Shorthand: Is it still needed in the newsroom?

A journalism student was struggling with shorthand and asked me how imperative it was to secure a job. Her tutors had told her it was optional but she was worried she wouldn’t get hired without it. I have my own views but decided to asked 20 newspaper editors how important shorthand was for their staff. I also asked them what were the crucial qualities they looked for when recruiting. Read what they said in my article for InPublishing magazine. 

Time to tackle the newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Penny Dawson with 23, ahead of Janet Boyle on 21, Marion Fountayne, Robert Rea, George Mann and Martin John on 20, the Rev Leon on 19, Nick Turner on 18, Chris Simmonds on 16 and Ian McCulloch on 15. The top team was the Isghgl ski gang, including Trevor and Carole, with 23, ahead of the Cotswold walkers including Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe, who scored 22. Sarah, Dan, Malcolm, Edie, Bill and Sue scored 21.5, the Broad Oak Boozers of Danny, Tim, Craig, George and Thom, the King’s Head team of Heather, Peter, Nicky and Les and the Penmans all scored 21. Maura and Phil Parsons scored 20 and Our Peter and Jackie 17. Here is this week's newsquiz. As usual, there are 25 questions about the week. Give it a go and let me know your score.

Today's front page

1. Prime Minister Keir Starmer handed what to US President Donald Trump when they met at the Oval Office?
2. US President Donald Trump, wrapping up his meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, said: 'What a beautiful __. I would have been president 20 years ago if I had that __.’ What is the missing word?
3. Who met US President Donald Trump in Washington and told him that he was right to re-establish a relationship with Russia's Vladimir Putin?

4. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would cut what to fund an increase in defence spending to 2.5 per cent of national income by 2027?
5. The energy regulator, Ofgem, said the cap on gas and electricity charges would rise by how much, in pounds, from April?
6. Amanda Pritchard stepped down as chief executive of what, following weeks of criticism from MPs and suggestions that she lacked drive?
7. Mike Amesbury, the MP for Runcorn and Helsby, was initially sentenced to how many weeks in prison for punching a man to the ground? 
8. Which company announced a step back from it green strategy and said it would increase oil and gas investments by about 20 per cent to $10billion?
9. Actor Gene Hackman was found dead with his wife at their home in which New Mexican city?
10. Gene Hackman, who died aged 95, won a best actor Oscar in 1971 for his role as Popeye Doyle in which film?
11. The conservative CDU/CSU alliance won the German elections but which party came second with 20.8 per cent of the votes?
12. A man was charged after a three-year-old girl was hit and killed by a van which struck a tram and mounted a pavement in which city?
13. An unknown illness, first discovered in three children who ate a bat, has killed more than 50 people in which country?
14. A young American woman was taken into custody on suspicion of homicide after she reportedly did what on a trip to Paris?
15. The body of murdered Scottish businessman Campbell Scott, 58, was found dumped in a pineapple sack in a forest in which country?
16. Who landed in Florida after a travel ban was lifted and said: 'We've yet to be convicted of any crimes in our lives ever. We have no criminal record anywhere on the planet ever’?
17. The BBC apologised after it 'missed opportunities that might have led to action' following claims of 'bullying and misogynistic behaviour' against which former radio presenter?
18. Actress Michelle Trachtenberg, who died aged 39, rose to fame as the younger sister of the lead character in which 1990s TV programme? 
19. More than 1,000 musicians - including Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn and Kate Bush - released a silent album called Is This What We Want? as a protest over what?
20. Video footage of thieves stealing what from Blenheim Palace was shown to jurors at Oxford Crown Court?
21. Which Grammy-award winning singer, best known for Killing Me Softly With His Song and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, died aged 88?
22. Where did bearded belly dancers, a gold statue of Donald Trump and the president of the US and Prime Minister of Israel enjoying drinks on sunbeds, appear this week?
23. England cricketers were dumped out of the Champions Trophy in Lahore in an eight-run defeat by which country?
24. Which singer is set to head to space as part of an all-female mission on the next launch of Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin rocket?
25. Which cartoon character is set to to have another sibling as it was announced his mother is pregnant?

