Greg Hywood to speak at A.N Smith Lecture in Journalism

Chief Executive and Managing Director of Fairfax Media Greg Hywood will discuss the future of Australian journalism at the University of Melbourne’s annual A.N. Smith Lecture in Journalism on Tuesday 15 November.

Mr Hywood says journalism is no longer an added extra, subsidised by proprietors but is now at the centre of the news media business.

"Traditionally newspaper companies made the bulk of their profits from classified advertising while the journalism was used just to bolster the audience. But those print classified listings have long gone to the internet and a new news media business model has emerged."

Mr Hywood argues the future of journalism has never looked stronger and has proposed a new model for newspapers with a promise to boost quality journalism.

A Walkley Award winning journalist, Mr Hywood has enjoyed a long career in the media and government and in March this year joined Fairfax as Chief Executive and Managing Director.

The A.N. Smith Lecture in Journalism commemorates Arthur Norman Smith, a leading political journalist and is presented in association with the University’s Centre for Advanced Journalism.

Over its 70-year history the lecture has attracted a series of distinguished speakers including Rupert Murdoch, Bob Hawke, Michelle Grattan, and Peter Beattie.