| By Ruth Faulkner, Public Affairs (London)
Trainee reporters from News Associates made the pages of a host of national newspapers after exposing comments, which disgraced MP David Wilshire had given during a mock press conference. 
HEADLINES: How the Daily Mirror reported quotes from disgraced MP David Wilshire made during an exclusive news conference organised by News Associates for their NCTJ trainee reporters
Mr Wilshire, the Conservative MP for Spelthorne, met 36 trainees and two tutors as part of a trip to the Houses of Parliament for the NCTJ’s public affairs module.
When Mr Wilshire hit the headlines two days later, after the Telegraph exposed him as having paid £105,000 of taxpayers’ money to his own company, the students realised they had a story on their hands.
They approached various papers with some of the choice quotes from the right-wing MP.
On Saturday morning what Mr Wilshire said during the press conference appeared in the Mirror, the Mail, the Express, the Independent, the Telegraph and the Sun and a host of other online news sources.
“Mr Wilshire said at the beginning of the press conference that he was speaking on the record,” said trainee reporter Harriet Churchward.
“I imagine he rather regrets that now.”
The MP was quizzed on several topics during the hour-long meeting including the expansion of Heathrow, the expenses scandal and the minimum wage bill.
In response to one question about the minimum wage, the Tory MP for Spelthorne, said: “I work 60 to 70 hours a week some weeks. When you look at what I earn it comes dangerously close to working out as minimum wage.”
In answer to another question on MPs expenses Mr Wilshire said: “Some of my friends have been pilloried over a packet of biscuits, or a pork pie, or a tin of dog food.
"Is it fair to drive someone perilously close to a nervous breakdown or suicide over a packet of biscuits?"
Mr Wilshire is to stand down at the next election.
“Our student’s are taught to look for the story in everything," said Head of Journalism Andrew Moorhouse.
“That is exactly what they have done here and to great success.”