2025 Future of News Conference

The Society of Editors’ Media Freedom Conference 2025, The Future of News took place on Tuesday 25 March 2025. 

Held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in London, in partnership with Allwyn and Vodafone, the conference brought together more than 150 leading editors and news executives from all sectors of the UK news industry for the Society’s annual debate on the key opportunities and challenges facing the industry. 

The event heard from Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons on the important role of the media amid the danger posed by ‘armchair journalists’ and fake news online and Sarah Whitehead, Director of Newsgathering and Operations at Sky News on why the ‘brilliant and extraordinary’ British media should be celebrated. The conference also heard from speakers including Mark Landler,  London Bureau Chief at The New York Times on the reality of reporting on the Trump Presidency and saw the presentation of a Fellowship Award for Outstanding Contribution to Journalism to BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen.

Panel discussions at the high-profile event also focused on AI and journalism, police and media relations, growing audiences and building trust, the future of royal and showbiz reporting and journalists’ safety. 

Photos from the event can be found below. Credit: Lucy Young

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