1Nadine Dorries: 'I’ll not talk to local paper again'. Conservative MP Nadine Dorries is refusing to speak to her local newspaper over what she describes as a series of salacious and inaccurate stories.
"I’ll never give that newspaper a quote again.”
3Trinity Mirror to reopen trainee scheme in 2013. Trinity Mirror is to reopen its trainee scheme five years after it was closed down. The programme will aim to take on three trainees, who will work on TM’s regional and national titles.
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4Publishers accept ‘Leveson principles’ in new system. All the trade bodies representing UK newspaper publishers have written to Culture Secretary Maria Miller signalling their willingness to establish a new system of press regulation in accordance with the “Leveson principles”.
”We can confirm that we are committed to establishing a new system of independent self regulation in accordance with the five Leveson Principles outlined by the Prime Minister and have agreed that Lord Hunt should be the point of contact between publishers and the Government.”
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6‘Fantastic’ Harding loss leaves Times colleagues ‘gutted’ and ‘saddened’. When editors step down after distinguished five-year-stints at the helm of national newspapers the press statements are normally emoliently ambiguous.
Not so for James Harding of The Times, who said plainly in his official statement – distributed by News Corp – that he was resigning because “it has been made clear to me that News Corp would like to appoint a new editor of The Times.”
“Dismay at The Times as our brave, principled editor @hardingthehack announces his resignation. He saved our reputation when it was in peril.”
8Blackhurst: Independent website broke nurse death story – but took it down. Chris Blackhurst this week claimed The Independent broke the news about the death of nurse Jacintha Saldanha two hours before it was being widely reported – but took it down immediately.
“We’re The Independent. Even if it means coming second, third or fourth – or even tenth – we can’t sacrifice our accuracy for that.”
9Bercow is first tweeter to face McAlpine action. Sally Bercow has become the first tweeter to face a formal libel writ from Lord McAlpine and will fight the £50,000 claim.
“Why is Lord McAlpine trending? *innocent face*”.
10Our Christmas list of the best journalism books. On Tuesday we asked our 34,000-plus Twitter followers which books they would like to have in their Christmas stocking this year, using the #journobooks hashtag.
Hundreds of Press Gazette readers responded. The result is the most comprehensive list we have produced of the best books about journalism.
13Excerpts from Rawlins’ latest book: B is for Broca’s Area. Following the publication of his grammar primer L is for Literature, former regional newspaper editor Frank Rawlins has published a new book called B is for Broca’s Area.
"There is no such thing. The word to describe the area between the chest and the waist is midriff. Will somebody at the BBC please send off the commentator who repeats the calumny several times a match?"
14 Black? Leveson? Or can the press reform itself? Press self-regulation or statutory intervention? Black or Leveson? Those are the questions on everyone’s lips following publication of the Leveson Report into the culture, practices and ethics of the press," writes former News International legal chief Alastair Brett.
"Could the Press neatly throw the ball back at the judiciary and see just how good they are at reforming their own house. If the press is feral and unruly, changing the law is like watching a glacier move. The one thing everyone can agree on is the appalling cost of litigation and how difficult it is to get redress against the press."
16 How to get a trainee job at… Reuters: It’s tough, but there are jobs for the determined. Global news agency Reuters takes on around 15 journalism trainees each year globally from about 2,000 applications. The application process opens in September and closes mid- December (this year’s deadline is at midnight tonight, Friday 14 December), with trainees starting the scheme the following September in the company’s newsrooms in London, New York and across Asia.
"We are looking for smart, motivated people who are passionate about international and financial news. They need to prove a commitment to journalism during their years at university and through work experience, internships, or published work."
18Growing fears for Russian-Ukranian journalist in Syria. Fears are growing for the safety of journalist Anhar Kochneva, who was kidnapped in Syria in October and remains imprisoned by the Free Syrian Army (FSA).
“This blatant use of journalists as a money spinning scheme is outrageous. She and her family should not be subjected to such a cruel blackmail. She should be released immediately and unharmed to be reunited with her relatives and colleagues.
19Edwardian Heat magazine: ‘It’s not wall-to-wall sex…’ It’s a common misconception that modern-day journalism’s obsession with celebrity and scandal is a new thing, according to national press cartoonist, author and amateur historian Adrian Teal.
“London was a sexual theme park in the 18th century – it really was. Literally on every street corner there was a prostitute. London was the centre of the sex industry. There’s no avoiding it. But it’s good fun – it’s such a good laugh.”
24 Axegrinder: Has to be said: The Times are changing; Guilty of airing their dirty laundry?; Andrew Neil: If you can’t join it, beat it; The Sun treat staff with suspicion
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