Viner joins the paper’s chief advertising officer & CEO of Guardian International Claire Blunt and host of ‘Today in Focus’ Anushka Asthana at an event to celebrate the news brand’s 200th anniversary.
The trio discussed The Guardian’s 200-year history, running a newsroom, Viner’s hopes and fears for the future and much more.
Blunt kick-started the conversation by talking directly to advertisers. She said, very simply, that your advertising spend directly funds trusted journalism and free speech – a clear narrative that remained throughout the event.
Asthana went on to ask Viner about the work she is most proud of. Drawing on the importance of holding power to account, she discussed the Dominic Cummings saga, saying she felt a heavy responsibility as it was “the moment the public lost trust” in the government.
In answer to “what keeps you up at night?”, Viner said, professionally, it is to be better, endure and thrive and personally, it is the climate crisis. She referred to climate change as something that is happening faster and more dramatically than anyone had projected and an area The Guardian is focused on playing a role.
On what gives her hope, she said “young people”. Their dedication and engagement with environmental concerns, racial injustice and equality is inspiring and something that all generations can learn from.
Closing the event, she touched on the future of The Guardian. She said that going forward, her team will continue to do “the accountability journalism society needs us to do”.
