SIMON KELNER, former editor of the London Independent, has been confirmed as guest speaker for the National Newspaper of Ireland Journalism Awards on October 27th.
Kelner (53) took over as editor of the Independentin 1998, where he remained – as editor, editor-in-chief and briefly as managing director – until this summer. His tenure was characterised by a number of innovations: turning the newspaper from a broadsheet to a compact (a move since copied by 55 newspaper titles around the world); introducing single issue, poster-style front pages that coined the term "viewspaper"; and launching the Independent's sister title i. His 13 years at the Independentyielded two editor of the year awards (2004, 2010) as well as other accolades including newspaper of the year. Kelner has held a number of other positions including editor of the Sunday Correspondent and sports editor of the Observermagazine. "This is NNI's first journalism awards initiative and it's fitting that an editor of Simon Kelner's stature will be there when we honour this country's finest writers, critics and commentators," said chairman of the NNI Paul Cooke.
The closing date for entries in the NNI Journalism Awards is today. Further information at www.nni.ie/journalismawards