UK National News Editors Conference comes to Bristol

bristol | media and culture | event notice Tuesday September 30, 2008 14:53 by Tony Gosling - National Union of Journalists

Rumour is Daily Mail Editor Paul Dacre will be delivering Sunday's opening speech on the SS Great Britain

The society which brings together Britain's national newspaper, web and broadcast editors will be gathering in Bristol this November for their annual three day conference. Though editors rarely write their own material they are ultimately responsible for what does and doesn't get into the paper. Their personal opinions about what is newsworthy and what is not shape the public consciousness right across the land. We are living in an ero of spineless, hamstrung editors who often do not dare to challenge the orthodoxy of capitalism and far too often refuse to acknowledge 21st century fascist Neo-con influence on British culture.

MI5 Director General Jonathan Evans addresses the Society of Editors annual conference in Manchester, 5th November 2007

The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein and Alfonso Cuarón (director of Children of Men)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kieyjfZDUIc
http://www.shockdoctrine.com/

Bristol 2008 Programme

Sunday November 9
4.00 pm Registration
6.30 pm Welcome reception – SS Great Britain
7.00 pm Society of Editors Lecture (address by Paul Dacre editor of the Daily Mail?)
8.15 pm Buffet reception

Monday November 10
9.00 am Setting the scene
9.15am Keynote address
9.45 am THE big issue - Digital challenges
When it comes to convergence, one size clearly does not fit all. Each sector of the media faces its own
challenges and opportunities. Discuss today’s dilemmas and solutions here.
11.00 am New Newsrooms for old
New technology and new platforms means the shape of newsrooms is changing. Choose the one that fits your
strategy best.
12.00 pm Platforms for cash
But is anyone making money from the digital future? How are profits affected by viral advertising, online search
engines and new technology? Ideas on how to play and win.
1.00pm Lunch
2.15 pm Video Vision
2.45pm Journalists for the future
New media and new journalism requires new approaches to journalism training.
4.00pm Parliamentary and Legal session
The new media playing field presents a whole new realm of ethical and legal considerations. Debate contempt
in the internet age, televising the courts, digital court list and results, moderating blogs, sports rights, plus an
update on the society’s lobbying successes.
5.00 pm The big stories of the past year: the McCanns, Prince Harry and the Credit Crunch. Did we get the balance right?
5.45pm SoE AGM
7.30 pm Reception and Gala Annual Dinner - At Bristol

Tuesday November 11
8.30 am Breakfast seminar in the conference room
9.30 am The future is ours – 2020 Vision
What will the media look like in 2020? Lifting the covers on editors’ crystal balls.
10.30 am New President’s inaugural address
10.45 am Conference close

FROM SOCIETY OF EDITORS' WEBSITE

I am delighted that we are holding this year’s conference in Bristol – where I started my career. Bristol has long been a thriving and dynamic city, strong on enterprise, with a vibrant news community. Today that is truer than ever - it has around 10,000 people working in various parts of the media.

http://www.societyofeditors.co.uk/page-view.php?pagenam...e2008

The conference starts on the evening of Sunday November 9, with the Society of Editors Lecture on board the SS Great Britain. Brunel’s historic ship is back in the dry dock in which she was built a short ferry ride away from the conference hotel, the Marriott Royal. The Royal itself mixes tradition with the most up-to-date facilities and I know you will enjoy staying there.
The Society of Editors conference is now firmly established as the key event for senior newsroom figures from all branches of the media, with an impressive line-up of speakers.

This year we will focus on the most pressing topic facing every editor: how to manage the twin demands of the digital revolution while maintaining growth in “old media” operations. Sessions will explore, among other things, newsroom integration, video and user-generated content, training multi-platform journalists and, crucially, how to provide content and platforms that can help to maximise revenues.

In addition we will look at current campaigning media freedom issues and we will ask editors to share the contents of their crystal balls in our now traditional 20:20 Vision breakfast seminar.

Of course, the conference is also a great opportunity for networking, not just with colleagues but with other industry professionals. Our executive director Bob Satchwell and I are determined that every delegate will leave invigorated and inspired with new ideas to take back to their newsrooms.

I am looking forward to welcoming you to Bristol. I strongly urge you to book soon, not just to guarantee your early bird discount, but because delegate places are sure to be at a premium. See you on November 9!