An audience with John Ridding, Chief Executive, Financial Times December 5, 2007

Chair: Roy Greenslade

"Just a couple of years ago commentators were pointing to the FT's ominous sales problems. Today, circulation is up by 30%, with an increase in Britain too. Earlier this year, the FT also reported a leap in profits for 2006 from £2m to £11m, with sales up 8% and advertising revenues rising 9%. A raft of digital innovations have been added to FT.com including a new access model, a redesign, new markets page, more blogs and more video. In 2004, FT launched its Chinese-language website, which now has more than 800,000 registered users.

But tough competition looms. Rupert Murdoch of News Corporation promised to "crush" the FT, and true to his words, Wall Street Journal has just announced it will be giving free access to its website in an attempt to boost users ten fold.

Largely credited for FT's turnaround so far, CEO, John Ridding, will be interviewed by Roy Greenslade, a former editor of the Daily Mirror, and now Professor of Journalism at City University, London.

In the interview, Mr Ridding will share how he made it from being a reporter to CEO, how he transformed the FT, its experience in China, his latest plans and candid view of the future."

Attending the event
The event is free for LSE Media Group members, LSE staff and students to attend; £5 for others, including members' guests (payable on the door) - no need to pre-book. This event is likely to be very popular, please arrive early.

If you have any queries, please email alumnievents@lse.ac.uk.

Event produced by Tej Sood.