Purpose and Activities
Click here to view the Society’s Memorandum and Articles of Association
The society campaigns and lobbies to fight for media freedom operating as oulined in the objectives of the organisation. Its origins date back to Guild of Editors that was formed by regional and local newspaper editors in 1946.
It has more than 400 members made up of editors, managing editors, editorial directors, training editors, editors-in-chief and deputy editors in national, regional and local newspapers, magazines, radio, television and new media, lawyers and academics in journalism education.
Its members are as different as the publications and programmes they create and the communities and audiences they serve.
But they share the values that matter:
• The promotion of press and broadcasting freedom and the public’s right to know
• The universal right to freedom of expression
• The vitality of the news media in a democratic society
• The commitment to high editorial standards
These values give the society an integrity from which it derives authority to influence debate on press and broadcasting freedom, ethics and the culture and business of news media.
The objectives of the Society
The Society is established for the following objects:-
• to defend and promote the freedom of the media and to champion the universal right to freedom
of expression.
• to represent members' interests in all matters of editorial and professional concern and
interest.
• to monitor legislation on matters affecting the news media either directly or indirectly
and to make appropriate representations to parliaments, regional assemblies, the European Commission
and Parliament and other organisations and authorities at all levels of government and public life.
• to interpret legislation and advisory notices to other organisations.
• to provide a forum for discussion of the practical problems of editorship and to promote
the objectives of the Company.
• to provide access to a network of professional contacts.
• to offer advice to members on issues of practical and ethical concern and to support other
bodies in promoting standards in journalism, the independence of the media and self-regulation.
• to help improve the quality of journalism through the active support of education and training.
• to represent the UK's senior journalists internationally, assisting editors abroad to establish
independence and ethical standards. And the Company shall have the following powers exercisable
in furtherance of its objects but not otherwise:-
• to act as a medium for collective consultation and representation on all matters of editorial
concern and interest;
• to monitor the legislative process on matters affecting the press and broadcast media and
make appropriate representation to Parliament and elsewhere;
• to interpret legislation to members;
• to provide facilities for information and discussion on the practical problems of editorship;
• to advise on and help improve the education and training of journalists;
• to advise members on professional matters;
• to co-operate with other organisations;
• to set an annual subscription for each class of membership which all members of that class
shall be required to pay;
• to provide and sell information or goods directly related to the objects of the Company;
• to undertake any of the Company's objects and exercise any powers of the Company either
alone or jointly with any other person or body of persons corporate or not;
• to purchase, take on lease, or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire real or personal property
and rights or privileges, and to construct, maintain and alter buildings or erections;
• to sell, let or mortgage, dispose of or turn to account all or any of the property or assets
of the Company;
• to purchase or otherwise acquire plant and machinery including computer hardware and software,
furniture, fixtures, fittings and all other effects of every description and to apply for registration
of any patents, rights, copyrights, licences and the like;
• to borrow or raise money on such terms and on such security as may be thought fit with such
consents as are required by law;
• to take and accept any gift of money, property or other assets whether subject to any special
trust or not;
• to raise funds, whether direct financial sponsorship, legacies and similar gifts, gifts
in kind and to issue appeals, hold public meetings and take such other steps as may be required
for the purpose of procuring contributions to the funds of the Company in the shape of donations,
subscriptions or otherwise;
• to draw, make, accept, endorse, discount, execute and issue promissory notes, bills, cheques
and other instruments and to operate bank accounts;
• to invest monies of the Company not immediately required for its purposes in or upon such
investments, securities or property as may be thought fit;
• to make any donations in cash or assets or establish or support or aid in the establishment
or support of and to lend money (with or without security) to or for any associations or institutions;
• to engage and pay any person or persons whether on a full or part time basis or whether
as consultant or employee to supervise, organise, carry on the work of and advise the Company and
to make any reasonable and necessary provision for the payment of pensions and superannuation to
or on behalf of employees or former employees and their wives, husbands and other dependants;
• to amalgamate with any companies, institutions, societies or associations which shall have
objects altogether or mainly similar to those of the Company;
• to pay out of funds of the Company the costs, charges and expenses of and incidental to
the formation and registration of the Company;
• to do all such other lawful things as shall further the attainment of the objects of the
Company or any of them;
The Society shall not:
• act as a negotiating body in terms of editors' remuneration, although the Company may from
time to time discuss and make representations upon editors' conditions of employment;
• engage in party political activity, whether internationally, nationally or locally