The week that was: Most read stories on Press Gazette 1-7 February

1Sunday Times tells freelances not to submit photographs from Syria

A British war photographer has been told not to submit his pictures from the Syria war zone to The Sunday Times because they “do not wish to encourage freelancers to take exceptional risks”.

“Surely it is that photographer’s decision to choose whether or not they take the risks. I thought part of photography was the fact that some people in this world do take

2 This week in Press Gazette – Journalism Weekly: MP's warning over expenses revenge

Labour MP and former journalist Meg Hillier has warned that some politicians may back statutory regulation as revenge for the expenses scandal.

“And this MP said, ‘well… I wasn’t going to vote for statutory underpinning, but I’m minded now to do so.”

3 Trinity Mirror to roll out five templates across 130-plus regional newspapers as emphasis moves to digital

Trinity Mirror is to introduce a set of five newspaper templates that will be used across its entire regional newspaper portfolio.

“Each type of title will have its own look – for example, the three Sunday titles [the Sunday Sun, Sunday Mercury and Wales on Sunday] will share the same, high-quality design.”

4 Chris Huhne's trial by media and why we have the News of the World to thank for his exposure as a liar

Those who despised the News of the World’s fascination with the sex lives of the powerful and famous should perhaps bear in mind that without that now defunct paper Chris Huhne would still be Energy and Secretary and we would be unaware that he was seriously dishonest.

“I suspect that there are many in the Hacked Off camp, backing statutory press regulation, who would argue that Huhne's marital infidelity was entirely his own business and did not affect his political life. But without the revelation of that first private act of dishonesty we would never have found out about the many public lies he has also told.”

5 Press Gazette's top ten investigative journalists: 'Brave and unstoppable' Nick Davies tops the list '

Last year Press Gazette contacted more than 30 of the biggest names in British investigative journalism to ask who they think are the best investigative journalists in the UK.

“Not only for his work on phone-hacking but for, more generally, giving investigative journalism a good name. His work repudiates the popular view that investigative journalists are interested only in celebrities and gossip.”

6 Former NoW reporter: 'News International broke the first rule of journalism by failing to protect Casburn

The journalist whose testimony saw April Casburn jailed for 15 months today said he believed she had been sacrificed by “big business, intent on protecting its reputation and share price".

“Casburn was seeking reward in return for information that might help a large corporation defend itself against damaging allegations, rather than for a story to be published by a newspaper.”

7 Sunday Times political editor: Vicky Pryce made speeding points admission over lunch

Disgraced MP Chris Huhne's ex-wife confided in a political journalist over lunch about how he had got her to take his speeding points years before, a court has heard.

"Vicky was a very, very hurt woman and she was quite clear that she felt that Chris, her former husband, did not deserve to be in the position of immense responsibility that he had at that time," she said. "I am very clear that she wanted to expose what she saw as his true character."

8 Paul Kimmage accuses Bradley Wiggins of 'attacking the messenger'

Ex-Sunday Times sports reporter Paul Kimmage accused cyclist Bradley Wiggins of attacking the messenger after the Tour de France winner said he had been “eaten up” by his interest in the Lance Armstrong saga.

“If I still had a job, I'd be camped outside the Sky training camp in Majorca and would not go away until Wiggins addressed the message…”

9 Nick Davies interview: 'Don't get sucked into thinking the stories in the other papers are the ones you should cover'

Few journalists divide opinion like Nick Davies. The investigative journalists who voted him the top UK investigative reporter variously described him as “a major force”, “head and shoulders above the rest of us” and “extraordinarily dogged”.

Other peers have expressed different sentiments. David Leppard, assistant investigations editor at The Sunday Times, once described parts of his book Flat Earth News as “toxic”.

“I know we were always told when we were training we must read all the newspapers and listen to all the bulletins – but I think that’s very bad advice.”

10 Motor journalists worried over future of test drives after freelance sued over exploding Porsche engine

Motoring journalists have spoken over their concern for the future of test drives after a freelance was sued to the point of bankruptcy for damaging a £1.25m car during a test drive.

“It affects any motor journalist invited to drive someone else’s car. If that means they are liable to lose their house, they are going to have to say no or formulate a long document.”