A lively debate on the future of the West Midlands media may have signalled the birth of an annual event.

Around 100 of the great and the good of the region’s media community gathered in a Birmingham to thrash out the issues currently facing the industry.

Among those on the panel were Birmingham Mail editor Steve Dyson, Birmingham Post editor Marc Reeves and Chris Morley, northern organiser with the National Union of Journalists and former Mail industrial correspondent.

Phil Parkin, operations director with organisers the Birmingham Press Club, said: “I think people really did enjoy the event and we will be doing one every year.

“It was a success and a lot of people after were asking if they could be on the panel.

“Steve Dyson was probably the one who got most into it and had the most to say. He was definitely the most entertaining.”

Phil added that the debate stayed constructive rather than simply critical with people taking on board the various points being made.

Also on the panel were Birmingham Children’s Hospital director of communications Peter Tomlinson, head of BBC regional programmes Chas Watkin and former BRMB Radio programme controller Mike Owen.