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FEATURE 

They said it…

The Society of Editors held its annual conference this week, in Glasgow. Amongst the delegates, on the lookout for words of wisdom, was Alan Geere.

By Alan Geere

The great and the good of British publishing were there, and this is what some of them had to say:

“Do you remember the old Ready Brek TV ad? I want trainees who you can almost see glowing with passion and enthusiasm." – Manchester Evening News editor, Maria McGeoghan

"These are difficult times and the age of austerity is upon us. We are conscious that we have moved from an undersupply to an oversupply of new entrants." – chief executive of the National Council for the Training of Journalists, Joanne Butcher

"We do give away our content for free and we are making money online." – editor of Teesside's Evening Gazette, Darren Thwaites

"There's no statistical evidence that the internet has damaged circulation more than any other factors. I have not been able to find any statistical evidence to show this is the case.” – Jim Chisholm, consultant

"Tomorrow's journalists must be trained by today's journalists, not yesterday's enthusiastic amateurs." – editor of Aberdeen Press and Journal, Derek Tucker

"If there's one thing that makes me proud, it is taking educated university students and turning them into the journalists of the future." – editor of the Hartlepool Mail, Joy Yates

"We are emerging from the pain, lean mean fighting machines with a better understanding of our customers, wherever they may be, and a greater understanding that we truly need to add the unique value that will ensure our long term success." – outgoing president of the Society of Editors, Donald Martin

"I do not want to interfere. I want facts and arguments to be freed from control. I knew I did not, and do not want to live in a country with the same restrictions and conditions I had experienced as a young man.” – Russian owner of the London Evening Standard, Alexander Lebedev

"The Labour Government, almost with its last breath, brought in the Bribery Act which could – and given the impact on Members of Parliament possibly would – have been used to prevent the Daily Telegraph publishing their MP’s expenses expose which has altered the face of Parliament forever.” – Daily Mail executive managing editor, Robin Esser

“Remember, we're dealing with a technology here, not a theology. There's no need to start burning each other at the stake for heresy.” – Mail Online publisher, Martin Clarke

“Lay off the oligarchs, it’s just not worth it - we can’t go through with it." – Fleet Street managing editor via journalist to chief executive of Index on Censorship, John Kampfner

“Pure facts do not tell a story or pay their way.” – UK & Ireland bureau chief of Reuters, Jodie Ginsberg

“British journalism and reporting is the best in the world; if we remain confident the future will be ours." – editor of the Independent on Sunday, John Mullin

“Our existence is a powerful deterrent for wrongdoing in public and we have a duty to exercise that power responsibly within the law and public interest.” – managing editor of the News of the World, Bill Akass

“Media research is just a single strand of knowing your audience, but we think it’s a very important strand.” – chief executive of the National Readership Survey, Mike Ironside