The Bernard Levin Award 2011for Student Journalism at the LSE Bernard Levin Award 2011 Foreword Six years ago a number of friends, Today, being conscious of the media journalists and LSE colleagues – all and possessing an ability to write admirers of Bernard Levin – decided so that people want to read it is a to establish this Award. skill that is invaluable, whatever you are studying at LSE. We hope that As a student at LSE, Bernard was this small booklet will signal to LSE well known through his writing in students, whether they entered the The Beaver and Clare Market Review, award or not, that new communica- his active role in Students’ Union tion technologies need quality jour- meetings, and his entertainment on nalism to be effective just as much, if the stage of the Old Theatre. not more, than traditional media. However, Bernard himself once recalled a Professor prophesising that he would be known for something entirely different: “…and I can remember that Professor and his name, and his very words, not because his name was Smellie, but because I can still hear his voice, which had a little jerk between words – ‘Levin, what you want to do is write,’ and I did.” David Kingsley OBE, Sir John Burgh, Libby Meyer and We are fortunate that throughout his Charlie Glyn life as a journalist Levin’s humour led us into taking seriously important and often little known – as well as notorious – injustices, which appeared every week in the columns of the most prestigious and popular newspapers and journals in Britain. His comments on events around the world were always appropriate and foreseeing. 3. Bernard Levin Award 2011 Bernard Levin Bernard Levin CBE BSc (Econ), a Born of a Jewish family, his concerns student and graduate of the LSE were for the persecuted around the (1948-1952) and a Honorary Fellow world, and included the individual of the School, was a brilliant debater as well as the universal moral and in the Students’ Union, a talented democratic issues that loomed large performer in the annual Student throughout the second half of the 20th Revue, and a contributor to the Clare century and are still with us today. Market Review magazine and The Beaver newspaper while he studied at Bernard’s mentors at the LSE were the LSE. Professor of Political Science Harold Laski, and Philosopher Professor Sir It was as a student at LSE that he Karl Popper. developed his taste for classical music and the theatre, and his passion for Bernard’s wider popularity – some opera in particular. These interests might say notoriety – grew as were fed by the close proximity of the television became established LSE to the Royal Opera House and as a prime popular medium. He London’s plethora of concert halls and participated in many programmes theatres. including the satirical “That Was The Week That Was” chaired by Much of his early writing consisted of David Frost. Bernard died on 7th reviews of concerts, films and plays. August 2004, having suffered from He became a regular columnist for Alzheimer’s through the last years of The Times, Daily Mail, The Guardian, his life. New Statesman, and appeared in many other publications around the In November 2005 Bernard was world. selected by his fellow journalists as one of Britain’s most influential It was Bernard’s intellectual and journalists of the past four decades. stinging commentaries on politics and political figures of all persuasions Sadly, most of his collections of that brought him national and writings are out of print, which is why international fame. His writing this booklet includes examples of his was founded on an instinctive work that are as relevant today as championing of human rights, for the they were when he wrote them. underdog and the vulnerable, as well as a distrust of anyone abusing power. 4. Bernard Levin Award 2011 About the award The award was developed by Sir John Burgh, David Kingsley and Elizabeth Anderson, working with other interested friends of Bernard and LSE Alumni. The task for entrants is to write a column of around a thousand words that celebrates, in any style they choose – but bearing in mind the merits of Bernard Levin’s writing – the benefits to a LSE student of the intellectual, cultural, political, professional, business, media, or entertainment life surrounding the School’s campus. To help start them in their career, the winner of the award is offered The Bernard Levin an internship with a national media Award for Student organisation. The Times and Daily Journalism celebrates Mail both supported the award for a distinguished 2 years each. We are pleased to graduate of the work with the BBC as the internship London School of provider this year. Economics, Bernard Levin, one of the In addition, the winner receives greatest and most £500 and a ‘Bernard Levin Night admired journalists Out’ in Covent Garden - dinner the School has and a theatre performance. Highly produced. In addition Commended entrants will be offered to celebrating a day tour of the BBC. Bernard Levin, the award aims to seek The Winner and Highly Commended out the journalistic Entries are published in this talent of tomorrow at booklet, which is distributed to LSE. media, LSE academics, LSE alumni, donors and supporters. 5. Bernard Levin Award 2011 Judges’ report Judging the award was more difficult Bernard is a great example of than ever this year. All entries were what the School can give you: the of a very high standard. The judges confidence to do things your way. enjoyed reading articles that tackled original subjects. We were impressed The judges and organisers of the by the creative styles adopted by Bernard Levin Award thank all of some entrants. the entrants for their hard work and for making the judging a real A key theme found throughout pleasure. We hope that you enjoyed the entries was a sense of political entering the competition, and that empowerment. The LSE has always you have learned something from the been a hotbed of campaigning experience. activity, encouraging students to find their own voice on political and international matters. Perhaps this Libby Meyer experience helped to shape Bernard’s Chair of judging panel writing, which often drew people’s attention to the injustices of this world. Many articles also focussed on the great diversity of students at LSE. The School brews an enormous opportunity to get to know and experience the world through its international student body. LSE, whatever your specialist subject, doesn’t tell you what to do, but encourages your ability to question and search for the meaning of what is going on in the world, and makes you feel you can go and contribute something to it. LSE is an experience, as well as a university. It gives you the tools to make your own way through life and to enjoy it as well. 6. Bernard Levin Award 2011 The Judges In the Chair in the Sunday Times, Daily Mirror Libby Meyer and Daily Mail – where she currently writes a highly-regarded Saturday Libby is a recent LSE alumnus and column on human relationships. She honorary member of the Students’ is a regular book reviewer for The Union. Libby was introduced to the Times. Bel also writes fiction and is world of Bernard’s writings when she involved in broadcasting work such was Treasurer of the Students’ Union as documentary films for BBC 2 and and has become a strong advocate Channel 4, as well as programmes for of the Bernard Levin Award. While BBC Radio 4. at LSE Libby was a member of The Beaver collective. She is currently an Charlie Glyn economist in the civil service. Charlie is the first official Activities and Development Officer of the Giles Wilson Students’ Union and oversees all extra-curricular activities at LSE. Giles Wilson is features editor of Studying a more quantitative the BBC News website, where he’s LSE degree, there were limited responsible for the Magazine section, opportunities for her to write more infographics, special reports, the creatively; she took full advantage picture desk and blogs - which he and of any opportunity, writing 5,000 Nick Robinson introduced to the BBC. words about Facebook. She is a He also established the use of social keen sportswoman and plays a lot of media in BBC News, and is currently Netball for both LSE and a London coordinating features teams for the club. international versions of the website. Sachin Patel Bel Mooney Sachin Patel was Executive Editor of The Beaver in the 2010-11 session. Bel Mooney was a close friend of He only ever intended to write music Bernard’s and wrote the entry on reviews for the paper, but such was him for the Dictionary of National his passion for journalism that he Biography. A writer and broadcaster managed to cultivate the interest in for nearly 40 years, Bel has written student politics required for loftier for many magazines and most editorial positions. In his spare time, national newspapers, with columns 7. Bernard Levin Award 2011 he read for a BSc in Philosophy and Tokyo. He also wrote ‘How World War Economics, to look useful; however, II was Won on the Playing Fields of he still has designs on being the next LSE’. Alexis Petridis or Alex Ross. Alex Kane Alex is the editor-in-chief of the Clare Market Review, where she runs a tight ship. An anthropologist cum economic historian at LSE, Alex spends much of her time wondering what any and all of it means. Instead of returning to her homeland at the Jersey Shore, her next endeavour is producing an original play to premier at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer.