Aspiring media entrepreneurs will soon have access to advice from established experts on how to start and develop their own business in the competitive field.

The British Library will host its ‘Hot off the Press’ panel discussion on 2 October, which aims to bring together some of the UK’s “trail-blazing and controversial” entrepreneurial editors who will debate how best to start and develop a business in the media.

The panel will include Steve Auckland, managing director of the free London newspaper, Metro; James Brown, founding editor of Loaded and Jack magazines; and the founder of magazine company, IFG; Lopa Patel, founder of Redhotcurry.com; and William Ong, founder of Chinatown, the business and lifestyle magazine for the Chinese in the UK, China and Asia-Pacific.

The panel will attempt to explore topics such as the distribution of free newspapers and their effect on the news agenda and future of journalism, the power of ‘citizen journalism’ and whether the internet will take over from print media.

The discussion also hopes to identify future opportunities in media and the secrets of a successful media venture, the Library’s head of marketing said.

The panel discussion is the second in a series of events running through 2006-07 under the Library’s banner ‘Inspiring Entrepreneurs’, which is supported by HSBC.

“Having the right media strategy should be an important part of the marketing mix for any business. Why? Firstly because the competition are doing it and secondly because positive media coverage translates into a valuable form of free publicity for your company,” said Simon Wainwright, Head of Business Banking at HSBC Bank.

“The British Library has lined up some great speakers for what promises to be a lively, informative and entertaining event.”

The ‘Hot off the Press’ discussion panel will run from 6.30pm to 8.00pm on Monday 2 October 2006 at The British Library Conference Centre and is followed by a drinks reception until 9.00pm.

Tickets, priced £6 (£4.00 concessions) are limited to 255 and are available by phone +44 (0) 20 7412 7222, email boxoffice@bl.uk or in person at the Information Desk at The British Library.