Advert for new Trustees and Council Members
The Media Society is recruiting new trustees to join our Council. We’re looking for forward-thinking media professionals and those interested in the media to help us develop and deliver our ambitious strategy to grow and expand the Society.
This is a great opportunity to influence the media industry, build your network, and contribute to a respected charity.
About Us
The Media Society is for anyone interested in the media – including journalists, broadcasters, publishers, content creators, media academics and students, media lawyers, and those in digital marketing, communications and PR.
Our aim is to be a leading UK forum for independent, cross-platform discussion of major media issues, supported by a growing and engaged membership. We are also committed to supporting the next generation of media talent.
The Media Society was set up in 1973 by a group of British newspaper and broadcast editors.
The Role
As a trustee and Council Member, you will play a vital role in our governance and future growth. Key responsibilities include:
Strategy: Helping set and deliver the Society’s direction
Governance: Ensuring strong financial, legal and charitable oversight
Promotion: Acting as an ambassador and growing our profile
Content: Contributing to events, discussions, podcasts, Substacks and newsletters
The Media Society is a volunteer-led organisation, and trustees contribute actively to running the Society.
Council meets four times a year (typically 6pm on weekday evenings). The meetings are hybrid (in-person and online). Members are encouraged to join a committee.
Council Members are expected to become active members of the Media Society: attending events, suggesting ideas and speakers, contributing to content, interacting with our social media posts, getting directly involved with the running of the charity, and encouraging others to join the Society.
The role is voluntary and unpaid.
Who We Are Looking For
We’re looking for applicants with an interest in the media and a knowledge of current issues in the media industry. We are particularly interested in skills or experience in:
Planning and delivering online and in-person events (and podcasts)
Event management and marketing
Digital strategy and social media
PR and communications
The newspaper industry
Membership recruitment
Media academic work
Fundraising
We are looking for trustees who can contribute across all of our activities. But we are hoping that the new intake of trustees will also fill the following vacant roles on our Council: the Media Society Secretary (looking after the administration and minuting of our meetings, and managing the Society’s archive), the Media Society Membership Secretary, and the Head of Media Society Podcasts. Please make clear in your application if you are interested in any of these roles.
You don’t need previous trustee experience, as we will provide training and support where needed.
We want our Council to reflect the communities we serve, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups, including people from ethnic minority backgrounds, as they are currently under-represented on our Council. We also encourage applications from disabled people, and people from outside London or from different social and economic backgrounds.
Why Join Us?
Impact: Shape events, podcasts and editorial content, and work with leading voices in media
Network: Build connections across journalism, broadcasting, publishing and digital
Experience: Gain hands-on board and charity governance experience
Community: Join a collaborative, engaged group running a respected organisation.
Find out more at our website: https://www.themediasociety.com/
How to Apply
Please email information about your career, experience and interests.
This can be in the form of a CV or a brief written summary in a Word document (no more than one page of A4) or a LinkedIn profile link (if you think your LinkedIn profile has enough information about your career for us to consider your application).
Please include a covering letter or email explaining why you’d like to become a trustee and what you think you would contribute to the Media Society.
Email to: president@themediasociety.com
Deadline: 6pm on Friday 30th October 2026
Feel free to email us at the President email address if you have any questions. Please note: a covering letter or email is essential; we may not consider applications without one.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a meeting with the appointments committee. Appointments need to be approved at a full Council meeting. We aim to appoint new trustees in November 2026.
We are currently reviewing our Articles, but the current proposal is that trustees will serve a 3-year term, renewable once.
Trustees need to be a fully paid up member of the Media Society (annual fee £45).
Trustee Information
The Media Society is a registered charity (No. 313450) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (No. 01103573). New trustees would be registered with both Companies House and the Charity Commission and, like all charity trustees, would have duties under the Charities Acts 2011 and 2022 and, as company directors, under the Companies Act 2006.
Since November 2025, new company directors must verify their identity with Companies House.
Trustees must be 18 or over and not disqualified from acting as a trustee, and will be asked to sign a declaration of eligibility and declare any conflicts of interest.