Blackpool News Agency head shares trade secrets

By Megan Jorsh

The head of the Blackpool News Agency dropped by and shared a few trade secrets with postgraduates on the newspaper journalism course.

Journalist David Graham was once ordered by his news desk to find a gypsy fortune teller who could read Princess Diana’s palm. He’s faced Lord Archer in the High Court, been a minder for the brothers of the Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, and was briefly political editor of the Daily Sport.

But that’s another story.

The former student at Harris College, precursor of the University of Central Lancashire, started in Blackpool 36 years ago.

Journalist of the Year

He went on to be one of the first regional reporters to win Journalist of the Year while at the Lancashire Evening Post. He later worked at the Daily Star and Daily Express.

Graham advised students on getting stories and most important for freelances, getting paid.

“The best thing about journalism is its total unpredictability. No day is ever the same – people do the most bizarre things,” he said.

In spite of changing technology, he felt students need to learn from older journalists.

“We’re not at the cutting edge but we’re at the coalface.”

Student Lucy Witter, 23, said:

“He had some great anecdotes. He’s obviously had a full and interesting career. It’s inspiring to see that someone who’s been in the business so long still loves his job.”

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