In the main chamber at 11am, BBC Correspondent Allan Little will lead a discussion “Where Now for the Arab Spring?” assessing whether the dramatic events of the early months of this year that saw the overthrow of the Egyptian regime are really going to go on to deliver the seismic change that the people of Libya, Syria and a series of Arab neighbours have taken to the streets to try to achieve.

Allan will be joined in the Parliament’s Chamber by independent film-maker Omar Hamilton, whose photographs chronicled the events in Cairo, to examine the role of new media and western intervention – and to look ahead at whether the dreams of democratic freedom will be realised.

Carnegie UK Trust Fellow, Blair Jenkins, who is currently undertaking research into new models for news for the Trust, will chair a panel of practitioners and commentators at a session that Saturday afternoon to examine the reporting of Scotland’s forthcoming independence referendum.  The discussion, in the Parliament’s Committee Room 1, will look at the unprecedented challenges facing news providers at both Scottish and UK level to allow audiences access to objective reporting to help them understand the issues around – and implications of – the vote on Scotland’s future.

All events are by ticket.  To book, go to: http://www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk