Ruth Wishart to appear at Future of Media conference

ONE of the members of the ‘expert panel’ set up to look at the implications in Scotland of last year’s Leveson Report into Press standards is to take part in an Edinburgh conference on the future of the media.

Ruth Wishart sat on the panel chaired by former judge, Lord McCluskey, whose recommendations were published last Friday.

The conference, on the ninth of next month and organised by The Scotsman Conferences, will – say the organisers – “also examine the ever-changing media landscape against the backdrop of the debate on Scotland’s constitutional future”.

Among the other speakers will be Ashley Highfield, chief executive, Johnston Press.

In a media release issued by Scotsman Conferences, organiser, David Lee, is quoted as saying: “The huge focus on Leveson at Westminster and what it means for Scotland – especially against the backdrop of the debate on independence – makes this a perfect time to look at Scotland’s media.”

His co-organiser, Susan Dalgety, is further quoted, as saying: “Leveson and the referendum open up all kinds of issues, but the event will also look at the fundamental questions about the future of the media – does the print media have a viable future, can traditional media thrive and make money online and are we training our young people for a multi-media world?”

Among those also involved will be Juliet Dunlop, STV presenter and columnist on The Scotsman; Moray Macdonald, managing director, Weber Shandwick, Scotland; Joyce McMillan, writer and commentator; Pat Kane, writer, broadcaster and cultural commentator; Kevin Bakhurst, RTE managing director (news and current affairs) and a former editor of the BBC’s Ten o’Clock News; Elizabeth Partyka, deputy director of Channels, STV; Magnus Linklater, former editor of The Scotsman and The Times in Scotland; Stewart Kirkpatrick, launch editor of Scotsman.com, ex-editor of Caledonian Mercury and head of Digital Strategy, Yes Scotland; and Courtnay McLeod, director of the Scottish Media Academy and a media education consultant.

For more information and to book tickets, click here.