.

Newspapers attract and reflect the views of their readers.

The purpose of an editor is not to try and influence government, but to inform and (to a lesser extent) entertain their readers.

Political influence can come from that, but if you set out to influence politics, you’ll end up in a situation where you forfeit the trust of your readers.

As cabinet minister, you are directly responsible for the spending millions of pounds.

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