York media conference told BBC 'on borrowed time'

Speaking at the Society of Editors' annual conference in York, Mr Moore predicted that there would be a popular revolt against the public broadcaster before the next general election.

He said: "If enough people refuse to pay the licence fee then they cannot punish them all - it seems to me to be sitting there waiting to happen."

Praising some of the organisation's "magnificent qualities" he added: "Its success is being paid for by us, and that is dangerous."

Channel 4 News anchorman Jon Snow agreed, adding that: "Unless it is addressed there is going to be a big bang somewhere down the road, and very uncomfortable smithereens will come out."

He said there was a danger that valued BBC resources will get thrown out in any financial reshuffle with the "baby and the bath water becoming horribly confused".

The two men were addressing over 120 representatives from the British media industry on lessons learned from 2002, at Le Meridien Hotel.

Opening the conference, president Liz Page said the event would be a "whistle stop tour of all the best the media has to offer".

The Evening Press editor, who is hosting the event, said the theme of this year's event was "winning them back" - the constant quest to maintain and improve readership.

The three-day conference began with a look at the year's winners and losers and examines the lessons to be learned from 2002.

Mrs Page, who ends her year of office as society president at the conference, said: "Our fight for freedom of expression, the public's right to know and for self-regulation rather than legislation has been fought on many fronts since our last conference."

She added that the event would address the fight against legislation regarding payments to witnesses, as well as training issues, saying sorry, and whether the media in general is "wisening up or dumbing down".

The meeting of some of the biggest names in news has also heard that a "world-class media industry" is within reach for Britain.

Tim Bowdler, chief executive of Johnston Press and President of the Newspaper Society, said the way in which the media relates to the Government would be vital in the delivery of a top-flight media product.

He was speaking at the conference yesterday.

Guests at the event include Channel Four News presenter Jon Snow, and Robert Thomson, editor of The Times.

Christa Ackroyd, of the BBC's Look North, is also among the delegates.

Addressing the first day of the event at the Merchant Adventurers' Hall, Mr Bowdler said: "The creation of a world-class media industry here in the UK would not only be positive for business, but it would also be good for the public interest and for democracy.

"Its achievement will depend upon the freedom of editors to provide the richness of content which their public demands."

He stressed that there was a need for reform of the way in which newspapers are regulated, but said the Government must understand the needs and rights of the media, at both national and regional levels. He added: "The quiet rural roads of the 1960s regional press have changed beyond recognition to become the multi-laned, multi-media highways of the current era.

"The regional press must be free to compete with other media on an equal footing, or it will be disadvantaged to the extent that its advertising revenues will be threatened, thereby undermining the very editorial investment and diversity which the Government and regulators are so keen to protect." He continued: "The Government has the power to facilitate or to impede those outcomes. May they use their power wisely."

Mr Bowdler also pointed out the threats to a free and fair press, saying he was worried by the growing practice of litigants resorting to the courts to force journalists to divulge their sources.

He said he was "greatly flattered" to have been invited to deliver the third annual Society of Editors Lecture.

He likened the situations encountered by international media tycoons to those faced by the Merchant Adventurers themselves.

Both, he said, were people who "risked their own money in overseas trade".

Updated: 15:16 Monday, October 14, 2002