The Society of Editors says: Ex-RIM boss Chris Oakley will give a presentation Five Minutes to Midnight in which he says that the industry's catastrophic problems are self-inflicted, could largely have been avoided and will prove terminal for many titles; but a new generation of entrepreneurs is experimenting with re-building regional publishing from ground zero.
Chris started straight from school as a junior reporter on his local weekly, edited regional dailies, led management buy-outs of two big regional newspaper group and was briefly a director of Mirror Group. For the last decade, he has worked with newspapers groups in Europe, from Norway to Spain and from France to the Ukraine.
Mike Rawlins is editor of PitsnPots, a website launched in September 2008 tand backed by the Journalism Foundation to promote discussion about the politics of Stoke-on-Trent. Mike Rawlins joined shortly after the launch to work on the technical aspects of the site.
Pits n Pots became one of the best known political sites in the UK, being cited by main stream media in the UK & across Europe and was mentioned in Hansard on a number of occasions.
Now it has spawned a print edition.
Brian M. Looney, ex-editor, Irish media expert and acclaimed speaker, will give us a wider dimension. Among his experiences are turning the local Cork Examiner into Ireland's newest national paper.
Ken Bennett will tell us about his success in launching an ultra-local newspaper.
Liverpool Echo editor Alastair Machray will tell us how his paper is co-ordinating a grant-giving scheme helping small businesses create new jobs.
There will also be a presentation by Society executive director Bob Satchwell (pictured).
Newly-appointed Manchester Evening News editor Rob Irvine will chair a discussion session on our theme of the future.
The meeting, which will run from 10am (coffees and welcome) to 4pm and includes a buffet lunch, is at the Marriott Victoria and Albert Hotel, just off the centre of Manchester. There is no charge, but if you come by car you will have to pay at one of the car parks close by.
As the meeting ends we will transfer to the BBC's new outside-London base at nearby Salford Quays for a tour, presentations and discussions – plus a wine and cheese reception.
We hope you will then join us back at the Victoria and Albert Hotel for a three-course dinner and wine at a specially discounted price of £19.50.
If you would like to spend the night at the hotel we have negotiated a half-price rate of just £75.
To book a place please contact Angela Varley at office@societyofeditors.org
