Tuesday, August 02, 2011

14th Journalism Leaders Forum - UK Press Regulation: Is there a Third Way?

These have been bruising times for the Press.

Scandals about the conduct of some journalists have not only brought down journalists, senior executives and one of the largest newspapers in Britain, but it has also prompted the resignation of the head of the Press Complaints Commission and raised questions about  the future of press regulation. Those who seek to simplify the issues usually offer two options: press self-regulation, or government regulation. But others are looking further afield and so we're asking, "Is there a Third Way?"

To debate that issues the Society of Editors and the Digital Editors' Network will be co-presenting the 14th Journalism Leaders Forum at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston. Bob Satchwell, executive director of the SoE, will anchor the panel which will be chaired by Michael Williams, head of journalism ethics at the School of Journalism, Media and Communication. Other participants will be confirmed. We intend the panel to work towards a submission to the Leveson Inquiry, which we'll forward via the Coordinating Committe for Media Reform .

To attend the open Forum at 6 pm in Greenbank Lecture Theatre - as well as the reception from 5pm - please register soonest. There is no charge (though donations are most welcome), but seating is limited.

If you can't be there in person, there are other ways to join the discussion. You can post your questions and comments on this site, or you can participate in the live Webcast by logging in here as a "guest". Online participants will be able to post questions to panellists and each other in a text chat room.

Also in Preston earlier on the day of the Forum is the Truth Telling master class and the autumn meeting of the Digital Editors Network, with speakers from the Manchester Evening News, the BusinessDesk.com and Paul Ekman International. The following day, Grig Davidovitz of RGB Media will also lead the News Show! master class on innovative design online, on mobile and on tablets.

For more information about these and other activities of the UCLAN's Journalism Leaders Programme, which partners with media companies to develop leadership talent and innovative digital business solutions, contact François Nel by email  (FPNel [at] uclan.ac.uk ) or Skype (francoisnel).