Who we are
Media lies at the heart of British life; whether through its historical embrace of the daily newspaper, the modulated tones of the BBC or its enthusiasm for voicing its opinion through Twitter, the rowdy, rambunctious, irreverent nature of British democracy is reflected in the country's love of news, views and comment.
The Media Society is a charity which exists to reflect that passion and exuberance through an exciting, diverse and engaging events programme encouraging anyone with an interest in media to get involved, listening to and questioning those at the heart of this enthralling industry.
Our membership includes journalists, broadcasters, PR folk and indeed anyone who has a connection with media. But just as media affects everyone, so our membership is open to all.
Our mission is straightforward; to surprise, provoke, inspire, educate and entertain.
So enjoy exploring our website, look at our events calendar and why not keep up-to-date by joining the Media Society?
After all, in media, it's now. Or never.
Upcoming events
16
JuN
2022
1 to 1 with Jon Sopel.
In conversation with Phil Harding.
Join us in June for an exclusive evening with the BBC’s former North America Editor Jon Sopel.
On 3 Prime Ministers & 3 American Presidents.
For over two decades Jon Sopel has reported from the corridors of power in London and Washington. He has covered three British prime ministers and three American presidents.
28
APR
2022
Boris and the Media
The Media Society is holding a special Zoom discussion to look how the British media has covered the extraordinary political developments that have surrounded the Prime Minister in the last few months.
The media, mainly mainstream outlets, played a crucial role in unearthing the Partygate revelations that shook Downing Street and undermined Boris Johnson’s position as PM.
31
MAR
2022
Live, in-person event - University Woman's Clubs, W1
Adam Boulton in conversation with Kate McCann
This will be the Media Society's first in-person event since Covid started.
It's on Thursday March 31st at 6.30pm at the University Women's Club in London.
The ‘1 on 1’ conversation will be between the former Sky News Political Editor Adam Boulton and the political journalist Kate McCann.
See Trailer
3
MAR
2022
The War in Ukraine: a special event from The Media Society.
For several days, one story has dominated every news outlet in the UK - the threat of invasion of a sovereign European nation, followed by the brutal event.
24-hour radio and TV news, newspaper journalists filing stories on social media round the clock, and a vast range of social media platforms have brought an extraordinary immediacy to the unfolding events.
Our special panel event will discuss the media issues raised by the invasion and the resulting war.
27
Jan
2022
Event Rescheduled : 6pm Thursday 27 January 2022
'Unmasking our leaders'
Michael Cockerell talking with Ayesha Hazarika about his latest book
15
DEc
2021
The 5th Steve Hewlett Memorial Lecture
BBC journalist Peter Taylor OBE will deliver on:
‘Integrity in Television. 50 Years through the Lens'
The University of Westminster,
4-12 Little Titchfield Street, London W1W 7BY
6:00pm start
16
nov
2021
The Increasing Threats to Investigative Journalism
Serious investigative journalists are under threat.
Their ability to first, find out important truths and, second, speak them to power (and everyone else) is curtailed by a range of measures to shut them up.
1
nov
2021
Hugh Pym - Covering Covid
In conversation with Phil Harding
The latest online 1 on 1 discussion from the Media Society - with the BBC's Health Editor Hugh Pym.
29
SEPT
2021
RESCHEDULED: TMS '1 on 1' event
Ritula Shah and Yasmin Alibhai-Brown: In conversation
The latest 1 on 1 discussion from the Media Society.
22
SEPT
2021
Channel 4 – sale of the century or end of an era?
In 1995 John Whittingdale, then in John Major’s Government made his first, unsuccessful attempt to privatise C4.
He tried again in 1996 and 2015, each time with a different arguments, and now the Government is trying again with a new argument.
Hear the arguments and the debate from key industry players in our exclusive live TMS discussion on Wednesday September 22nd at 6pm.
4
AuG
2021
4TH AUGUST DATE HAS BEEN POSTPONED
NOW RESCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER
TMS '1 on 1' event
Ritula Shah and Yasmin Alibhai-Brown: In conversation
23
JUNE
2021
TMS event
GB News - how's it doing, and what impact will it have?
For the latest Special Event from the Media Society, we’ll be debating the new 24-hour TV news channel, GB News.
There are many questions and issues surrounding the new channel.
Our Chair
Andrea Catherwood - broadcaster, journalist, and newscaster.
10
JUNE
2021
TMS Special Event
The Dyson Report & The BBC
History Lesson - or future crisis for the BBC?
On 20th November 1995 the now notorious Panorama program, in which Martin Bashir interviewed Princess Diana, blew the lid off any tabloid story, magazine gossip or over the fence chatter.
On 14th May 2021 Lord Dyson published his report into the circumstances around Bashirs’s interview.
The findings were excoriating and undermined trust in the BBC’s probity along with the judgement of its then senior management.
What now for the BBC?
Our panel:
Alan Rusbridger - former editor of The Guardian
Dorothy Byrne - former Head of News and Current Affairs at Channel 4
Damian Collins MP -Ex Chair of the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee
Phil Harding - former Head of Editorial Policy at the BBC
Our Chair
James Ball - the Global Editor at The Bureau of Investigative Journalism.
