Sophie Jones, the newly appointed head of the Royal Television Society, believes the charity should more forcefully promote the UK's television industry to influential figures including politicians and media leaders. Speaking ahead of her first RTS Convention, she emphasised that whilst the RTS will not be a campaigning organisation, it has a responsibility to ensure television's value as a cultural and economic powerhouse is properly understood. Jones took the role three weeks ago from Theresa Wise and is preparing to host a convention she describes as taking place during a moment of "unprecedented change" in the industry.

The RTS Convention takes place on Tuesday at London's King's Place and will feature prominent speakers including Jeremy Clarkson, Graham Norton, Steven Knight, and executives from the BBC and Channel 4. Amazon is chairing this year's event, which carries the theme "United in Change" and will address major industry consolidation including the Banijay-All3Media merger, the Sky-ITV deal, and a £300 million advertising agreement between Channel 4 and Five. Jones acknowledged the RTS will not take sides on contentious issues but will provide a forum for intelligent debate, a position she reiterated following the society's previous controversy over cancelling a Gaza journalists' award before reversing the decision under industry pressure.