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Annual Report 2009-2010 Society of Editors Annual Report 2009-2010 Page 03 of Looking After His Wife Ruth As She Success- Fully Underwent Major Emergency Surgery Society of Editors Annual www.societyofeditors.org report Telephone: 01223 304080 Email: [email protected] www.societyofeditors.org Society of Editors University Centre, Granta Place, Mill Lane, Cambridge CB2 1RU 2009 2010 We are the Contents Society of Editors President’s Report ................................. 04 The Society of Editors was formed by a merger of Director’s Report ..................................... 06 the Guild of Editors and the Association of British Standing Committee Reports 08 Editors in April 1999. Parliamentary and Legal Training It has more than 400 members made up of editors, Treasurer’s Report .................................. 14 managing editors, editorial directors, training editors, editors-in-chief and deputy editors in national, regional Accounts ........................................................... 16 and local newspapers, magazines, radio, television and online media, media lawyers and academics in Society Profile ............................................. 23 journalism education. Objectives Governing body They are as different as the publications, programmes Committees and and websites they create and the communities and external representation audiences they serve. International links Society officials But they share the values that matter: Financial administration • The universal right to freedom of expression The society in the regions • The importance of the vitality of the news media in a democratic society Notice of the AGM ................................... 27 • The promotion of press and broadcasting freedom and the public’s right to know • The commitment to high editorial standards • These values give the society the integrity and authority to influence debate on press and broadcasting freedom, ethics and the culture and Pictures by: business of news media. > To keep up to date with the society’s work visit our website www.societyofeditors.org Page 02 Society of Editors Annual Report 2009-2010 Society of Editors Annual Report 2009-2010 Page 03 of looking after his wife Ruth as she success- fully underwent major emergency surgery. He did so admirably. We will miss his valued contribution when he retires from the board this year. President’s report Also deserving our special thanks is Pat Pilton who retires from the board after serv- ing us so well as treasurer. Pat has steered us THERE are many with vested interests all too intent on superbly through difficult financial times, ever vigilant on costs but mindful of the battles we curtailing the media needed to fund. And, of course, we thank our long serving IT has been a year of challenges As the title of our 2010 confer- chair of training Peter Cole who also stands and frustrations, of tough battles ence - Have We Got Good News For down this year. and even tougher decisions. You - suggests there is still much A vital part of the society’s role is a commit- In the never ending fight for me- that is positive to celebrate across ment to high editorial standards and in that dia freedom the Society of Editors all parts of Britain’s media. pursuit we recognise the importance of ensur- tackled the damaging no-win, no- And we should not forget the im- ing journalism training reflects the needs and fee agreements, campaigned for re- portance of the Society of Editors requirements of a fast-changing multi-media form of our restrictive libel laws and and the power of work the office world. improved access to Family Courts. and my colleagues on the board un- Peter has been a powerful champion of the DONALD MARTIN We railed against legislative dertake on behalf of all those hard- industry’s future recruits, ensuring them the threats to imprison journalists and pressed editors and executives. best possible start in our great industry. punish newspapers by suspending It is all too easy to take the eye Our other retiring board members – Paul Hor- publication. off the ball in the fight for media rocks and Tony Watson – also deserve special And our members from all parts freedom when you are struggling mention for their tremendous contribution to of the media landscape endured to juggle competing demands and the ongoing success of the society. the pain of the economic downturn. increased workloads. I am immensely proud to have been given the opportunity to lead an organisation that is Many in the regional press had to But never is that vigilance more vital to the media industry and I am grateful for chart a course through the perfect vital. the opportunity to have worked with so many storm of both declining revenues There are many with vested inter- talented people connected with the society. It and declining audiences. ests all too intent on curtailing the has even been a privilege to again be taking Yet in the face of such adversity media, sometimes clamoring loudly orders from Bob as his right-hand man after a there was much to be praised and efforts on our members’ behalf. Their profession- but often worryingly using stealth. 