Richard Tait

Thursday, January 20 8:00 - 9:00pm
Barclay Room, Green Templeton College

Editor-in-Chief of Channel 4 News, Governor on the BBC Board, Chair of the Editorial Standards Committee, Fellow of the Society of Editors and the Royal Television Society are just some of the positions Richard Tait has held outside of his role in the Centre for Journalism at Cardiff University.

And with him comes ex Oxford and Cardiff Graduate, Kate Prescott who is a broadcast journalist in the Economics and Business Unit currently producing On the Money - Radio 5 Live's Sunday night business programme.

Welcome to Hilary

Oxford Media Society would like to welcome everyone back for another action-packed term of media fun.

If you're interested in media, are considering a career in journalism or marketing or simply like to listen to inspiring people, then Oxford Media Society will be right up your street. We organise speaker events that connect all students passionate about the industry.

Our five great speakers for the term ahead are listed on the tab to the right of this post, so make sure you check that out.

Some additional information:

Dinner with one of the speakers
We offer opportunities to dine with each one of our speakers. Before each event, we take the speaker for a dinner (either formal hall or restaurant) along with Media Society members. If you would like to attend, email oxfordmediasoc@gmail.com with the subject "[Name of speaker] Dinner" and name the speaker you would like to meet. We will inform you whether you have a spot a week before the event. (Please note that Oxford Media Society provides only the opportunity to have dinner with the speaker. We cannot pay for the dinner itself).

Joining the Committee
If you would like to form part of the committee in Trinity 2011, please email oxfordmediasoc@gmail.com with the subject "Committee" to register interest. You should also attend at least two of our events this term. We will be sending application information to all those who are interested at the beginning of 6th week.

Membership Fee
Our membership fee is only £10 for a year or £2 per event.

Sign up now
To become a memebr for the year for just £10, please pay by any of the following methods:

1. Cheque or cash
Pidge £10 in cash or cheque to Hannah White, Brasenose College, writing your name and college at the back.

2. Bank Transfer
Transfer £10 to
Oxford Media Society (HSBC Bank)
Sort code: 40-35-34
Account number: 22726351
Reference: [Your surname, your college]
And send us an email to oxfordmediasoc@gmail.com saying that you've paid and what your reference was (eg. 'White, Brasenose')

3. Paypal
Use the button on the right hand side to pay with your debit card or paypal account. Please drop us an email to oxfordmediasoc@gmail.com saying that you've paid.

Have a great term and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Hannah and Georgia

John Ryley, Head of Sky News

John Ryley will address Oxford Media Society today at 6.30pm in Barclay Room, Green Templeton College.

He hails from Witney, but the Head of Sky News unconsciously did more than most to stop the Honourable Member for Witney, David Cameron, winning the overall majority he wanted for the Conservatives in May. John Ryley was the man whose single-minded determination brought about the first live TV debates between party leaders in the run-up to the election, a coup many had previously attempted but never achieved. Ryley made his position to the prospective PMs perfectly transparent in an op-ed column in The Times: show up or we'll do the show anyway with an empty seat. He was even willing to co-operate with the BBC and ITV to make it happen. Though Cameron had been expected to do well, he was outflanked by a popular Nick Clegg (remember that!) and struggled to connect with voters.

This supreme accomplishment is hardly untypical of Ryley's career. Ever the high-flyer, he was appointed Head of Sky News four years ago at the age of just 44, having already spent 11 years at the channel, latterly as its executive editor.

Described by colleagues as an "extraordinary dynamo" and a "news nerd", Ryley will be speaking about his phenomenal career at the top of British TV and the challenges facing journalists in today's 24-hour news environment.

David Abraham, CEO of Channel 4

David Abraham will address Oxford Media Society on 30th November at 8PM. Location TBC, all welcome £2/event or free if you are an Oxford Media Society member.

At the beginning of this year, David Abraham was appointed the sixth chief executive in Channel 4's 27 year history.

In his role, he faces a huge challenge to maintain Channel 4's growth. Only last year, C4's revenues are thought to have failed below £900m, with advertising down 12%.It has been forced to cut its budget programme to £525m and its ratings have failen from 11.9% to 11.6%. Channel 4 will also need to replace its blockbuster Big Brother in 2011. Driving the growth of C4 represents a huge challenge, but many believe that Abraham, with its 9-years experience in pay-TV, will meet it.

Before becoming CEO of Channel 4, Abraham was previously the head of UKTV, where he successfully rebranded UKTV's 10-channel portfolio with short, punchy monikers such as Dave, Watch, Blighty, Eden and Alibi.

He joined UKTV in 2007 from Discovery Networks USA, where he held the role of executive vice-president and general manager of the TLC and Discover Home channels. Before moving to the US, he was the head of networks in London-based Discovery Europe.

David Abraham moved into TV management after a career in advertising; at 32 he was a co-founder of the influential ad agency St Luke's where he was instrumental in landing clients such as BSkyB, HSBC, BBC Radio 1 and BBC 2. He also helped to reposition major consumer businesses such as The Body Shop and BP. At the time, St Luke's was the coolest agency in London, boasting a deskless office, the latest technology and client brand rooms.

Abraham graduated from Magdalen College, Oxford in 1984 with a degree in Modern History. He started his career as a graduate trainee at ad agency Benton and Bowles in 1984.

Join the Committee!

Oxford Media Society is looking for dedicated committee members for Hilary and Trinity Term 2011 (each position is held for two terms). If you're an energetic, organised individual who is passionate about the media industry please e-mailoxfordmediasoc@gmail.com, attaching your up to date CV and covering letter. In your covering letter, please tell us why would you like to be on the committee, assess this term of Oxford Media Society's activity and outline ideas for next term's events. Deadline for applications is Sunday 21st November, 8PM. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to e-mail oxfordmediasoc@gmail.com.