The incoming president of the Society of Editors has delivered an impassioned plea to owners to invest in newspaper titles rather than “milk” them for profit.

Nigel Pickover, editor of Ipswich’s Evening Star, succeeded Simon Bucks of Sky News as SoE president this morning.

Speaking at the Society’s annual dinner in Bristol last night he said: “In our profit hungry years we have milked some of our titles for far too long.

“It’s time to put a little milk back into our titles that have had the hell kicked out of them when profit was everything.”

Nigel developed his theme in his closing address to the conference today, saying: “The big profit years are over for the time being at least. I believe we should take our foot back a little off the profit pedal.

“Lets hope we can meet in a year’s time with our titles more secure.”

In his speech this morning, Nigel said journalists must be adaptable and hungry as they face the new challenges of a converged media in 2009 and beyond.

He told delegates: “Don’t be afraid – be adapatable, be hungry, be innovative and enjoy the highs and lows of the best profession around.

“We as journalists always have adapted to change. Today change is a constant bedfellow. We’ve have to adapt – there’s no choice about it.

“Today’s writers are as comfortable with a microphone and camera stand as those in generations gone by were with pen and notebook.

“We are the storytellers and we have had to tell our stories in different and compelling ways – for audiences that in many places are growing, not diminishing.

“For those journalists who find change and progression an exciting challenge, there is nothing to fear in the Britain of today and tomorrow.

“Those who want to live in yesterday’s world might find challenge coming from a different direction and lose their place in the most exciting profession around.”

Comments

Alan Salter (12/11/2008 10:06:28)
Halleluha!!An editor who knows what’s going on!!
I must, however, take issue with “For those journalists who find change and progression an exciting challenge, there is nothing to fear in the Britain of today and tomorrow.”
I got out because I was working within an ever dwindling, talented, group of journalists, upon whose shoulders was built a whole edifice of “ad-ons”.
But when it came to cutbacks or extra working…guess who they came to!