Who can journalists trust out of the overwhelming selection of competing interests to act as reliable sources? Can anyone play the role of the ‘honest broker’? How can the public untangle dubious, pseudo-scientific advice and dodgy stats from facts and truth? How can we know whether journalism, particularly reporting on complex issues or assessing notoriously difficult ideas such as risk, is accurate? Should we accept that it is our responsibility as citizens to check the facts for ourselves or should we demand that the media improve its handling of statistics and data?

SPEAKERS

Dr Graeme Archer

writer & professional statistician; winner, 2011 Orwell Prize for blogging

Vance Crowe

director of Millennial Engagement, Monsanto Company

Alan Miller

chairman, Night Time Industries Association (NTIA); leading campaigner, #SaveNightlife

Fay Schlesinger

head of News, The Times

Ceri Thomas

ex-editor, BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme & BBC’s Panorama; director, public affairs, Oxford University