RENOWNED BBC journalist and Solihull School alumni Michael Buerk returned to the school to lead a debate into one of 2017’s biggest talking points – the media phenomenon of fake news.
Michael chaired the fourth annual staging of The Big Debate, where experts and students pitted their wits against one another in a bid to make the most compelling argument on a topical issue.
This year’s debate centred around a type of journalism which consists of spreading deliberate misinformation or hoaxes through print, broadcast or online media publications. The proposition was ‘This House would jail the owner of media organisations which publish factually misleading news’.
Legal professional and fellow Solihull alumni James Field paired up with upper fifth student Oliver Rooney to put forward the proposition; with BBC business journalist Simon Neville and lower sixth student Cerys Stansfield making up the opposition.
At the end of the evening, the audience voted for the most convincing argument and the opposition – those against the idea that media owners should be punished – were declared the winners.
Michael, an award-winning journalist and broadcaster, attended the independent school between 1955 and 1965 and is the patron of its Debating Society.
Best known for his time presenting the BBC’s Nine O’Clock News and his candid reporting from South Africa and Ethiopia, he is now the host of BBC Radio 4’s The Moral Maze.
Solihull School headteacher David Lloyd said: “It was a real pleasure to once again welcome Michael back to our school for an event which is growing in popularity every year.
“We’re proud of our debating society and events like this show why – it’s a great platform for our pupils to demonstrate their grasp of current affairs.”
The day also featured a debating competition for under-15s, which saw a number of schools visit Solihull from as far away as Cardiff.
Michael was on hand to present the awards for best team and best speaker, with Welland Park Academy (Market Harborough) winning the overall champion’s prize and Dani Kong from Howell’s School (Cardiff) taking home the best speaker honour.
Solihull School has one of the largest school debating societies in the country with more than 250 members. The school will be hosting an open day on Saturday September 23.
Visit www.solsch.org.uk for further details.
Solihull School alumni Michael Buerk chairing the Big Debate. (s)
returned to the school to lead a debate into one of 2017’s biggest talking points – the media phenomenon of fake news.
Michael chaired the fourth annual staging of The Big Debate, where experts and students pitted their wits against one another in a bid to make the most compelling argument on a topical issue.
This year’s debate centred around a type of journalism which consists of spreading deliberate misinformation or hoaxes through print, broadcast or online media publications. The proposition was ‘This House would jail the owner of media organisations which publish factually misleading news’.
Legal professional and fellow Solihull alumni James Field paired up with upper fifth student Oliver Rooney to put forward the proposition; with BBC business journalist Simon Neville and lower sixth student Cerys Stansfield making up the opposition.
At the end of the evening, the audience voted for the most convincing argument and the opposition – those against the idea that media owners should be punished – were declared the winners.
Michael, an award-winning journalist and broadcaster, attended the independent school between 1955 and 1965 and is the patron of its Debating Society.
Best known for his time presenting the BBC’s Nine O’Clock News and his candid reporting from South Africa and Ethiopia, he is now the host of BBC Radio 4’s The Moral Maze.
Solihull School headteacher David Lloyd said: “It was a real pleasure to once again welcome Michael back to our school for an event which is growing in popularity every year.
“We’re proud of our debating society and events like this show why – it’s a great platform for our pupils to demonstrate their grasp of current affairs.”
The day also featured a debating competition for under-15s, which saw a number of schools visit Solihull from as far away as Cardiff.
Michael was on hand to present the awards for best team and best speaker, with Welland Park Academy (Market Harborough) winning the overall champion’s prize and Dani Kong from Howell’s School (Cardiff) taking home the best speaker honour.
Solihull School has one of the largest school debating societies in the country with more than 250 members. The school will be hosting an open day on Saturday September 23.
Visit www.solsch.org.uk for further details.
Solihull School alumni Michael Buerk chairing the Big Debate. (s)
