Royal Television Society uses Cambridge Convention to modernise image

The RTS’ biannual convention will focus on the economic challenges facing the broadcasting industry and is keen to shake off the perception it is old-fashioned.

It is using broadcast PR specialists Franklin Rae Communications to run a print and online PR campaign to challenge these assumptions.

Account director Leigh Turnbull said: ‘The RTS has been seen in the past as a somewhat traditional body, when in fact it is at the forefront of new developments in the industry.’

This is reflected, she said, in an impressive line-up of speakers that are web specialists including The Guardian’s Emily Bell and Google’s CEO and chairman Eric Schmidt, who will be interviewed by the BBC’s director-general Mark Thompson via satellite.

The convention has already hit the news as Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw is expected to use tonight’s speech to signal the Government’s willingness to lift the ban on product placement in commercial TV programmes.

Michael Grade CBE and Dawn Airey will also speak at the three-day event.

Franklin Rae Communications will run a Twitter feed throughout the convention.