25
may
2021
TMS Special Event
Following the ‘Sewell Report’ on race (Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities).
Is the UK Press racist?
Interview with Joseph Harker, deputy Opinion editor of the Guardian, has been pushing on this agenda at all levels of the organisation for two decades, and started the Guardian’s Positive Action Scheme.
Our interviewer for the evening:
Joanna Abeyie
28
aPr
2021
THINK TANKS AND THE MEDIA:
HIDDEN PERSUADERS? …or Problem solvers
Who are they?
We know that they get lots of “hits” in media for their reports, their ideas and their spokespeople.
Some argue that think tanks provide an important role in carrying out policy research.
But they can be surprisingly secretive about their funding, political sympathies, and alliances. This leads some critics to call them “hidden persuaders”.
Our Chair for the evening:
Lionel Barber
22
feb
2021
The first of 1 on 1 Series for 2021
Clive Myrie: In conversation with Phil Harding
As a regular presenter of the BBC’s News At Ten and as an award-winning correspondent ,
Clive Myrie has become one of the most recognisable faces on British television.
Our Interviewer for the evening
Phil Harding.
28
Jan
2021
TMS On Line Events:
A Shot in the arm. ‘What UK media landscape do we deserve - after the worst is over?’
We’re all learnt from the pandemic and the recession.
What really matters and what doesn’t.
And we’ve all got ideas about how things should be in the future.
Our Panel
Lord Vaizey , the longest-serving Minister of Culture ever under Cameron, May and Johnson.
Claire Enders , of Enders Analysis, is the doyenne of UK media analysts.
Tom Mills, leading light of the Media Reform Coalition, whose critique of our media ecology he will present.
Our Chair for the evening:
James Ball, the Global Editor at The Bureau of Investigative Journalism.
19
Jan
2021
TMS Special Events: The Role of Media in the Capitol Riot
On January the 6th, the world saw a murderous mob invade The Capitol, the symbolic home of American democracy. Many saw it in real time, through the prescience and courage of TV cameramen and commentators who covered it live.
Our panel of US media professionals and journalists includes:
Ben Smith: is the controversial media editor of The New York Times.
Sarah Baxter: US correspondent for The Sunday Times
Others to follow.
Our Chair for the evening is:
Jonathan Freedland of the Guardian.
7&8
DeC
2020
British Broadcasting in Crisis -Steve Hewlett Scholarship Event
Two online events with star-studded casts to support the Steve Hewlett Scholarship for Media Students.
Participants include two former BBC Director Generals - Greg Dyke and Mark Thompson.
Plus Sir Peter Bazalgette, Executive Chairman ITV and Alex Mahon, CEO Channel Four.
1
DeC
2020
Conspiracy Theories - A threat to democracy?
Dangerous online conspiracy theories have led to mass shootings, anti-vaccination refusal protests, and death threats to politicians and celebrities around the Western World.
Our Chair for the evening
James Ball
Having worked for the Guardian and Buzz Feed, James is now, Global Editor, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism and a columnist for The New European.
Our expert Panel:
John Naughton - Observer columnist and academic
James O'Brien - LBC Talk Show presenter and writer
Marianna Spring - Specialist Disinformation and Social Media Reporter at BBC News
Bronte Lord - CNN producer (live from New York)
Please note: ZOOM-log in at 5.45pm for 6.00pm start
2
Nov
2020
Out Foxing the BBC: The future of broadcasting in Britain.
For some time now, the government has been threatening to ‘whack’ the BBC and bring Channel Four to heel. Stories and rumours abound: Charles Moore or George Osborne to run the BBC, Paul Dacre to head up Ofcom, Andrew Neil to lead a Fox News -style comment channel.
But does the BBC in fact need major reform? Does it too often show a metropolitan liberal bias? Are the critics right? Is Channel Four News too left-wing? And in this multi-channel world should we still be required to pay a BBC licence fee?
Our Chair for the evening
Anne McElvoy
Senior Editor at The Economist and Head of Economist Radio.
Our expert Panel:
Greg Dyke
Greg was BBC Director-General 2000-2004 where he famously promised to ‘cut the crap’ and described the Corporation as ‘hideously white’.
Patrick Barwise
Co Author of the forthcoming book, 'The War Against the BBC’.
Philip Davies MP
A member of the DCMS Select committee, Philip Davies is a sharp critic of the BBC, calling it out of touch and too worried about political correctness.
Frank Langfitt
The London Correspondent of the US network National Public Radio. As someone with a foot in media on both sides of the Atlantic.
Please note: This is a free ZOOM Event. ZOOM-log in at 5.45pm for 6.00pm start
15
SEPT
2020
Live from Downing Street: The Battle for the News
This autumn will see a revolution in the way that Boris Johnson’s government handles its communications with the media and with the public. For the first time there will be regular Downing Street on the record on- camera briefings fronted by an official government spokesperson. What impact will the introduction of these White House style press conferences have on the way politics is reported in this country?
This latest move comes after the blacklisting of some tv and radio programmes for ministerial interviews and with journalists and photographers being denied access to ministerial visits.
