While at university, he became involved with the "Union News" newspaper (the "Leeds Student" from 1970), rising to the position of editor. At this time he identified with the liberal end of the political spectrum on issues including gay rights and drug use, and wrote editorials in support of a student sit-in at Leeds organised by Straw. He introduced a pin-up feature in the newspaper called "Leeds Lovelies". He told the "British Journalism Review" in 2002: "If you don't have a left-wing period when you go to university, you should be shot" and said of his early experience of editing in November 2008 that it taught him "dull doesn't sell newspapers. Boring doesn't pay the mortgage", but also that "sensation sells papers".