A journalist turned politician and political blogger is joining the line-up of speakers at the Journalism Skills Conference later this week.

Labour MP Tom Harris, author of the award-winning blog And Another Thing, began his career as a reporter on the Paisley Daily Express.

Now he is set to pass on some of his blogging tips to delegates at the Glasgow conference, organised by the National Council for the Training of Journalists.

Mr Harris joins an illustrious line-up of speakers in a packed programme at the two-day event.

The conference will get under way with lunch on Thursday followed by a welcoming address by NCTJ chairman Kim Fletcher.

This will be followed by a Question Time debate on the future of quality multimedia journalism featuring several senior industry figures.

As well as Mr Harris, other speakers and panelists on the second day will include Bob Satchwell, executive director of the Society of Editors and Darren Thwaites, editor of the Evening Gazette, Teesside.

And Donald Martin, editor-in-chief of the Herald and Times Group and chairman of the Journalism Qualifications Board, will join chief examiners Steve Nelson (journalism), Amanda Ball (public affairs), Mark Hanna (media law) and Marie Cartwright (shorthand) in a discussion on NCTJ exams.

Mr Fletcher said: “Journalists today need to know how to work across all platforms and NCTJ qualifications must reflect this need.

“The Journalism Skills Conference promises to be a lively, entertaining event in which delegates will have far-reaching input on the future shape of NCTJ qualifications.”