Speakers announced for new series of free talks

Coventry Conversations returns for a new series this month and sees some familiar names in the line-up.

Starting on Tuesday 27 September, the series starts with a talk on ‘Using Local Media’ with two of Coventry’s leading lights from the Coventry Telegraph and the local BBC radio station, BBC Coventry and Warwickshire.

The talks also include the return of popular guest speakers like Channel 4 news anchor Jon Snow, Shameless creator, Paul Abbott and local writer and film director, Debbie Issitt.

The talks usually take place every Thursday in the Ellen Terry building of Coventry University at 1pm.

As well as being a valuable resource for media students at the University, they also provide the general public with an insightful look into the world of the media.

Other scheduled conversationalists are: Steve Cropley, Editor-in-Chief, Autocar magazine, Barney Jones, the BBC producer of the Andrew Marr show and writer, Colin Grant.

The talks were devised and organised by Coventry University media lecturer, John Mair ,who says that they are more than just lectures:

Since we started 2006, the University has welcomed more than 270 guests from the world of media and staged 250 Coventry Conversations.
I am delighted that this term sees the welcome return to some popular guests who give up their time to share their thoughts, opinions and experiences with us.
The Coventry Conversations have established Coventry University as a firm staging post on the media circuit and the feedback I get from the guests is that they genuinely enjoy coming to talk here.

A full list of talks, times and venues is attached. All talks take place on Thursdays at 1pm (unless stated otherwise) in Coventry University’s Ellen Terry Building, Jordan Well.

The talks are free and open to the public and last approximately one hour.

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For further information, contact John Mair on 07785 378 156 or Ali Bushnell, External Press and Media Relations Officer on +44 (0)24 7688 8245.

Note to editors:

Coventry Conversations

Autumn/Winter Season 2011

Tuesday 27 September @ 1pm – Ellen Terry Building (ETG 34)
‘Using Local Media’
Darren Parkin – Coventry Telegraph
Jeremy Pollock – BBC Coventry and Warwickshire

Thursday 29 September @ 1pm – Ellen Terry Building (ETG 34)
‘Getting Ahead: Internship and that first job’
Steve Cropley – Editor-in-Chief, Autocar and Josh Halliday, Guardian

Thursday 6 October @ 1pm – Ellen Terry Building (ETG 34)
Making ‘Our War’
Colin Barr, Executive Producer for BBC Three/One

Thursday 13 October @ 1pm – Ellen Terry Building (ETG 34)
‘Producing Andrew Marr and David Frost’
Barney Jones, BBC

Thursday 20 October @ 4pm – Ellen Terry Building (ETG 34) – note time
‘From Cov to Hollywood, I did it, so can you!’
Peter Ogden (LIVE from LA) Senior Producer, X Factor, USA

Thursday 27 October @ 1pm – Ellen Terry Building (ETG 34)
‘Shameless and Much, Much More’
Paul Abbott, Writer

Thursday 3 November @ 1pm – Ellen Terry Building (ETG 34)
‘Journalism After Hackgate’
Prof. Stewart Purvis, City University and former Editor-in-Chief at ITN

Wednesday 9 November @ 1pm – Ellen Terry Building (ETG 34)
Just What Do We Mean By Local’
Coventry Conversations/BBC College of Journalism – Coventry Media and Comms Conference.

Thursday 10 November @ 1pm – Ellen Terry Building (ETG 34)
‘Don’t Be Afraid Of The Future’
Prof. Paul Bradshaw, City University

Thursday 17 November @ 1pm – Ellen Terry Building (ETG 34)
‘Just Wires and Lights – The Rise and Fall of Television Journalism’
Prof. Steven Barnett, Westminster University

Thursday 24 November @ 1pm – Ellen Terry Building (ETG 34)
‘Is There Life After Hackgate?’
Kevin Marsh, Today/Radio 4

Thursday 1 December @ 9am – Ellen Terry Building (ETG 34) – note time
‘Days of Hope: Life After The Storm’
Prof. Jon Snow, Channel 4 News

Thursday 1 December @ 1pm – Ellen Terry Building (ETG 34)
‘Bob Marley: The Making of a Legend
Colin Grant, Writer

Wednesday 7 December @1pm – Ellen Terry Building (ETG 34)
‘Edina and Patsy are back, how Absolutely Fabulous’
Jon Plowman, Executive Producer

Thursday 8 December @ 1pm – Ellen Terry Building (ETG 34)
‘Making of Nativity 2 and Looking after the brand’
Debbie Issitt