Mr Clarke will join some of the biggest names in the industry, including national and regional editors, politicians and lawyers who will be debating the future of media relationships and regulation.
Mr Clarke is responsible for libel law reform, the future of conditional fee agreements that are hindering journalism, as well as access to the courts which are a key part of discussions about media freedom.
The conference will open on Sunday evening with the Society of Editors’ annual lecture delivered by the Chairman of the BBC Trust, Lord Patten.
Monday will take the form of a rolling debate facilitated by Steve Hewlett of BBC Radio Four’s Media Show, focusing on the future of self regulation and the relationship between the press, politicians, the police and the public.
Confirmed speakers including Alan Rusbridger of the Guardian, Chris Blackhurst of the Independent, James Harding of The Times, former editor of the News of The World, Colin Myler, John Kamfpner of Index on Censorship, and Stephen Abell of the PCC, will discuss where the industry should be heading.
John Whittingdale and Tom Watson from the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham, Charlotte Harris, media lawyer at Mischon private, Mark Lewis, partner at Taylor Hampton Solicitors, Hugh Tomlinson QC, barrister at Matrix Chambers and ACPO Communications chairman Andy Trotter will also join the discussion.
Steve Auckland of Northcliffe newspapers, Peter Barron of Google and newspaper analyst, Jim Chisholm, will speak at the Tuesday morning traditional 20:20 Vision session.
The session will have a new dimension in the form of a report on a special survey commissioned by the SoE exploring editors’ attitudes to the future of the industry.
The conference will wrap up on Tuesday with the incoming president’s address by Fran Unsworth, head of newsgathering at the BBC.
The conference is always a hub of media discussion and vision and has become one of the major events in the media calendar. It will take place on 13, 14, 15th November.
Current president Robin Esser, executive managing editor of the Daily Mail said: “This could prove to be our most important conference to date.”
The venue, the Runnymede-on-Thames hotel at Egham, alongside the Thames near Windsor Castle – and the M25 and Heathrow – is near to where King John began to sign away his regal powers in the Magna Carta in 1215.
