Her career spans 30 years in media relations and corporate communications and her contact book is vast.  As President of the Media Society for a record four years, her name and number features in numerous influential media contact books too.  With no full time staff, she uses the power of persuasion, cajoling, and bullying her Council of volunteers to help get the Media Society events planned and noticed.  She admits it is sometimes an uphill struggle.  However the dynamic programme of recent and forthcoming events bears witness to how successful she and her team have been.   

Asked to describe her mission for the Media Society she replies "to make the Society more central to the lives of all those working or seeking work in the media. We are a broad church, indeed the only organisation that cares about all the media industry including lawyers, TV and radio personalities, journalists, writers, academics, students, PR and public affairs professionals and on-line bloggers." 

She has an impressive track record herself as head of communications for three of the world's major news organisations, CBS News in New York, and ITN and CNN International in London.  As Head of Information Services for CBS, she handled the Public Relations for the transition of the iconic Walter Cronkite to the tenacious Dan Rather.  She helped to ensure that he eventually became iconic too.  When she handled Public relations for ITN, the bongs in the News At Ten really counted for something. The world listened and politicians shook.  It regularly out-scooped its rivals at the BBC and hammered them in the ratings.

The annual Media Society Award has a firm place in the nation's fixture list and has attracted winners including  Alistair Cooke, David Attenborough, John Humphrys, David Frost, David Dimbleby, Gillian Reynolds, Michael Parkinson, Jenny Murray, Paul Dacre and last year’s winner Jeremy Paxman. This year's choice, selected by members, is Melvyn Bragg, and Geraldine is busy planning another sumptuous awards evening at the Landmark Hotel on June 3.  Confirmed speakers so far include author P.D. James and former culture minister Chris Smith. The contact book is flashed around.  Who else to invite?  Who to leave out?  How to run the evening?

Melvyn's career spans the arts, politics, books, broadcasting and journalism. A filmed insert for those who can't get there is being prepared by a Council member.  Perhaps a gentle briefing of those who can come but can't be trusted to keep to the tight schedule on the night. How much roasting can Melvyn take?  How flexible is his sense of humour?  Difficult questions that need discussion and decision.  

Sharpe-Newton brings to the task a wealth of experience, a critical eye and the sensitivity to absorb the views of others.   Ideal qualities for Madam President.

But the Media Society, though important,  is only part of her life.  She has a vibrant hinterland and her own PR consultancy.  Our President loves to travel and to take photographs.  She says being away from London only makes her appreciate it more.  But she has to get away and loves to see "things that are soon to be gone. So I always go off piste all over the world."  Recent journeys have taken her to Bhutan, Kashmir, Ladakh, Gujarat, Vietnam, tents in the Simian Mountains of Ethiopia and the Libyan Desert, in the future the Silk Road - perhaps a yurt in Mongolia. 

 

At homes in London and the country, she is married to producer Peter Bluff and is  "totally besotted with my three grandchildren.  Three girls aged 2, 4 and 12." 

How will she know when to say "Job Done" at the Media Society?   She takes a deep breath and a large slug of mineral water.  "I guess when I have ensured that as many journalists of the future as possible get involved and come to the meetings of the Media Society.  It is, after all, the Best Deal In Town."