Around 75 journalists gathered for Archant’s first editorial conference earlier this month.

The two-day event, held at Belton Woods hotel near Grantham, allowed staff from across Archant Regional, publishers of the Evening Star, Ipswich, East Anglian Daily Times, Eastern Daily Press, Evening News, Norwich, and around 60 weekly titles, to learn new skills and share ideas.

And there was also time for some fun and games with delegates competing against each other at giant games of Jenga and Scalextric and in a news quiz.

In his opening speech, Archant chief executive John Fry gave high praise to the company’s staff.

He told them: “You are such a committed and enthusiastic bunch of people. And that is reflected in the publications you produce.”

Meanwhile conference organiser Peter Sands, director of the Editorial Centre training company, spoke of the changing role of an editor.

He said: “Today’s editor is a journalist, manager, administrator, leader, businessman, lawyer, negotiator, teacher, accountant and designer.

“Great editors are innovators, those that instigate change.

“They also select and develop good people, have the confidence to give them the room to do the job, protect them from distractions and properly communicate the visions and objectives for the paper.

“They know where the paper is going and take everybody with them.”

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