Sly Bailey, Chief Executive of Trinity Mirror plc, proved a major drawcard as this year’s guest speaker. Named by Fortune magazine as one of the top 50 most powerful businesswomen outside the US, she oversees Trinity Mirror’s portfolio of over 140 regional newspapers, five national newspaper titles and over 400 websites.
(Pictured from left to right are: Michael Johnson, the PCC’s President, Sly Bailey, Chief Executive of Trinity Mirror plc, and Paul Rudd, the PCC’s Chairman.)
Sly entertained the audience with epithets ascribed to her by the media, from ‘flashing blades’ at senior executives to turning into ‘axewoman’. She went on to talk about her early days in the industry and how she rose to head a major plc.
On the subject of ‘The Printed Word’, she argued that despite challenging times for traditional media, it is not a case of ‘old’ media versus ‘new’ media or print versus digital. Today’s technology is an opportunity to build a multi-platform media business incorporating online, print and mobile. Sly ended by raising an issue facing today’s publishing industry - the growing conflict between the press’s freedom of expression and the individual’s right to privacy.
At the event, Paul Rudd, the PCC’s Chairman, unveiled the charity’s new name and logo to be launched in early 2010. He also announced that Michael Johnson, Chief Executive of the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF) has been appointed the charity’s President for the second year running, in recognition of his outstanding achievements on the PCC’s behalf.
Michael says: “It’s a great honour to be invited to be President for a second year. I’ll continue to build on the excellent work being done by everyone at the PCC to achieve its aim of increasing the number of people it helps year-on-year.”
“We’re absolutely delighted with the turnout from the industry this year and would like to thank everyone for helping us raise over £2,000 from the raffle,” adds Stephen Gilbert, the PCC’s Chief Executive. “This is our major fundraising event each year to support our work helping people with a print connection, who are experiencing hardship.”
About the PCC
The PCC says: “Set up in 1827, the Printers’ Charitable Corporation (PCC) is the leading national charity providing financial support through its grants programme for existing and former employees of the printing, publishing, graphic arts and allied trades. This support also extends to dependent family members.
The PCC owns and runs Butlin House Care Home and Beaverbrook Court in Bletchley, as well as Southwood Court in Basildon.”