Answers here

 

Have a crack at the newsquiz

Last week’s newsquiz was clearly a tough one. Many regular quizzers, who usually easily make the leaderboard, failed to score more than 15. Submitted scores even included some single figures. The top solo scorer was George Mann with 19, ahead of the Rev Leon and Martin John on 17. The only team to make the leader board was the Barnard Castle Five O’clock Club of Our Peter, Jackie, Trevor and Carole who scored 17. Here is this week’s newsquiz which, I think, might be a little less testing. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Why not give it a go and let me know your score. 

A selection of today's front pages

1. What word did US President Donald Trump use to describe Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, adding he had done a ’terrible job'?
2. European and other world leaders, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, held an emergency summit in which city to try to forge a response to Donald Trump's divisive plan to end the war in Ukraine?
3. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to ensure that Hamas 'pays the full price’ for what 'cruel and evil' violation of the ceasefire deal?
4. What did Elon Musk wield on stage at a conservative conference as he boasted about slashing government spending?
5. The rate of inflation in the UK rose from 2.5 per cent to what, its highest level in ten months?

6. Which company won a High Court battle to secure a £3billion rescue loan, staving off the prospect of coming under temporary Government control?
7. A plane which crashed and skidded along the runway before flipping upside down at Toronto airport was operated by which airline?
8. Pope Francis, 88, was diagnosed with what in both lungs?
9. Why did British tennis player Emma Raducanu approach the umpire’s chair in tears at the Dubai Tennis Championships?
10. British couple Craig and Lindsay Foreman were charged with espionage in which country while on a round-the-world motorbike trip?
11. Raneem's Law was launched in five pilot areas - West Midlands, Northumbria, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Humberside. What is Raneem’s Law?
12. Former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales was found guilty of sexually assaulting footballer Jenni Hermoso by kissing her and was ordered to pay a fine of how many euros a day for 18 months?
13. At an inquest into the death of Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, the coroner ruled she died by suicide and said what had played 'more than a minimal contributory part in her death’?
14. Which celebrity couple’s £3.5million Essex mansion was broken into by four masked men?
15. What is the name of the political journalist and Press secretary to former Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson who died aged 97?
16. Polish woman Julia Wandelt, who claims to be who, was arrested after landing in Britain at Bristol Airport?
17. American influencer Ashley St Clair, 26, announced that she had given birth to whose thirteenth child?
18. A man suspected of shooting dead a 43-year-old woman at a pub in Kent on Valentine’s Day is believed to have killed himself by doing what?
19. Why were 30 homes evacuated in the Surrey village of Godstone? 

20. Rick Buckler, who died aged 69, was the drummer with which punk/new wave band in the 1970s and 80s?
21. Which country’s tourism slogan Everyone Must Go was ridiculed with critics likening it to a clearance sale, a marketing campaign for the apocalypse and a desperate plea for access to the lavatory?
22. The creative control of which film franchise was given to Amazon MGM Studios after the long-serving producers announced they were stepping down?
23. Which movie won four BAFTAs including the coveted awards for best film and outstanding British film?
24. Which two British clubs lost in the play-offs and failed to make it to the last 16 in the Champions League? Half a point for each?
25. Theatre actress Samantha Barks won this year’s Masked Singer while dressed as what creature?

Answers here

Time to tackle the newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Martin John with a very impressive 24. He was just ahead of George Mann and Robert Rea on 23. Janet Boyle scored 22, Johnny Penman 21, Nick Turner, Hilary Scott and the Rev Leon 20, Chris Simmonds 19 and Ian McCulloch 17. The top team was the Wiltshire Walking Wanderers, including Maura and Phil Parsons and Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe who scored 23. The Hong Kong gang of Peter, Stacey and Kevin scored 22 and Bill and Sue in Barbados and the Barnard Castle FOC of Peter, Jackie, Trevor and Carole scored 21. Here is this week’s newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Why not give it a go and let me know your score. 

