View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Comment
June 9, 2009

Press Gazette scoop search: Kruschev, Aitken, Diana, Ronnie Biggs and Northern Rock

By Dominic Ponsford1

Press Gazette’s hunt for best British journalism scoops of the modern era is hotting up.

Here are some of the most popular suggestions so far in no particular order:

  • Reuters (1956): John Rettie – Kruschev’s speech denouncing Stalin.
  • The Guardian/World in Action (1995): David Leigh – Jonathan of Arabia (Jonathan Aitken’s dealings with Saudi arms dealers)
  • BBC Panorama (1995): Martin Bashir – Diana interview
  • Daily Express (1974): Finding Ronnie Biggs in Rio
  • BBC (2008): Robert Peston – Northern Rock bail out
  • Daily Express (1982): Norman Luck – Intruder in the Queen’s Bedroom
  • Daily Mirror (2006): John Prescott’s affair with Tracey Temple

These are just a few of the nominations we have had in so far. The Telegraph expenses scoop has also featured in the voting.

But there have also been concerns raised that chequebook journalism is not as worthwhile as scoops acheived through other means.

My view is that a scoop is a scoop – and should be judged by the waves it makes and the follow-up it gets. But what do you think?

Press Gazette will be publishing a list of the top 50 best British journalism scoops ever in the July issue. To get your nomination in please email me – dominicp@pressgazette.co.uk.

These are tough times for journalists and the idea behind this journo-list (and some others in the pipeline) is to celebrate the best of British journalism, and provide a reminder of the great stories which inspired us to become journalists in the first place.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

The deadline for nominations is end of play Friday.

Topics in this article : , ,

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network