Veteran reporter Martin Bell claimed that politics was more dangerous than war reporting, as he addressed an audience of 200 students, lecturers and guests at the University of Lincoln.

"Until recently I would have said war reporting was the most harmful," he said, "but that was until I met Christine Hamilton."

Martin was in Lincoln as part of the Journalists speak out on Journalism programme.

The former BBC foreign affairs correspondent discussed reporting conflicts such as Vietnam, September 11 and Northern Ireland, as well as his route into politics.

He answered questions on everything from conspiracy theories regarding the terrorist attacks of 9/11 to his white suit – which is a superstitious lucky charm.

"The media always prefers conflict as it is more saleable as a news commodity than peace," he told his audience.

"I'm not sure about peace journalism, because war is always going to be more newsworthy than peace; unfortunately it's in human nature."

He spoke passionately about his 35 years with the BBC and working in a job that was apart of his life for so long.

He said: "To be a journalist you have to love words, but you also have to know how to use them to make an impact."

And he advised student journalists: "It's a career that isn't well paid so forget it if you want to earn lots of money."

Martin in Lincoln
Picture by Andrew Weekes