A selection of Thursday's front pages

1. US President Donald Trump had talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine and said that he expected to meet him in which country?
2. What was the name of the WhatsApp group, containing offensive and abusive messages, that led to Andrew Gwynne being sacked as a minister and others, including Burnley MP Oliver Ryan, being suspended by the Labour party?
3. The Government released video footage and said that nearly how many refused asylum seekers, criminals and other immigration offenders had been returned to their home countries since the General Election? 
4. An amendment to the assisted dying bill would mean cases would no longer have to be signed off by who?
5. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the prospect of what was 'for the birds’?
6. President Donald Trump ordered a 25 per cent import tax on what products entering the US?
7. US President Donald Trump met who in Washington on Thursday, saying ‘we've had a wonderful relationship’ and announcing an oil and gas deal?
8. US President Donald Trump said he would not deport Prince Harry adding: 'He's got enough problems with his wife. She's __.’ What is the missing word?
9. The Duke of Sussex called on competitors to overcome a 'moment of difficulty and division in many parts of the world' as he opened the Invictus Games in which city?
10. Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi was freed from Gaza on Saturday to be given what devastating news?
11. Turkish Cypriot businessman and former fugitive Asil Nadir, who died aged 83, was chief executive of which clothing company?
12. What type of car was driven into a Munich crowd in a suspected terrorist attack that injured 30 people?
13. Former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt warned that what could be used in a 'Bin Laden scenario' or by 'rogue states to harm innocent people’?
14. Where did the Princess of Wales meet mothers and babies in a unit run by the charity Action for Children, which she represents?
15. British couple Andrew and Dawn Searle were found dead in their home in which country?
16. A pilot died after a private jet, owned by which band’s lead singer, crashed into another plane at an airport in Arizona?
17. Charles Hanson, who appeared at Derby Crown Court on assault and coercive behaviour charges, has appeared on which BBC television programme since 2002 as an adviser to contestants?
18. Twelve people were wounded when a grenade was thrown into a bar in which French city?
19. A 20-year-old woman was arrested after an 87-year-old grandmother died following an 'act of senseless violence' at a train station in which city?
20. Cosmetic dentist Dr Jana Denzel quit which TV show after he was accused of using racist language?
21. Comedian Peter Kay was criticised for his handling of hecklers at a Manchester gig, including referring to a woman as looking like which soap opera actress? 
22. James Garnor resigned from his post as a parish councillor in Whittlebury, Northamptonshire, after he was accused of trying to do what?
23. Which non-Premier League team knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup to set up a fifth round tie against Manchester City?
24. Which team won this year's Super Bowl with a 40-22 victory over defending champions the Kansas City Chiefs?
25. Singer Robbie Williams revealed he paid £20,000 for what at auction?

Answers here

Time to tackle the newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was George Mann with 22, just ahead of Robert Rea on 20, the Rev Leon on 17, Johnny Penman on 18 and Ian McCulloch on 15. The top team was Maura and Phil Parsons with 20. Here is this week’s newsquiz. as usual there are 25 questions about the week. Why not give it a go and let me know your score. 

Today's front pages

1. Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a joint briefing with Mark Rutte in Brussels, where they spoke about defence spending and establishing an ‘ambitious' UK-EU partnership. What position does Mark Rutte hold?
2. Prime Minister Keir Starmer denied breaking lockdown rules by employing someone to be his what at Labour headquarters during Covid?
3. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper revealed she was considering actor Idris Elba's call to ban kitchen knives with what?
4. The Bank of England halved its growth forecast for the year as it cut interest rates to what per cent - the lowest level for more than 18 months?
5. US President Donald Trump proposed taking ownership of where, saying it could become 'the Riviera of the Middle East’?
6. US President Donald Trump announced sweeping 25 per cent tariffs, later postponed, on which two countries? Half a point for each.
7. A panel of 14 medical experts submitted a report saying it believed that who was innocent?
8. Which pharmaceutical company cancelled plans for a £450million manufacturing plant in Liverpool, blaming a cut in Government funding? 
9. Norfolk farmer Tony Martin, who died aged 80, made the headlines in 1999 when he did what?
10. Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney was forced to deny plans to ban what, following recommendations by an independent report?
11. Tourists and locals fled which island after it was hit by thousands of ‘intense’ tremors?
12. Eleven people, including the gunman, were killed in a shooting at an education centre in which country?
13. A medical transport plane crashed in which US city, killing all six people on board and one other person on the ground?

