Philip Geddes Memorial Lecture and Journalism Prizes 2026

On Friday 6 March, the Geddes Trust and St Edmund Hall hosted the annual Philip Geddes Memorial Lecture and prize-giving. This year’s lecture entitled ‘What do journalists own the Open Society?’ was delivered by Stephen Bush, Associate Editor and Columnist at the Financial Times.

Bush writes the Financial Times’ influential ‘Inside Politics’ newsletter, analysing the dynamics of the UK government and the main political parties. His early reporting on the surge in support for Jeremy Corbyn during the 2015 Labour leadership contest marked him out as a rising voice in Westminster commentary. He previously served as political editor of the New Statesman and began his career at The Daily Telegraph, where he developed a reputation for clear, detailed analysis of British politics.

In his provocative lecture, Bush warned that modern media risks failing its core democratic purpose unless it focuses less on partisan outcomes and more on informing voters about political processes. Reflecting on his start as a student sports reporter at Oxford University, he argued that journalism’s fundamental test should be whether readers are better equipped to make decisions.

He described journalists as among the greatest beneficiaries of open societies, noting that “there is no such thing as a journalism-friendly authoritarian society.” While rejecting overtly partisan campaigning by media outlets, he criticised what he called journalism’s drift toward cynicism and performative scrutiny that produces “few to no news lines”.

Bush also argued that voters increasingly regret political choices because journalism often fails to convey the real stakes of elections. News organisations, he said, must ensure that citizens vote “in full possession of the available facts,” adding that the profession must recognise it is “not just the first line of defence for the open society… but its biggest beneficiary”.

Catch-up on the lecture on YouTube

Geddes Student Journalism Prizes 2026

Shortly before the lecture, the Principal of St Edmund Hall hosted a reception to celebrate the winners of this year’s Geddes Journalism Awards. The prizes recognise and support emerging journalistic talent, helping to fund reporting projects or internships in the media industry.

More than forty years after the creation of the Trust in memory of a former St Edmund Hall student Philip Geddes (1977, English Language & Literature) was killed by a bomb planted by the Irish Republican Army in 1983, the Hall now awards more than £10,000 in prize money each year to student journalists, more than any other Oxford college. Five successive Principals of the Hall have supported the Trust, and the Geddes Awards are now the longest-established independent student journalism prizes in the United Kingdom.

Many past winners have gone on to successful careers in broadcasting and print journalism. Among those attending the reception was the first Geddes Prize winner and Hall alumnus, Roger Sawyer, (1983, English) now a senior editor at BBC News.

The Chair of the Trust, John Ryley, said the Geddes Trust demonstrates that “remembrance should be active”.

This year’s judging panel comprised Wes Williams, Professor of French Literature and Fellow of the Hall; Alison Phillips; Ted Young, former editor of the Metro; and Shingi Mararike – a Sky News Correspondent.

Prize Winners

Congratulations to all this year’s winners.

Philip Geddes Memorial Prize: Ethan Penny, a final-year PPE student at Worcester College.

Ethan’s reporting project will look at how New York’s housing market is changing as office buildings are converted into affordable homes.

Ronnie Payne Prize: Lucy Tu, a Rhodes Scholar studying for a DPhil in Socio-Legal Studies at Oriel College.

Lucy will examine why Spain is becoming Europe’s largest IVF hub.

Clive Taylor Prize: Gavriella Epstein-Lightman, a first-year historian at St Hugh’s College, and Noah Robinson, a third-year PPE student at Corpus Christi College.

Gavriella will explore contrasts between the Wimbledon and US Open tennis tournaments, while Noah will travel to the Falkland Islands to report on the local football league.