Neil Benson spent a working lifetime in the UK media industry, rising from rookie reporter to the very top of the editorial tree, in an era of tumultuous change.

He started out on his hometown newspaper in, The Star, in Sheffield, and went on to edit two of the UK’s leading regional news brands before serving for 16 years as editorial director of Reach plc’s 100-plus regional titles.

Since 2018, Neil has run a successful consultancy business, specialising in leadership development.

He is a former president of the Society of Editors and was the first independent chair of the Editors’ Code committee, which sets the editorial standards for the UK press.

Neil has written a highly-rated memoir, entitled You Can’t Libel the Dead. Packed with amusing anecdotes and colourful characters, the book opens the door on the life and professional dilemmas of a newspaper editor.