An Uxbridge Gazette court story about two Russians caught having sex on a plane rapidly became the most viewed story on the paper’s website.
This was despite having no obvious local connection, apart from that the plane was on its way to Heathrow and the defendants appeared before Uxbridge Magistrates. At around the same time, an online story about a school being closed after a wall collapsed attracted interest, as did a tale about a man being knifed in an attack at a tube station.
Editor Adrian Seal said: “Sex, crime and disasters are still some of the most popular viewing topics with readers.”

Tony Blair’s former press secretary Alastair Campbell will deliver this year’s Hugh Cudlipp Lecture at the London College of Communication.
The winner of the £1,000 Cudlipp Award for student journalism will also be announced at the event starting at 6.30pm on January 28.
For more information e-mail Tony Delano on [email protected].

Chris Musson is the new chief investigative reporter at The Evening Times, in Glasgow, stepping up from his role as crime reporter.
Evening Times assistant editor Graeme Smith is now in charge of developing the paper’s online coverage.

A debate over the media’s reporting of the Madeline McCann disappearance is being held at the London School of Economics next week.
Among the speakers are former tabloid editors Kelvin MacKenzie and Roy Greenslade and MediaGuardian columnist Steve Hewlett. The event is free and starts at 6.30pm on January 30 – for details e-mail [email protected].

The Bolton News is appealing for witnesses after a £6,000 van that delivers its papers was stolen.
The van, which belongs to a local newsagent, was taken while the owner was dropping off a paper. He has offered a £200 reward for information.

Captured BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston will be one of the guest speakers at the NUJ’s annual conference in April. He will be joined by Naim Toubassi, head of the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate, who did much to keep Alan’s plight in the news.
In a separate event, Alan will return to his Gloucestershire roots in March when he addresses the county’s NUJ branch. For more details e-mail [email protected].