Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre will deliver the 2008 Society of Editors Lecture which opens its annual conference in November.

Paul, who is also editor-in-chief of Associated Newspapers, will address the Bristol conference which this year is titled Digital Heaven or Digital Hell?.

The lecture will be held on board Brunel’s iconic steamship Brunel ss Great Britain that has been restored in the dry dock in which she was built in 1843.

Simon Bucks, SoE president and associate editor of Sky News, said: “Paul Dacre is a towering figure in the UK media.

“Associated put journalism and content first across all of their news platforms that include daily and weekend newspapers, paid-for and free and websites.

“Paul’s insight and vision will provide the backdrop for another agenda-setting conference that has become a hub of media discussion and one of the major events in the media calendar.”

This year’s conference will investigate the continuing development of converged media which has seen newspapers adding audio and video to their websites as and when news happens and broadcasters increasing their online content, encouraging public involvement and stretching down into ultra-local websites.

The conference will focus on the experience of editors across all sectors of the media, explore best practice and the best ways of winning new audiences and encouraging the revenue that goes with them.

Simon added: “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 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.”

The conference is attended by editors and senior executives from across the UK and beyond.

It will be based at the Marriott Royal Hotel, in Bristol, from November 9 to 11.