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NOW CLOSED: Legendary Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday cartoonist Stanley ‘MAC’ McMurtry has kindly gifted an original cartoon of the late HM Queen Elizabeth II to raise funds for the Journalists’ Charity. This exquisite piece was created in honour of the Queen, who was patron of the charity throughout her reign, after she was named ‘Londoner of the Year’ at the London Press Club Awards.

Awarded to Matt Frei, Channel 4 Presenter and Europe Editor on Monday  10 October 2022, 6.15pm at the Regent Street Cinema, University of Westminster, 309 Regent St, London W1B 2HW.
The presentation will be followed by the annual BJR’s Charles Wheeler lecture, delivered by Catherine Mayer, author, journalist and co-founder of the Women’s Equality Party

Queen Elizabeth II became Patron of the Journalists’ Charity (then the Newspaper Press Fund) following her coronation in 1953. In many ways it was the passing of the baton of close royal links over many decades.

Queen Victoria became our first Patron when the charity was granted tits Royal Charter in 1890. But she was certainly a true supporter before that, donating £50 in 1885 – an act of generosity she repeated twice more with donations recorded in 1891 and 1896.

One year on from the launch of a unique assistance scheme to support new starters, the Journalists’ Charity is renewing its commitment to future talent.

Since April 2021, the charity has received dozens of applications from new journalists from across the UK – approving cash assistance grants to help with housing and relocation as well as travel and adaptation costs.

I am very sad to learn of the death of Rob Gibson, former Political Editor of the Daily Express and latterly founder of Gallery News.
Rob was a gentleman, an esteemed and loyal colleague and wonderful company. A natural raconteur, he held us spellbound with Fleet Street stories and I learned a lot about the practical trade of journalism watching him negotiate stories.

Sir Ray Tindle was a man who built his local newspaper empire from nothing after the war, who never gave up and never sold up. His company motto was the Churchillian mantra Never Surrender. He responded to the 2008 economic downturn, which was cataclysmic for most local newspapers, by issuing a “finest hour” speech to staff.

Vadym Karpiak, who has seen his home destroyed in a Russian missile attack is host of ‘Freedom of Speech’ for ICTV one of the most popular current affairs programmes in Ukraine.

In a special video message sent from the TV studio where he and his colleagues are having to live in an underground bunker, Vadym told the Welsh Media audience that they are determined to keep free speech alive.

Wales OnLine & Western Mail journalist Will Hayward (PICTURED) took top honours at the annual Journalists’ Charity Wales Media Awards www.walesmediaawards.co.uk, held live last night (25 March 2022) for the first time in three years.

Dozens of Welsh publications, websites, radio stations and TV channels were vying for one of the most sought-after awards in UK journalism with over 60 reporters, photographers, camera operators and editors shortlisted in 20 categories.

Will Hayward was named Journalist of the Year 2022 as well as Feature Writer of the Year, Newspaper Journalist of the Year and Political Journalist of the Year.