BREXIT, fake news, Scottish independence and gingerbread men were all on the agenda at City of Glasgow College yesterday during a lively Question Time event.
Part of the Creative City festival run annually by the Creative Industries department, more than 50 journalism, media and communications students packed out the state-of-the-art television studio at the Cathedral Street campus to quiz a panel of guests comprising SNP MP Stewart McDonald, Glasgow councillor Tony Curtis of the Conservative Party, Labour MSP James Kelly, former LibDem MSP John Brown and political editor of The Sun Andrew Nicholl.
The debate was chaired by head of media David McKinney and was driven by the students, whose robust questions were both challenging and incisive.
Nerves were touched on topics such as a People’s Vote, the Brexit threat to human rights, freedom of movement and poverty and the politicians were forced to defend their views on everything from local government finances to Russian meddling in the media. HND journalism student Amy Hollingsworth said: “It was a good debate, although more discussion about journalism issues would have made it even more relevant.”
Lilly Holley-Song added: “I’d like to have seen even more questions put to the panel.”
On the issue of trust in the media, Nicholl had some sound advice for the audience.
“If you’re involved in fake news you’re not a journalist,” he pointed out, recounting the story of how his scoop about the gender-neutral gingerbread ruling at the Scottish Parliament was hijacked by Fox News and spun as a story about Holyrood secularising Christmas.
The event was organised by lecturer Martin Naidoo, who thanked the panel for their time and enthusiasm.
Naidoo said: “It’s important for our students to understand the importance of having access to politicians and this has been an invaluable experience for them.”
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