The new Russian owner of the London Evening Standard is to deliver the prestigious Society of Editors lecture in November.

Alexander Lebedev, who recently added the Independent and the Independent on Sunday to his portfolio, will open the industry’s biggest annual gathering, to be held this year in Glasgow.

The billionaire, who has spoken out in defence of the freedom of the Press, has said he fell in love with the Evening Standard when he was a KGB agent in London in the 1980s.

Since taking over Mr Lebedev has taken the title free and asked for it to be treated as a regional newspaper for the purposes of ABC audits.

The conference, entitled ‘Have we got GOOD news for you’ will focus on editors’ efforts to build new platforms for news delivery, revenue streams and working practices.

It will take place from 14-16 November in the Grand Central Hotel at Glasgow Central Station.

SoE president and Glaswegian Donald Martin, editor of Scotland’s Sunday Post said: “Reports of the death of traditional news media were clearly much exaggerated. Every day we see reports of new initiatives that will transform the media in to what no less than Jon Snow described as a coming golden age of journalism.

“We will throw off the doom and gloom that has inhibited us in recent years and celebrate the vibrancy of the newspapers, broadcasting and the internet that informs and entertains readers, listeners and viewers.

“I look forward to welcoming editors back to my home city again. It is equally vibrant and forward-looking with facilities to provide a perfect background to spotlight the growing determination to bring on the new golden age of optimism and excitement.”

Places can be booked online at www.societyofeditors.org, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 01223 304080. Early bird and members’ discounts apply until 31 July

Comments

Bluestringer (18/06/2010 14:59:04)
“Industry gathering will focus on new platforms and revenue streams”
Right, and when the ad dept has finished talking about its platforms and revenue streams, will the journalists get to have a turn as well, like?