Liveblogging the Society of Editors conference

HoldtheFrontPage is at Stansted today covering the Society of Editors conference, the biggest media gathering of the year. You can follow our live updates via our Twitter feed, Journalism News.

Are local newspapers worth saving?

Most HoldtheFrontPage readers would say yes, of course. But here's an opposing view from the Guardian columnist George Monbiot.

Spot on, Peter

You can say what you like about TV's the X-Factor, but it certainly gets people talking. Last night's decision by Simon Cowell to reprieve talentless twins John and Edward Grimes at the expense of Welsh songbird Lucie Jones has been the main topic of conversation in many offices this morning.

At least one regional editor was so exercised by Cowell's behaviour as to feel the need to blog on it, although Northern Echo editor Peter Barron does preface his remarks with the words: "I know I shouldn't get so worked up about a TV talent show, but...."

Peter goes on to pose the question as to how on earth Cowell can slag off John and Edward throughout the competition and then bottle the chance to vote them off the show.

"Could it possibly have anything to do with the fact that John and Edward are guaranteed to generate more publicity than Lucie and, therefore, had to stay?"

Spot on. But as Vicky Frost in the Guardian points out, such naked displays of cynicism on Cowell's part risk killing the goose that lays the golden egg.

She writes: "Jedward are still totally ridiculous, but have now seen off a rather good earnest X-Factor singer, and count Cowell among their fans. By saving them, Cowell has not only destroyed Jedward's appeal – he has chipped away at the programme's too."

Lowe's big tease

As his one-time deputy Keith Perch recently noted, Mike Lowe was one of the great 'personality editors' of the 1990s, bringing his unique style of journalism to first the Gloucester Citizen, then the Derby Evening Telegraph, and finally the Bristol Evening Post.

After leaving Bristol following a management shake-up at the paper in 2005, Mike forged a new career as a lifestyle magazine editor, but the recent departures of Paul Horrocks from the Manchester Evening News and Marc Reeves and Steve Dyson from the Birmingham Post and Mail gave Jon Slattery the chance to dust off his contacts book and give him a call for a feature about what happens to ex-editors.

The interview, published in the current print edition of Press Gazette but not available online, is a great read, not least Mike's revelation that he once entertained "3am fantasies of assassinating the man (or woman)" who forced him out of his job.

But the really tantalising gem is the bit where Mike reveals he has recently been approached to return to editing on a major regional title.

He said: "I had a phone call from a headhunter only this week inviting me to apply for a significant regional editor's job. It took me about 20 minutes to realise that I wasn't remotely interested. Life moves on."

So which "significant regional title" was it? Well, the only one I can think of that is currently vacant is the MEN. If Mike, a lifelong United fan, was not tempted by that one, then it's clear that nothing is going to lure him back into regional journalism.

The Commons: 'A killer place'

The funeral of former MEN political editor Ian Craig took place in his family's home town of Wrexham yesterday, with many regional lobby figures past and present paying their respects.

So today's obituary by David McKittrick in the Independent was particularly timely.

But I have to say my eyes lingered over a rather sombre paragraph in McKittrick's piece, in which Ian's close friend, Ian Hernon of the Liverpool Echo, laments his premature loss.

"He joins a regiment of pals who never made it to retirement. They include fellow hacks, officials and politicians. The point is that this is a killer place. Long hours, the hothouse atmosphere, stress, the political roughhouse, travelling, separation from families – and, let's be honest, 17 bars – all combine to prevent many making old bones."

Hernon himself penned the Guardian's obituary of Ian published on Monday.

The right to give offence

Tory blogger Iain Dale's connection to the regional press is somewhat tenuous - he writes a column for the Eastern Daily Press - so we didn't carry today's story about the PCC adjudication against him on the main site.

Nonetheless, the commission's decision to reject Mr Dale's complaint against the Daily Mail columnist Ephraim Hardcastle's description of him as "overtly gay" certainly raises some interesting issues.

It's a rather strangely worded judgement. The PCC agrees the article was "uncharitable" and "snippy" but does not accept that the use of the word "overtly" in conjunction with the word "gay" is necessarily pejorative or homophobic.

It goes on to say: "While people may occasionally be insulted or upset by what is said about them in newspapers, the right to freedom of expression that journalists enjoy also includes the right - within the law - to give offence."

Dale himself, who had initially complained that the piece was "snide" and objectionable, has been fairly restrained in his comments about the adjuducation.

Writing on his blog, he states tersely: "I'm disappointed, but I can't say I am surprised."