Newsdesks are instead sent official videos and photographs.
Is this all just the usual daily tussle over the news agenda or is something more fundamental going on?
Our Panel:
Pippa Crerar - Daily Mirror Political Editor . chair of the Parliamentary Press Gallery and the journalist who broke the Dominic Cummings/Barnard Castle story.
Will Walden - respected Westminster journalist now Senior Counsel for strategic communications at global PR firm Edelman. Formerly Boris Johnson’s spokesman, press secretary and communications director, he remains a confidant of the PM.
Mark Mardell, has reported on high-level politics on both sides of the Atlantic. Before returning to London to his current role as presenter of the World This Weekend he was BBC North America Editor, based in Washington, and before that Political Editor of Newsnight and BBC Chief Political Correspondent.
In the chair: Phil Harding, former Editor of the BBC Today programme
Please note: This is a free ZOOM Event. ZOOM-log in at 5.45pm for 6.00pm start
2020
Highlights of our Autumn/Winter Events Schedule
Our events will be held over Zoom until further notice.
We’re longing to go back to The Groucho and The University Women’s Club and see all of you - but not just yet.
Media Land After Covid
How To Stop Conspiracy Theories Running Riot
How to Save Journalism and Journalists
Extreme News Management from No.10 ?
Panelists and date to be announced.
Please note: This is a free ZOOM Event. ZOOM-log in at 5.45pm for 6.00pm start
Covering Covid-19. The biggest story for 100 years.
Has the media's coverage served us well? How seriously did they take it during the early weeks?
Were they fast enough with the facts? Did the right people speak truth to power?
Were we given 'news we could use'?
Chair:
James Ball
Global Editor, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism and
a columnist for The New European.
The panel:
Louisa Compton
The head of news, current affairs, and sport for Channel 4.
John Burn-Murdoch
Senior data visualisation journalist at the Financial Times.
Tom Phillips
Editor of FullFact, the independent fact-checking charity.
Please note: This is a free ZOOM Event. ZOOM-log in at 5.45pm for 6.00pm start
6
Arpil
2020
PLEASE NOTE
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
Westminster from the outside looking in: Press access under Boris Johnson's government
In common with all events involving people meeting together, this event has been postponed due to the COVID-19 virus pandemic.
We WILL be going ahead with it as soon as normal service is resumed - we hope at the end of the summer - possibly earlier. We shall keep ticket holders advised and update this site when we have more specific information.
Please note: This event is postponed
2
March
2020
Carrie Gracie In Conversation with Phil Harding
In Conversation with one of her former bosses, Phil Harding, Carrie talks about her time as China Editor, about her fight at the BBC and about what women, men and employers can do to achieve equality.
Please note: Starts at 7.00pm
18
FEB
2020
The Art of the Television Reporter
A TRIBUTE TO RICHARD LINDLEY
Richard Lindley sadly died in November. He was an outstanding television reporter for ITN and BBC’s Panorama; a former President of the Media Society and a much loved media figure. Leading journalists will be paying tribute to Richard, looking back at his work and discussing the challenges facing television reporters today.
Among those taking part:-
Lindsey Hilsum, Channel 4 News International Editor; Michael Cockerell, leading BBC documentary maker; Richard Tait, former Editor Newsnight, Editor-in-Chief ITN and BBC Trustee; Anja Popp, Channel 4 News Reporter, Winner RTS 2019 Young Talent Award;
Peter Taylor, award winning Panorama reporter; Roger Bolton, Presenter Radio 4's Feedback and Richard Lindley's Editor at Panorama and This Week.
Please note: Starts at 6.30 for 7.00pm.
Latest News
Remembering Katharine Whitehorn:
1928 - 2021
We at TMS were saddened to hear that Katharine Whitehorn, the great Observer columnist, had died.
She was a supporter and friend to TMS and to Geraldine Sharpe Newton, our former president.
Geraldine has written a tribute to Katharine.
Monday 11 JANUARY 2020
Remembering Harold Evans: 1928 - 2020
Harry Evans was the founding president of the Media Society and was honoured with its annual award in 2013 when many of the UK's key media players gathered to pay tribute to the legendary newspaper editor.
Monday 28 September 2020
Lock down update
We are developing a series of virtual events dealing with the unprecedented media issues we now face.
Monday 4 MAy 2020
Covering Covid-19. Register now.
Our first event is on Monday 18th May 2020 at 6.30pm.
There's never been a better time to join The Media Society.
Do that today and the rest of this year is free.
Why not join today?
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Corona virus 19 notice
We are aware of the current risks the Corona virus presents so we are following Government guidance.
Monday 16 MARCH 2020
We are postponing our events until further notice.
We are planing some interim activity which we will deliver on-line.
Of course we will inform you when we resume out events as soon as practical.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Lionel Barber Media Society Honouree 2017:
A Tribute by Geraldine Sharpe-Newton - Former Media Society President
Monday 20 January 2020
Lionel Barber always appeared to have stepped outside the traditional descriptions of a newspaper editor. His calm, energetic enthusiasm, generated a very different style of leadership.