14. Who revealed that his charitable foundation had spent more than $100billion in its efforts to combat preventable diseases and reduce poverty?
15. Margaret Miles-Bramwell, who died aged 76, was the founder of which health organisation?
16. A teenage boy and his nine-year-old sister were killed in Basildon while doing what?
17. Which television personality was accused of 'sexually inappropriate behaviour' over 12 year with dozens of people detailing experiences described as 'unacceptable, distressing and horrendous’?
18. A 15-year-old boy was charged with the murder of Harvey Willgoose, 15, who was stabbed at a school in which English city?
19. What did fans of basketball team Toronto Raptors and hockey team the Ottawa Senators boo before their games this week? 
20. Actor Bryan Murphy, who died aged 92, starred in a 1970s sitcom called George and __. What is the missing name?
21. After 20 years, 426 appearances, 138 goals, Marcus Rashford left Manchester United to join which club on loan?
22. Why did the landlady of the Gedling Inn in Nottinghamshire find herself £1,500 out of pocket at the weekend?
23. Kanye West’s wife Bianca Censori will reportedly not face legal action for doing what at the Grammy’s?
24. After losing out on four previous occasions, who finally won the Grammy Award for album of the year?
25. The semi-finals of the Carabao cup were completed this week meaning which two teams will appear in the final in March? Half a point for each?

Answers here

Time to tackle the newsquiz

The top solo scorers in last week’s newsquiz were Janet Boyle and George Mann who both scored 22. The Rev Leon scored 21, Martin John 20, Nick Turner 19, and Johnny Penman and Robert Rea 18. The top team was the Barnard Castle FOC, including Canadian guests Eleanor and Jordan, with 21 ahead of Maura and Phil Parsons on 20, Bruce and Sarah Hayward on 19 and Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe on 17. Here is this week’s newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Give it a go and let me know your score. 

A selection of today's front pages

1. An American Airlines flight collided in mid-air with a Black Hawk helicopter in Washington DC, with both crashing into which river?
2. US President Donald Trump appeared to blame the Washington air crash on the Democrats, saying it 'could have been' caused by what policy at the Federal Aviation Administration?
3. At least 14 of the 64 people who died on the American Airlines plane that crashed over Washington were associated with which sport?
4. In a speech in Oxfordshire, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the Government would support a third runway at Heathrow, the building of Europe's Silicon Valley between Oxford and Cambridge and the redevelopment of which football ground?
5. The chief medical officer for England, Chris Whitty, said what was 'best not done at speed’ and should not be introduced to a 'firm deadline’? 
6. King Charles said 'the act of remembering the evils of the past remains a vital task’ when he became first British head of state to visit where?
7. After a 45-minute phone call with Keir Starmer, President Donald Trump said: 'He's __, which is a bit different from me, but I think he's a very good person and I think he's done a very good job thus far.’ What is the missing word?
8. Israel said how many of the remaining hostages, due to be released by Hamas during the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, were dead?
9. Which university announced plans to cut 400 full-time jobs with courses in nursing, music and modern languages facing the axe?
10. Victims of the deadliest atrocity of the Northern Ireland Troubles, which killed 29 people and unborn twins in which town, are to give evidence at a public inquiry which reopened this week?
11. Which company is in talks to sell its entire high street business, about 500 stores with 5,000 employees, more than 230 years after it opened its first shop?
12. At least 30 people were killed in a crush at the world's largest religious gathering in which country?
13. US tech giants shares tumbled following the launch of a Chinese AI chatbot, called what, which quickly became the most downloaded free app?
14. Police hunting sisters Henrietta and Eliza Huszti, who vanished more than three weeks ago, said a body had been found in which Scottish river?
15. Marianne Faithfull, who died aged 78, was discovered in 1964 by the manager of which rock band whose members wrote her first single, As Tears Go By?
16. The Bishop of which city stood down after allegations of sexual assault and harassment were made against him?
17. Sacked Premier League referee David Coote revealed he turned to cocaine over a fear of what?
18. Which reality TV personality was released from prison on bail within hours of being sentenced for dangerous dog offences by Southend Magistrates’ Court?
19. Who said he was taking time out from his radio show and the Strictly Live tour to prioritise his 'wellbeing’.
20. Who laughed off calls for her to be deported from the US after she posted a video showing her crying, offering support to people affected by Donald Trump’s immigration policy and which included the Mexican flag emoji?
21. Two people from Just Stop Oil were arrested for disrupting a performance of which play, starring Sigourney Weaver, in London's West End?
22. How will 26-year-old twins Tom and Ben Curry make history tomorrow (Sat)?
23. House of Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is to make a cameo appearance on which television programme next week?
24. Buckingham Palace announced that Princess Beatrice had given birth to a baby girl with what first name?
25. How did a 29-year-old female soldier and a 28-year-old operations manager with cerebral palsy come to share £94,600?

