FIRST Minister Alex Salmond will address senior Scottish newspaper figures at the inaugural Scottish Newspaper Society conference this Thursday (April 24).
In a keynote speech at Glasgow’s Radisson Blu Hotel, the First Minister is expected to refer to the major issues affecting the industry, including Press regulation.
SNS director John McLellan said: ”We are delighted the First Minister is able to join us for the first of what we hope will become a major fixture in the Scottish media calendar.
“It is obviously a historic year for Scotland politically, but it is also a crucial year for the newspaper industry as a whole and we are looking forward to hearing the First Minister’s views on a wide range of topics affecting our industry.”
Organised in association with First ScotRail, the conference’s opening speech is from Lord Black of Brentwood, the chief architect of the new Independent Press Standards Organisation which is set to replace the Press Complaints Commission by the summer.
Also making a keynote address is Ellis Watson, the chief executive of DC Thomson Publishing. One of the UK’s most influential newspaper and entertainment industry figures, he has worked for several major publishers and was also behind the commercial success of TV shows like Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and the X Factor.
As well as the keynote addresses, there will also be two debate sessions featuring Scottish Information Commissioner Rosemary Agnew and Glasgow University’s Professor Philip Schlessinger amongst others.
The conference is open to all media professionals, from public relations practitioners to academics as well as the newspaper industry itself.
John McLellan added: “It is a very strong line-up and the response so far to this new event has been excellent.”
Some tickets are still available from Event Consultant Scotland on 0131 557 5767 or go to www.scottishpressawards.co.uk/conference.
The conference starts at 2pm and tickets are £45+VAT.
For further information contact John McLellan on 07711 058618 or Emma Broll on 0131 557 5767.