The Society makes this annual award to a person judged to have made a major long term and outstanding contribution to the media.  The first award was given 16 years ago to the late Alistair Cooke, last year to Jeremy Paxman.  Others have included Sir David Frost, Anne Leslie, John Humphrys, Jon Snow, David Dimbleby, Paul Dacre, and Sir Michael Parkinson.

 

The evening will be hosted by Mark Lawson journalist, broadcaster and author. Mark Lawson is one of the regular presenters of BBC Radio 4 's daily arts programme, Front Row. He has twice been voted TV critic of the Year and has won numerous awards for arts journalism.

 

Other confirmed speakers are

 

P. D. James (Baroness James of Holland Park OBE) celebrated crime writer and Conservative life peer in the House of Lords.

 

Chris Smith (Baron Smith of Finsbury PC) Labour Politician, former MP and Cabinet Minister.

 

Mark Damazer, BBC stalwart most recently Controller of Radio 4 for six years, moving to become Master of St Peter's College, Oxford.

 

Howard Jacobson celebrated novelist, journalist and broadcaster, his most recent book, The Act of Love, was published to wide acclaim in 2008.

 

Geraldine Sharpe Newton, President of The Media Society said 'Melvyn Bragg's contribution is immeasurable; his formidable journalistic skills have engaged our intellect across the broad sweep of all forms of art and culture.  He is our chronicler of arts - a cornerstone of cultural programming and thought.'

 

For 32 years Bragg has presented The South Bank Show, and currently presents In Our Time on BBC Radio 4. He is author of more than 20 books, fiction and non fiction.  

 

For more information, to book your place or if you would like to sponsor this event please contact Sam Keegan.

 

 

About Camelot Group plc

 

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