Programme
Society of Editors Media Freedom Conference
March 25, 2025
Leonardo City Hotel, Tower Hill
Confirmed speakers and panellists are listed below with more to follow. Timings are subject to change.
9:00 AM – Coffee and Registration
09:45 AM – Welcome
Dawn Alford, Executive Director, Society of Editors
09:55 AM – President’s Address
Sarah Whitehead, Director of Newsgathering and Operations, Sky News
10:15 AM – Panel: Beyond the Headlines – Growing Audiences, Building Trust
Discover strategies for audience diversification, cross-platform growth, and fostering loyal communities while exploring sustainable revenue models.
Chaired by: Ros Atkins, Analysis Editor, BBC News
Panellists:
Toby Granville, Editorial Development Director, Newsquest
Mitali Mukherjee, Acting Director, Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
Debbie Ramsay, Editor, 5 News
Will Payne, Director of Digital (Editorial), The Sun
11:00 AM – Panel: One Year On – Is Trust Being Restored Between the Police and Media?
An exploration of the evolving relationship between the media and police and how trust can be rebuilt.
Chaired by Alison Phillips, Visiting Fellow, Reuters Institute
Panellists include:
John Battle, Head of Compliance, ITN
Martin Evans, Crime Editor, The Daily Telegraph
Natalie Fahy, Audience and Content Director, Reach plc
Sir Andy Marsh QPM, Chief Executive, College of Policing
11:45 AM – Coffee Break
12:15 PM – Panel: Can AI Transform Journalism Without Losing Its Soul?
Learn how AI can revolutionise journalism while preserving its ethical core and integrity.
Chaired by: Greg Williams, Deputy Global Editorial Director, WIRED
Panellists include:
Owen Meredith, Chief Executive, News Media Association
Edward Roussel, Head of Digital for The Times and The Sunday Times
1:00 PM – Lunch
2:00 PM – Keynote Address
Hear from a leading voice on the intersection of journalism, politics, and digital innovation.
2:30 PM – Panel: Royals, Showbiz, and the Power Elite – Still Relevant or Losing Their Shine?
A discussion on the public’s fascination with celebrity and royalty, responsible storytelling, and the challenges of holding the powerful to account.
Chaired by: Camilla Tominey, Associate Editor, The Daily Telegraph
Panellists include:
Katie Hind, Consultant Editor Showbusiness, Daily Mail
Scarlet Howes, Chief Sunday Reporter, The Sun
Russell Myers, Associate Editor and Royal Editor, Daily Mirror
Rosamund Urwin, Media Editor, The Sunday Times
3:30 PM – Coffee Break
3:45 PM – Panel: The Risks of Reporting – How Can We Keep Journalists Safe?
Gain insights into best practices for journalist safety, both in the field and online, while addressing mental health and emerging threats.
Chaired by: Deborah Haynes, Security and Defence Editor, Sky News
Panellists:
Carole Cadwalladr, Writer, The Guardian and The Observer
Catalina Cortes, Emergencies Deputy Director, Committee to Protect Journalists
Jerome Starkey, Defence Editor, The Sun
Dr Rebecca Whittington, Online Safety Editor, Reach
4:30 PM – The Editors’ Panel
Top editors reflect on the challenges and opportunities facing journalism today and how the industry is adapting.
Chaired by: Katie Razzall, Culture and Media Editor, BBC News
Panellists:
Oly Duff, Editor, i
Richard Duggan, Regional Editor (North West), Newsquest
Jonathan Levy, Managing Director and Executive Editor, Sky News UK
Caroline Waterston, Editor-in-Chief, Daily Mirror
5:30 PM Fellowship Award Presentation to Jeremy Bowen, International Editor, BBC News and Q&A chaired by Ian MacGregor, Editor Emeritus, The Telegraph
6:00 PM – Drinks Reception and CIOJ Awards Event
