Visiting Professor in Broadcast Journalism, Jon Snow - pictured
after presenting winners of Coventry University's Ernest Petrie
Prize for excellence in journalism with their awards during one of
his Coventry Conversations. Jon is a regular contributor to the
Coventry Conversations.
They say it's good to talk - and this week marks the sixth
anniversary that Coventry University has been welcoming high
profile speakers through its doors to take part in its Coventry
Conversations.
Beginning as an idea by Coventry University Senior Lecturer in
Journalism John Mair, nobody could have predicted that a season of
free talks by guest speakers involved in the media industry would
turn into a Coventry institution. But six years down the line, over
300 conversations have been hosted by the University, with around
four million downloads made from online archives. Participants have
included household names from the world of journalism and politics,
sport, the arts; and academics from Coventry University and
elsewhere.
High profile journalists to take part have included Donal
MacIntyre, on the world of undercover reporting; Jon Snow, talking
about the Twitter generation of journalism; Jeremy Paxman,
discussing why he's so good at grilling guests; Kirsty Wark talking
about life as a political journalist; and Jeremy Vine, on starting
his media career in Coventry. While local names have included BBC
WM consumer champion Ed Doolan, BBC Midlands Today anchor Nick
Owen, and former Coventry Telegraph Editor Alan Kirby; not to
mention former Cabinet Minister and West Midlands MP Clare Short,
talking about resigning from the government.
From the world of arts and entertainment Coventry University has
welcomed award-winning scriptwriter Andrew Davies; creator of hit
show Shameless, Paul Abbott; celebrated satirist Armando Ianucci;
Royal Shakespeare Company Executive Director, Vikki Heywood;
legendary DJ Paul Gambaccini; Coventry film director Debbie Isitt;
and Two-Tone icon Horace Panter, from The Specials. Meanwhile,
sport fans have been treated to talks by West Midlands' football
legend Cyrille Regis; the voice of Formula One, Murray Walker; and
Coventry athlete and Olympic gold medal winner, David
Moorcroft.
Coventry Conversations' coordinator and Senior Lecturer in
Journalism, John Mair said:
"Coventry University has a superb reputation for media and arts
studies, and the Coventry Conversations provide a valuable resource
for our students while giving the public an insight into the world
of media. It's wonderful to be able to attract such high profile
guests to the University and the city, and I feel very honoured to
be able to act as an ambassador for Coventry as a whole while
promoting the University as a centre of excellence and an essential
stop on the media circuit."
Forthcoming conversations include BBC Executive Producer of
Comedy Jon Plowman, talking about the return of Ab Fab's Edina and
Patsy; a look ahead at the 2012 Olympics with Coventry athletic
heroes David Moorcroft and David Long; local boys made good Brody
Swain from Touch FM and Tom Reeves from Mercia FM; and Coventry
City's FA Cup winning team members Cyrille Regis and Dave Bennett,
recalling that triumphant day in 1987.
Talks are free, open to the public, last approximately an hour
and generally take place every Thursday at 1pm in Coventry
University's Ellen Terry Building on Jordan Well. For the calendar
of Conversations visit: http://wwwm.coventry.ac.uk/cuevents/Pages/CoventryConversations.aspx
The Coventry Conversations series is supported by Google,
Coventry Telegraph, BBC Coventry & Warwickshire, Touch FM and
Mercia FM.