20-year gap! plenty of reasons to be thankful. At almost every turn there are alism, knowledge and dogged diplomatic skills Finally, I am delighted that your next presi- There were success stories borne fresh Parliamentary pressures and have undoubtedly helped the SoE retain its promi- dent will be Robin Esser and his vice president out of good old-fashioned journal- legislative hurdles. No matter how nence in the campaign for press and broadcasting Francesca Unsworth. ism, investigative reporting and well intentioned, they invariably freedom and the public’s right to know, freedom of As executive managing editor of the Daily strong campaigns. cast up unintended and damaging expression and self-regulation. Mail and chairman of the society’s parliamenta- The tremendous pressures on consequences for freedom and de- Much of their work, and that of the board, is ry and legal committee he is a much respected costs caused many to look closely mocracy. Too often the devil is in the chronicled in detail elsewhere but I must praise and powerful force for good. at their operations, resulting in more detail. them all for working even harder in these chal- Together with Francesca, head of newsgath- efficient businesses and, important- And it is attention to detail and lenging times. ering at the BBC, they will offer a powerful voice ly, a stronger bias of resource away level of scrutiny that we as editors I took over as president at Stansted where Nigel uniting broadcasting and press in the cause of from production to the content that have much to thank the society for, Pickover and the team produced a superb confer- media freedom. truly adds value in a demanding particularly Robin Esser as chair- ence that again made headlines and fuelled de- world. man of the Parliamentary and Legal bate inside and outside the industry for months. Donald Martin And across the media there were Committee and Bob Satchwell, our My predecessor had the difficult and unenviable pioneers adapting, creating new ideas hard-working executive director. task of juggling his professional responsibilities to Editor and building new and different plat- As President I have been fortu- ensure the smooth running of the conference The Sunday Post forms to drive revenue and audience. nate to see at first hand their tireless with the more important personal commitments Page 04 Society of Editors Annual Report 2009-2010 Society of Editors Annual Report 2009-2010 Page 05 They were so frequent that I Lyn Disley, Paul Foulsham encouragement of our Advi- once joked with former Jus- and the Magstar team contrib- sory Council and our Fellows tice Secretary Jack Straw that ute their skills to our website, and the valuable assistance I intended to move into one of conference planning and our of many other organisations Director’s report his meeting rooms and claim other activities. Amanda Mac- and individuals that share our it on expenses as my second chi of M-S-G plays a vital role aims. home. in the domestic arrangements We thank our landlords at LAST year recession and firsts. We were treated to a As the rest of this report As well as supporting us fi- for the conference and Giles the University Centre in Cam- acute structural upheaval were characteristic keynote address and particularly Robin Esser’s nancially the Newspaper Pub- Wadsworth makes a special bridge and the teams at Press assaulting all parts of the media. by the new Lord Chief Justice, parliamentary and legal report lishers’ Association has now contribution to its delivery. Gazette, HoldTheFrontPage Despite that the title of Nigel Lord Judge, who has always demonstrates as we entered asked us to take on the organi- Elena Tulenkova meets our and Journalism.co.uk that pub- Pickover’s conference - The provided thought-provoking the society’s second decade sation of the national press day-to-day financial challeng- licise our activities. Fightback - clearly appealed challenges to editors in his there was no let up in the chal- awards, the proceeds of which es and satisfies the auditors. The Glasgow conference and we had a record turnout. contributions to conferences lenges. will be used to make a major Angela Varley has honed the will mark the end of a fruit- The Radisson at Stansted in his previous roles. In addition our involvement contribution to our funding as administrative machine with ful presidential year for Don- Airport proved an enlivening We also welcomed Dominic in consultations, conferences well as supporting the Journal- particular success in building ald Martin who managed a venue when the society was Grieve, then Shadow Justice and seminars shows the huge ists’ Charity. membership and supporting change of job while orches- in austerity mood. But there Secretary who was destined range of activity - and there- We shall say farewell with the CPU Media Trust that has trating our activities.
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