The prestigious annual lecture that has previously been delivered by politicians and some of the biggest names in newspapers and broadcasting opens the Society of Editors conference which will celebrate the “huge achievements in meeting the challenges of the multi-media age”.
Alexander Lebedev (pictured) recently bought the The Independent and the Independent on Sunday, is majority owner of the London Evening Standard and is co-owner with Mikhail Gorbachev of the Russian pro-democracy newspaper Novaya Gazeta.
Mr Lebedev, a billionaire who has made his mark in politics and is a former Moscow mayoral candidate, has spoken out in defence of the freedom of the Press. He has said he fell in love with the Evening Standard when he was a KGB agent in London in the 1980s.
The conference ‘Have we got GOOD news for you’ will focus on editors’ efforts to build new platforms for news delivery, revenue streams and working practices at a time when they are fighting back after experiencing unprecedented economic and structural change.
Supported by Camelot it will take place from Sunday November 14 to Tuesday November 16 in the Grand Central Hotel at Glasgow Central Station that is being refurbished to recreate in contemporary style the splendour of the by-gone age of rail travel.
SoE president Donald Martin, editor of Scotland’s Sunday Post said: “Reports of the death of traditional news media were clearly much exaggerated. Every day we see reports of new initiatives that will transform the media in to what no less than Jon Snow described as a coming golden age of journalism.
“We will throw off the doom and gloom that has inhibited us in recent years and celebrate the vibrancy of the newspapers, broadcasting and the internet that informs and entertains readers, listeners and viewers.
“I look forward to welcoming editors back to my home city again. It is equally vibrant and forward-looking with facilities to provide a perfect background to spotlight the growing determination to bring on the new golden age of optimism and excitement.”
The conference is attended by editors and senior executives from across the UK and beyond. The Grand Central is adjacent to rail links at the heart of the city.
It will open on Sunday 14 November with the Society of Editors Lecture. Monday 15 November will be given over to working sessions on numerous topics with time in between to meet faces old and new. The annual gala dinner will follow in the evening. It will be an impressive occasion for hundreds of media guests, says the SoE.
Closing with the now traditional 20:20 Vision breakfast seminar on the morning of Tuesday 16 November, the conference “sets the agenda for media debate throughout the year”.
Delegate fees have been held at or below previous levels and discounts are available for regional media, say the organisers.
Book now online at www.societyofeditors.org, by email or by telephone (01223 304080). Early bird and members’ discounts apply until 31 July.
Speakers will be announced shortly but there is a draft programme on the SoE website.
