Exeter hosts Power of the Written Word symposium

On Saturday 26 November Exonians and their guests were welcomed back to Exeter College for a day of talks focussed on the Power of the Written Word.

Professor Adam Smyth (1990, Modern History) started the day off with a session discussing the evolution of the book and its future. Professor Christopher Rea, who had come over especially from the University of British Columbia, then spoke very eloquently on the illustrious writing of Old Member Qian Zhong Shu (1935, BLitt).

The afternoon was spent with a panel chaired by Reeta Chakrabarti (1984, English & French) discussing the varying ways of writing for different audiences. John Gapper (1978, PPE) from the Financial Times, Eleanor Franzen (2010, English) previously of Mumsnet, Gregory Lim (2003, Physiological Sciences) Chief Editor of Nature Reviews Cardiology and Lebby Eyres (1990, Literae Humaniores) editor of New! and Star! magazines took part in the lively session that could easily have continued into the evening.

Neil Blair (1986, Jurisprudence) and Jeri Johnson (Fellow in English) finished the day with a fascinating discussion on his role at the Blair Partnership representing authors and celebrities including JK Rowling, and the issues surrounding copyright and privacy in today’s increasingly accessible online world.