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The Society provides members with monthly news updates, regional networks and events, opportunities to meet key players from the industry and government, in addition to first class advice and support. Members also enjoy discounts on conference attendance, publications and books, as well as Commonwealth Press Union Media Trust membership.

Membership is subject to approval by the Board of Directors, so if you are wondering about your eligibility, sign up, give us your details and we will get in touch.

As a member, you agree to pay the annual membership subscription appropriate to your level of membership.  Membership fees are set by the board each year.

 

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Membership of the Society requires full support and endorsement for the aims and objectives. View the full list of available membership categories.

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To enquire about joining the Society of Editors please contact us by emailing office@societyofeditors.org

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Why join the Society of Editors?

The Society of Editors works to protect the freedom of the media that is part of the universal right to freedom of expression and champions the importance of a vital news media to a democratic society

The Society represents members in national, regional and local newspapers, magazines, broadcasting, digital media, media law and journalism education. It campaigns for media freedom and is motivated by a desire to promote the public’s right to know and a commitment to high editorial standards and integrity. It strives to preserve editorial independence.It is not all talk. The Society of Editors has achieved the following:

  • Assisted in the setting up of the Journalism Diversity Fund. Launched at the 2005 annual conference, the diversity fund aims to support and encourage the training of journalists from ethnically and socially diverse backgrounds
  • Campaigned tirelessly for long overdue reform of defamation law in the UK which saw the passage of the Defamation Act in 2013
  • Successfully lobbied the Attorney General for a review of contempt laws and regular liaison between the government and the media
  • Successfully campaigned to open up the family courts and the Court of Protection to public scrutiny resulting in new guidelines coming into effect in 2014
  • Worked with the Judicial College, News Media Association and the Media Lawyers Association to twice update guidelines on open justice and reporting restrictions in the criminal courts
  • Worked with the Association of Chief Police Officers to update police media guidelines
  • Emphasised the dangerous impact of CFAs upon the media
  • Ongoing campaigning alongside the Campaign for Freedom of Information on the need to protect the Freedom of Information Act from the Commission on Freedom of Information’s proposals
  • Stood up for self-regulation of the press
  • Oversaw the agreement between the Ministry of Defence and the media which enabled Prince Harry’s deployment to Afghanistan in 2007 and 2013
  • Worked with other media organisations to counter the increasingly worrying trends of sports organisations and arenas imposing draconian conditions on press attendance at sports and music events
  • Worked with the Defence Security and Media Advisory Notice System to improve reporting of security issues
  • Organised the National Press Awards and Regional Press Awards and special regional seminars highlighting UK journalistic achievement
  • Worked to maintain the highest standards in journalistic training through the NCTJ, as well as publishing an online guide for aspiring journalists
  • Represented editors on the Media Emergencies Forum, taking part in exercises to help plan for reporting and following up lessons learnt from major terrorist incidents, a possible flu pandemic and other potential incidents. Collected feedback from the media after major incidents to feedback into the forum
  • Promoted responsible reporting by supervising the publication of guidelines on reporting HIV, human rights and young people and produced good practice guides for the media on Reporting Diversity, Reporting Poverty, Dealing with the stigma of drugs and A guide to Online Moderation
  • Successfully lobbied in 2014 against implementing proposals in the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill that would have given the attorney general the power to order media organisations to remove articles from their online archives
  • Campaigned for and on behalf of newspapers and broadcasters for the implementation of cameras in court rooms with Sky News becoming the first organisation to broadcast live from the Supreme Court in 2013
  • Campaigned strongly against calls to implement pre-charge anonymity and any form of secret justice
  • Successfully campaigned for judicial oversight to protect journalistic sources in respect of police use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act