HoldtheFrontPage is teaming up with the Society of Editors to stage a one-day conference for regional press editors and senior journalists next month.
Johnston Press chief executive Ashley Highfield, left, is to be the keynote speaker at the 22 June event which will take place at the Renaissance Hotel in the centre of Manchester.
The event is targeted specifically at the key commercial, regulatory and editorial issues affecting the regional media, including the implications of next week’s election result for the industry.
Organised by the Society in association with HoldtheFrontPage, the event is also being supported by the Press Association and Camelot.
As well as Ashley, other confirmed speakers include Peter Clifton, editor-in-chief of the Press Association, David Powles, head of Archant’s investigations team, Rob Irvine, editor of the Manchester Evening News, Ian Murray, editor-in-chief of the Southern Daily Echo, Donald Martin, editor-in-chief of DC Thomson Newspapers and Joy Yates, group editor of Johnston Press North East.
Sessions will include discussion on the BBC’s relationship with local news providers, the opportunities for local newspapers offered by devolution, and how digital platforms shaped general election coverage.
Bob Satchwell, executive director of the Society of Editors said: “The seminar is tailored to meet the needs of regional editors who want to keep ahead of the field.
“Regional editors and their journalists are at the forefront of innovation to meet the technical and commercial challenges of the media in the digital age. The event will focus on their many achievements and spotlight best practice as they build the news platforms for audience and commercial development.”
HTFP Publisher Paul Linford added: “For the past three years the SoE regional seminar has proved an invaluable forum for debate and the sharing of ideas.
“We have always been keen to see it become a permanent fixture on the industry calendar and as such we are delighted to be able to strengthen our asssociation with the event this year.”
Tickets for the seminar cost £60 + VAT for the day on Monday 22 June. The SoE has also arranged a special overnight rate for delegates who wish to arrive on the evening of Sunday 21 June including an informal dinner with a speaker, with a price of £175 + VAT for dinner, bed and breakfast and the seminar day rate.
To book please contact Angela at [email protected] or on 01223 304080.
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Looking forward to the comments here
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I’m very interested in what Ashley has to say about the future of the industry, given he seems to be on a mission to dismantle it. I also hope a senior bod will admit that online has been, and will always continue to be, a commercial failure for local news. It just won’t work because it can’t work.
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Listening to the industry’s top brass is like listening to politicians. They pretend to speak and you pretend to listen as they try to further their agenda and you just try and survive, yet both of you instinctively know that they don’t care whether you’re alive or dead.
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Rotten eggs and squishy tomatoes all round?
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It will just be bull as usual from Ashers to Ashes, but he always has the last laugh on his employees because he is the boss.
A week on the word factory floor at some skeleton staffed weekly would do him more good.
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Would’ve been better as a Highfield/Montgomery/Fox triple AKA the Three Degrees of Ruination.
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That’ll be an informative occasion, then (not). The converted preaching to the converted. Even Satchwell’s spouting management-speak now – and he once told it like it was. When did the SoE become a mouthpiece for managements? It used to deal with serious stuff to do with the ethics & practice of journalism. I suppose it began with the weeding out of the true editors & promoted the yes men. The suit takeover is complete.
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Hope Ashley is being suitably incentivised to do this. He doesn’t get out of bed for less than £4,500 a day, judging by his recently unveiled ‘package’.
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More windbaggery and trebles all round….I can remember when journalists were very cynical about this type of ‘conference’.
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AH had to do something drastic; JP was and probably still is a basket-case.
But attempting to kill the golden goose before finding a new supplier of golden eggs may be an error of judgement.
Like all these things, the short term effects look good when accountants have worked over the figures. It only crumbles away after the bonuses have been paid and those responsible have gone.
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