News Xchange, the market-leading news industry conference and networking event,  has announced its first keynote speakers for the June 2023 event, with Leo Varadkar TD, Taoiseach, Prime Minister of Ireland, and former UK prime minister Liz Truss, set to deliver their views about the frontlines of news.

Leo Varadkar TD, Taoiseach, Prime Minister of Ireland, will be speaking about actions the Irish government is taking to maintain a thriving media landscape in Ireland, and warning of the threat to press freedom in many parts of the world in the face of growing autocracy and misinformation. 

Liz Truss MP will discuss the impact of the constant demands of the 24-hour news cycle on government and the influence of social media on the news agenda; reflecting on more than ten years in ministerial office, she assesses how the reporting of crucial issues facing Britain and the world can in turn shape political outcomes.

Noel Curran, director general of the European Broadcasting Union will welcome delegates and set the scene for the event which comes at a time of unprecedented turbulence for the international news industry, as journalists navigate multiple challenges in a rapidly changing media landscape. 

The theme for 2023 will be ‘The Frontlines of News’ as the Dublin-based event opens Earlybird registration.

News Xchange, the market-leading news industry conference and networking event, has announced its theme for 2023 will be ‘The Frontlines of News’ as the Dublin-based event opens Earlybird registration.

The two-day conference, which takes place between 19-20 June 2023, will consider the challenge of reporting from a number of frontlines including War; Climate; Digital; Political; Health & Wellbeing among others.

A 40% discount on the full delegate price is available, with TIER 1 registration costing €699. For more information and to register online CLICK HERE.

In a time of extreme conflict, the conference programme will consider how the international news industry tackles real wars and the information wars, reports from the frontline of climate change and at the digital frontier, shoulders its broad responsibility to foster inclusivity, looks after its people, and reaches the next generation across all fronts.

News Xchange 2023 will explore the threats and opportunities faced by journalists on the ground and in newsrooms around the world and considers the challenges of tackling multiple frontlines simultaneously.

The Frontline of War
From how the war in Ukraine is being reported and how the propaganda machines have engaged, to how new platforms and approaches have changed how conflicts are covered across platforms, we share perspectives from all angles to consider the challenges and successes of a new breed of war reporting.
What about the ‘forgotten’ wars like Myanmar and Afghanistan and what is the potential of future wars? 

The Climate Frontline
News Xchange considers the issues, strategies, reports and perspectives from the front line of climate change. How is the issue being communicated, covered, denied, extended and how is the news business playing a role in deciphering fact from fiction?

The Digital Frontline
From TikTok, Patreon to Rumble and the battle for Twitter, what do digital and AI offer and what might it take away? We drill down into the multi-layered world of digital media and its relationship to old forms of reporting.

The Frontline of Inclusion & Diversity
The imperative to reflect the diversity of the population, and to be inclusive across the board is more important than ever. In this complex, nuanced age how do you get the story right and how do minority groups feed into the broader news agenda in an age of anxiety?

The Generational Frontline
How are younger audiences engaging with news and how can the news business meet the challenges of reaching them in new ways?

The Frontline of Health & Wellbeing
How do we protect our staff and what is the consequence of all these frontlines for the people that work in the news business?

The Commercial Frontline
Who pays for news and how does the relationship between commerce, authenticity and creativity move forward?

The Personal Frontline
What borders should journalism not cross and how does the industry manage its relationships and responsibility when social media operates without boundaries?

China on the frontline of everything
From Taiwan and Ukraine, to trade and Tik Tok, together with most other major world issues, China is now on the frontline of almost every debate, with an increasingly divergent view from the West. What is the view from China and how should this be covered?

The Irish Frontline
Always a Frontline, Ireland has a unique position in the world, a gateway to Europe and a country with an often-challenging relationship with the UK. What do recent negotiations over Brexit and borders tell us and what can we learn from the Irish experience of covering conflict?

A raft of speakers will be announced shortly.