UK secretary of state for culture, media and sport, Andy Burnham, told the Oxford Media Convention today that his first job after leaving university was on a local paper – he’s well equipped to address the issue of the ailing industry then.

Especially, as he admitted, he was brought onto the paper to replace a redundant staff member. What’s more, he worked unpaid.

Not sure the National Union of Journalists would have liked that, he added – not a lot, Andy, not a lot.