“If you ask me about the future of newspapers you have asked the wrong question” according to Greg Hywood, the Chief Executive and Managing Director of Fairfax Media.

Despite, that, the media release from Melbourne Uni that publicises his delivery next week of the A.N. Smith Lecture in Journalism at the University of Melbourne, says he will propose “a new model for newspapers and will explore journalism in a ‘post-classified’ environment.”

Should be a good speech from an experienced journalist who is in a strong position to do something which makes a difference to future  journalism. His ideas will have weight, particularly given the problems that all newspaper organisations are having dealing with the cost pressures produced by the Internet.

The lecture will be held on Tuesday 15 November at 6pm in the Basement Theatre at ‘The Spot’, Business and Economics Building, 198 Berkeley St, Carlton, and you need to book which can be done at www.unimelb.edu.au/public_lectures. Contact is Carly Faragher cfargher@unimelb.edu.au.

I’ve asked for an embargoed copy of the speech, so hopefully we will have something up the day after it is delivered.