Session 1 - ‘The Challenge of Convergence‘
Where is convergence taking high quality journalism and who is going to pay for it?
Despite the recession, this is a period of dynamic change in broadcast, print and online journalism. There has been an explosive growth in new platforms such as mobile, while the traditional media organisations have suffered cutbacks and loss of market share.
How are some of the leading players adapting their strategies, and what sort of journalism will prosper in the fully digital age? What is the likely impact of new ways of funding journalism – from paywalls to mobile?
How far will convergence go – are we heading for a completely converged profession or will there still be significant differences between the different branches of journalism?
Session Speakers
Alex Thomson (Conference Chair/Presenter) is Presenter and Chief Correspondent of ITN’s Channel 4 News. After Oxford University and a Postgraduate Diploma in broadcast journalism at Cardiff University he joined the BBC where he worked a reporter in BBC Northern Ireland, reporting for the Spotlight current affairs programme.
He joined Channel 4 News in 1989. His investigation into Bloody Sunday won an RTS Journalism award. He has covered all the major conflicts of the last two decades for Channel Four News as well as becoming one of the programme’s main presenters.
Peter Barron is the Director of Communications, UK, Ireland and Benelux, Google. He joined the BBC as a news trainee, working as senior producer on Newsnight before joining Channel 4 News in 1998 as Deputy Editor.
In 2004 he was appointed Editor of Newsnight where he introduced a number of digital media initiatives. He joined Google in 2008.
Nicholas Brett is Deputy Managing Director and Group Editorial Director of BBC Magazines. He worked on The Times before becoming head of Radio Times Arts and Factual Group, then Editor of Radio Times from 2000 to 2001.
He is Chairman of the Periodicals Training Council and Honorary Visiting Professor of Magazine Journalism, Cardiff University.
Mark Byford is Deputy Director-General of the BBC and head of all its journalism. He started his career in the BBC’s Leeds newsroom in 1979 and joined the Board of Management in 1996, becoming Director of Regional Broadcasting and then Director of the World Service before being appointed Deputy Director-General in 2004, taking over as Acting Director - General for five months after the resignation of Greg Dyke.
As Chair of the BBC's Journalism Board, he has overall responsibility for the world's largest news organisation.