Manchester Evening News editor Paul Horrocks and Simon Reynolds, editorial director of the Lancashire Evening Post, agreed that whatever upheavals 21st century journalism underwent shorthand must remain.

The pair were speaking in Manchester today at the first Journalism Skills Conference, hosted by the National Council for the Training of journalists, and attended by lecturers and regional press editors.

One lecturer asked the discussion panel what skills could be compromised on university courses to allow the inclusion of new media skills such as video journalism and audio editing.

Mr Horrocks said: "Shorthand has got to be number one. Things that can be given away may be less time on modern processes such as video journalism. We can teach that.

"Still the core skills that we come back to are public administration, law, shorthand, interviewing technique and writing stories."

Mr Reynolds added: "The problem is, if you haven’t got shorthand, you are just too slow. Reporters need to be fast - I don't think that's going to change any time soon."

He said that law would also need to remain an essential part of the curriculum, adding: "To take away those core skills is a killer."

The 'Ask the Editors' panel also discussed digital technology and imaging, with the MEN enjoying some of its highest video web views on footage sent in by readers or from CCTV.

This was seen as evidence that, while quality was important, the content was still the most relevant factor in driving people to the MEN's website, Mr Horrocks said.

Looking to the future, he added: "I think the newsroom is a more exciting place to be and a place where journalists want to come to.

"It would be easy for us to get depressed and self-fulfilling about the future."