The dates for the 2005 Society of Editors Annual Conference Whatever Next have been conformed as Sunday October 16 to Tuesday October 18, at the shores of lake Windermere in Cumbria.
The North West Development Agency has signed up as the lead sponsor.

Local newspapers are being asked to check through their classified adverts to identify illegal waste removers and combat fly-tipping.
The Environment Agency is asking editors to check whether waste removal services are registered before allowing them to place adverts.

Sir Harold Evans will present A Point of View on BBC Radio 4 from July 29 for a run of 13 weeks, bringing his unique experience and knowledge to listeners.
Sir Harold, who is a former editor of the Northern Echo and was knighted last year, began his career at the Manchester Evening News and is best known as editor of The Sunday Times (1967-81).

A former Kentish Times journalist, whose self-published novel has become a sought-after underground classic, has landed a major book deal.
The Art of Falling, by Deborah Lawrenson, had an initial 2,000 print run and is selling for up to £200 on eBay, even though it is now to be published by Random House this summer.

News staff at the Hull and East Riding Mail are helping youngsters to become fluent readers, after joining forces with the Pooh Bear Reading Assistance Society to send volunteers into schools across the city.
So far six people have been trained by the society, and page production assistant Helen Opie said: “We want to pass on our enthusiasm for reading.”

North West Business Insider has been bought out by its management team, which includes former Liverpool Echo editor and former Regional Independent Media chief executive Chris Oakley, Newsco managing director Marlen Roberts and Insider editor Michael Taylor. The cost of the acquisition has not been revealed.