The director general of the BBC is to address the Society of Editors at its annual conference in November.

His speech comes at a time when the BBC is under close scrutiny for its future plans in terms of the development of local news media via the Internet, a move that some regional press editors see as a threat.

The BBC is developing what it calls “ultra local TV”, which has been piloted in the West Midlands. Its strategy has already been explained to key regional newspaper executives.

Mark Thompson’s keynote speech will be delivered at the Society of Editors annual conference The Next Generation, in Glasgow.

Each year the Society hosts a conference which attracts delegates from all sectors of the media, creating an opportunity for debate about the key issues in media, politics and the law.

Last year the SoE asked Whatever Next? at the annual conference. This year, under the banner The Next Generation, the Society will take the debate a step further. It will look at how the pace of growth, transformation and variety in the delivery of news throws up both problems and opportunities.

The conference will explore what the next generation of the media will look like in terms of print, broadcast and digital delivery, as well as who the next generation of journalists will be – and what skills they will need.

Other speakers already confirmed include Alan Rusbridger of the Guardian; Roger Alton of the Observer; former Today programme editor, Kevin Marsh; Liz Page formerly of the Evening Press, York and now with Archant Life in the North-West; and media lawyer Caroline Kean.

Gordon Mack, digital media editor of The Herald; Lancashire Evening Post editor Simon Reynolds; media commentator Ray Snoddy; and Hull Daily Mail editor John Meehan will also speak.

Publisher and broadcaster and Andrew Neil will deliver the prestigious annual Society of Editors lecture that will open the event that will take place between Sunday November 5 and Tuesday November 7.