Geddes Trust: Student Journalism Masterclass Michaelmas 2024

The Geddes Trust, which will award £6,500 worth of journalism prizes to Oxford students in late Hilary 2025, is hosting a masterclass from a top journalist for students interested in journalism.

The evening will give students a chance to learn from a working journalist, ask questions, receive career advice and practise journalistic skills.

Masterclass: “There is no such thing as data journalism”.  Speaker: Ed Conway , Sky News’ Economic and Data Editor, author and Times columnist

Where: Doctorow Hall, St Edmund Hall, Queen’s Lane, Oxford

When: Wednesday 20 November 2024 from 18.00 to 20.00.

How do I sign up?

Via this form. Any Oxford student is welcome to sign up, but preference will be given to those who are in their final year and have participated in student journalism.  Please state which year you are in and provide one link to an article published in a recognised student or other publication.

The format of the evening is as follows:

18:00 – 19:30    Guests arrive, introduction and Masterclass followed by a networking event with drinks and snacks until 20.00

This is an event not to be missed, so please sign up to reserve your place as soon as possible.  You do not have to be involved with student journalism to take part, but preference will be given to those who have been involved in journalism whilst a student and are in their final year.  We will also be providing full details of the Geddes Prizes for student journalism, which are worth £6,500, and for which you can apply in HT.

About the Geddes Trust

The awards are named after Philip Geddes, a member of St Edmund Hall and a journalist of considerable promise. After graduating, he joined the staff of the London Evening Standard, then moved to the staff of the Daily Express. In December 1983 he was in Harrods, the Knightsbridge store, when orders were issued for the building to be evacuated. Realising there was a story to be had, he went to investigate. He was killed by the blast from a bomb planted by the IRA. Philip Geddes was just 24.

A tree and plaque in the gardens of St Edmund Hall commemorate his life, and since 1984 the Philip Geddes Memorial Prize has encouraged promising student journalists on the path to Fleet Street, radio and television. Former prizewinners are employed by the BBC, ITN, Reuters, the Economist, and a wide range of Fleet Street newspapers.

Each year a first prize of £2,500 is given to the most promising student journalist at Oxford University.

Student journalists who specialise in sports writing are also able to compete for The Clive Taylor Prize for Sports Writing, a £2,000 special award in memory of the distinguished cricket writer. Students can also apply for the Ronnie Payne Prize, a £2,000 prize for foreign reporting given in honour of the acclaimed foreign correspondent.