McCann to address TV executives

Kate and Gerry McCann have harnessed the media in their search

The father of the missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann is to address TV executives about the media's role in the hunt for his daughter.

Gerry McCann will appear at the UK's leading media industry event, the Edinburgh TV Festival, in August.

TV has played a key role in the search for Madeleine, who disappeared in Portugal two months ago.

Mr McCann joins a festival line-up that ranges from Jeremy Paxman to Sir Jimmy Savile and Jade Goody.

Festival advisory chairman and BBC Newsnight editor Peter Barron said the McCanns' campaign to find their daughter had been "a new and moving phenomenon in 2007".

"We are very pleased to welcome Gerry McCann to Edinburgh to share his thoughts on how harnessing the power of the modern media can be used to help others in similar situations," he said.

Mr McCann will be interviewed on stage by Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark.

Paxman will give the keynote MacTaggart Lecture at the event, which begins on 24 August.

Other sessions will see executives and stars mull over issues including the state of current affairs, children's programmes, comedy, reality TV and new technology.