The annual Orwell Prize is being launched next month with a panel debate about the refugee crisis.
Among the speakers will be Tory MP Andrew Mitchell, who was secretary of state for international development from 2010 to 2012 and, briefly, government chief whip.
Lord (Ken) Macdonald QC, chair of the council of the Orwell Prize, will launch the 2016 prize before introducing the debate, entitled “‘Something must be done’: the challenges of aid and the humanitarian and refugee crisis”.
Aside from Mitchell, the other two speakers will be Suzanne Franks, professor of journalism at City University London, who has studied the relationship between media and aid; and journalist Ian Birrell who has reported extensively from Africa and is the co-founder of Africa Express.
It will be chaired by David Loyn, the former BBC international development correspondent.
The event at the Frontline Club in London, will take place on Wednesday 28 October. It begins with drinks at 6pm. Tickets are free, but places are limited and you will need to reserved one here.
A string of unmissable media events...
On 28 September, the Media Society hosts an interview with James Purnell, the BBC’s director of strategy and digital, The BBC today: future uncertain.
The interviewer will be Clive Jones, former chief executive of ITV news and regions. And the event, at London’s Bloomsbury Hotel, will be introduced by Professor Lis Howell of City University London. It will run from 6-9pm. Tickets available here.
On 7 October, the Media Society and London Press Club will host “a conversation” between the Independent’s editor, Amol Rajan, and Phil Harding, the former editor of Radio 4’s Today programme.
The interview will take place at the vertical Fleet Street, meaning Northcliffe House. Tickets available here.
On 18 October, former Guardian editor-in-chief Alan Rusbridger will deliver the annual Society of Editors lecture. It will take place at 7-8.15pm at London’s Stationers’ Hall. More details here. And the conference programme can be found here.
On 19 October, the Media Society in association with the Information Law and Policy Centre will stage a panel debate, Whose investigatory power is it anyway? Security, source protection and surveillance.
Speakers include former attorney general Dominic Grieve QC; the Guardian’s defence and intelligence correspondent, Ewen MacAskill; Rachel Logan of Amnesty International; and barrister Jessica Simor QC. Judith Townend will chair.
It takes place at Reed Smith in London’s Broadgate Tower, 6.30-8.30pm. Tickets available here.
On 4 November, the Media Society and City University London host a panel debate, Data journalism/infomatics is the way of the future.
Speakers will include Nick Phipps, general election editor at Sky News and, by Skype from Oregon, Professor Damian Radcliffe. Others to be announced. In the chair: Ray Snoddy.
It will take place at City University, 6.30-9.30pm. Tickets available here.
On 10 November, the London Press Club - in company with Media Diversified and the Society of Editors - will host a discussion entitled How well does the world of sports journalism represent modern Britain?
Taking part will be London Evening Standard digital sports editor Amar Singh; BBC Sport reporter Jessica Creighton; writer and broadcaster Gabriele Marcotti; Sun sports writer and Women in Football board member Vikki Orvice; and Sky Sports news reporter Dharmesh Sheth.
It will take place at London’s Stationers’ Hall, 6.45pm-8.15pm. To book places, email info@londonpressclub.co.uk.
