David Conn with Ian Hislop

IAN Hislop had Prince Harry in his cross hairs at the Paul Foot Award for Campaigning and Investigative Journalism on Tuesday night.

Announcing the winner at the Bafta Studios Piccadilly, the Private Eye editor said: “Prince Harry is literally giving evidence saying the press is at rock bottom and it’s all appalling.

“It isn’t. It really isn’t. There has been a real culture change. I think he has been very badly misadvised if he thinks the culture is the same as it is now.

“Sir Simon Jenkins – he’s one of our judges – he said at our meeting the thing about journalism today… it’s just so good! Certainly every year I look at this shortlist, I think about the quality and the effort and the endurance that has gone in there.”

The award – set in memory of Paul Foot, who lived in West Hampstead – was won by David Conn for his heavyweight investigation into the “VIP lane” PPE contracts.

I looked and looked, but I did not see the political columnist Nick Cohen in the room. He has been a regular at the awards since they began 19 years ago, often among the last to leave.

The former Eye writer had been the subject of an investigation by journalist Jane Bradley, a former Paul Foot Award nominee showing quality and endurance.

Her big MeToo scoop was rejected or spiked by mainstream titles – including the FT and the Eye – who appeared to close ranks around their old chum.

It was published by the New York Times last week. Perhaps, the media culture hasn’t changed quite as much as Mr Hislop insists.