Conference 2017

Fighting for Real News Conference
12/13 November 2017, Cambridge

Fighting for real news topped the agenda at the sell-out Society of Editors annual conference in Cambridge in November.

Taking place on Sunday 12 November and Monday 13 November, the agenda focused on fighting fake news and the value of legitimate news sources, police and media relationships and counter-terrorism, freedom of expression worldwide and ideas and innovations.

Ronan Harris, Managing Director of Google in the UK and Ireland, delivered the prestigious Society of Editors Lecture on Sunday evening. Speakers for the main day of conference sessions on Monday included big media names including Chris Evans, Editor of The Telegraph, Amol Rajan, Media Editor for the BBC, Lionel Barber, Editor of the Financial Times, James Stephenson, BBC News and Current Affairs Editor, Sarah Whitehead, Head of News at Sky News, Orit Kopel, Co-founder and VP of Business Development at Wikitribune, Jackie Ashley, journalist and broadcaster, Simon Jenkins, former editor of the London Evening Standard and Will Moy, Director of fact-checking organisation Full Fact. The conference was also attended by Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick and Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley. A full list of speakers is available here.


Ian MacGregor, President of the Society of Editors and Editor Emeritus at the Telegraph said:

“As the debate over ”Fake news” intensifies, trust in journalists has never been more important.

“In an increasingly competitive world, the emphasis on original, quality content on all platforms is absolutely crucial.

“But how do news organisations really achieve that? How do they resource it? How do journalists find new readers and viewers? And what is ”quality” anyway?

“These are amongst the many questions being addressed at this year’s Society of Editors ‘Fighting for Real News’ conference.

“Some of the biggest names in journalism will be giving their opinions and insight – don’t miss the chance the join them.”


The event was sponsored by Camelot, which has sponsored the Society of Editors since 2001, United Utilities, Google, BBC News, JTI,  Foot Anstey, PCS, NLA Media Access, Waitrose, Cambridge News, Visit Cambridge and Beyond, Lidl and HoldTheFrontPage.  

Download Conference Flyer (PDF)

#SoEConf2017