Answers here

It's time for the newsquiz ...

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was George Mann 21, ahead of Nick Turner on 18, Robert Rea and Marion Fountayne on 17, the Rev Leon on 16 and Johnny Penman on 15. The top teams were Our Peter, Jackie, Sarah and Joe and Maura and Phil Parsons both with 19, ahead of Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe on 17. Here is this week’s newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week’s news. Why not give it a go and let me know your score.

Today's front pages

1. Southport killer Axel Rudakubana, 18, changed his plea on the first day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court and spoke for the first time saying ‘guilty’ how many times?

2. Axel Rudakubana was sentenced to a minimum of how many years for the murders of three young girls?
3. Which company started an 'urgent' investigation into the sale of knives after it was revealed that Axel Rudakubana bought a blade from it before he stabbed three schoolgirls to death?
4. Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed to urgently change the law on buying knives and described Axel Rudakubana as ‘a __-__ killer’. What is the missing hyphenated word?
5. At his inauguration ceremony, incoming US President Donald Trump promised to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to what?
6. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to begin withdrawing the US from what global institution?
7. Why was Donald Trump unable to kiss his wife Melania at his inauguration ceremony?
8. Elon Musk caused outrage on social media for doing what during a speech celebrating the inauguration of Donald Trump?
9. Donald Trump signed an order to rename Alaska's Denali, the highest peak in North America, as what – the name it had before Barack Obama changed it in 2015?
10. Donald Trump signed an executive order lifting the ban on which company for 75 days?
11. Why were Doron Steinbrecher, 31, Emily Damari, 28, and Romi Gonen, 24, in the headlines?
12. News Group Newspapers, publishers of the Sun, agreed to pay damages and apologised to the Duke of Sussex for 'serious intrusion’ after admitting 'incidents of unlawful activity' were carried out by ‘__ __ but not by journalists’. What are the two missing words?
13. What is the name of the storm that brought rare red weather warnings with threats of winds over 100mph to parts of the UK? 
14. What led Defence Secretary John Healey to warn Russian President Vladimir Putin: 'We see you, we know what you're doing and we will not shy away from robust action to protect this country’?
15. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, that the Government had been listening to which community and that plans would be changed to allow 'a more generous phase-out' of its tax benefits?
16. Footballer Denis Law, who died aged 84, spent most of his club career with Manchester United, scoring 171 goals in 309 appearances, but also played 68 games in two spells at which other club?
17. Which store revealed plans to cut more than 3,000 jobs and close its remaining 61 cafes?
18. A 12-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in which English city was described by his head teacher as 'funny and sweet’?
19. A shop worker lost a race discrimination case in Watford after colleagues likened him to a former comedian because he always wore what?
20. At least 76 people died in a fire at a hotel in a ski resort in which country?
21. Stuart Rose, the former boss of M&S and Asda, said that what had damaged productivity and personal development?
22. Which 65-year-old actress retired from 'all professional and commercial duties' due to her diagnosis of dementia?

23. How did Karla Sofía Gascón make history in the Oscar nominations?
24. Who was presented with a Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum in Davos for his 'extraordinary leadership and humanitarianism' in protecting 'the rights of the most vulnerable children’?
25. Which band was nominated for a Brit Award for the first time in more than 40 years for the song Now and Then?

Answers here

Mail looking for trainee reporters and subs

DMG Media is, once again, looking for budding journalists - news reporters and sub-editors - who want to work for Britain's most successful newspaper group. The Daily Mail's editorial training scheme has been running for 22 years. Since it started there have been more than 500 trainees in London, New York and Sydney ... many who are now senior executives on the papers and online. The story of how it all began is here. The details of how to apply are on Hold The Front Page here. Get your application in and I might see you in September.