More than sixty University of Glasgow alumni gathered for a special panel discussion on the future of printed media at the headquarters of Santander Bank in central London on Wednesday 3 October.

Media alumni event‎Chaired by veteran broadcaster, journalist and proud Glasgow graduate Andrew Neil, MA 1972, the panel included fellow alumni Channel 4’s Sarah Smith, MA 1989 and Brian McBride, MA 1977 the chairman of online fashion retailer ASOS and a non-executive director on the board of the BBC  - as well as Anthony Frost who is Head of Communications for Santander UK and the Principal of the University of Glasgow, Professor Anton Muscatelli.

In what was a highly entertaining and robust discussion the audience heard some optimistic noises about the future of news media, but perhaps not as we know it. Content, rather than the form of delivery, is king. Will printed press, survive - perhaps more slanted to comment and analysis than news? And what will be the next big thing in the delivery of information? Just at the point when debate on this was becoming quite heated, a fire alarm brought the formal event to a slightly premature end. But after a short outdoor hiatus, the audience and panel spent a further hour debating and discussing the issues raised in an informal networking session.

The Director of Development and Alumni Cathy Bell told E-News, “This was a fantastic event, and we were really fortunate to have such a high-powered and entertaining panel. I was delighted that so many of our alumni from in or near London were able to attend, and we will certainly be looking to do similar events  – including running a discussion on the future of the media in Glasgow at some point in the future.”

 

 

  

First published: 5 October 2012

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