1 June 2007
Over 1 600 delegates from 105 countries will descend on Cape Town this weekend for Africa's inaugural hosting of the premier global meeting of the world's press: the World Association of Newspapers Congress, World Editors Forum and Info Services Expo 2007.
Running from Sunday through Wednesday, the event will see publishers, chief editors, CEOs and other senior executives of the world's leading media companies sharing strategies, innovations and ideas for the future of their industry.
"The programme will focus on the innovations, breakthroughs and opportunities that are benefiting newspapers all over the world," said World Association of Newspapers president Gavin O'Reilly.
President Thabo Mbeki will officially open the Congress on Monday.
The Congress will update delegates on the latest global trends, examining new advertising and circulation strategies, new digital product development and new business practices.
The Editors Forum will focus on what newspapers are doing to leverage their greatest advantage - valuable, credible journalism - into success on both print and digital platforms.
The Info Services Expo will showcase the new services and technologies that are shaping the newspaper of the future.
The event is being hosted by the Newspaper Association of South Africa, in partnership with the Government Communication and Information Service and the International Marketing Council of SA, and backed by an impressive list of sponsors.
Remgro, Montblanc, Venfin, Sunday Times, Mondi Shanduka Newsprint and Mondi will support the social events, while Independent Newspapers, Media 24, Caxton, Johncom, and Mail & Guardian will make the Congress happen.
Telkom is hosting an internet café, while Absa and the 2010 Local Organising Committee are each bringing 30 editors from Africa to participate in the Congress and Forum.
Newspaper Association of SA president Trevor Ncube said South Africa's own newspaper industry was thriving, with over 30 daily and weekly newspapers and over 500 free and sold local community newspapers. "An estimated 3-million newspapers are bought daily in SA," he said.
The Paris-based World Association of Newspapers, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, represents 18 000 newspapers. Its membership includes 76 national newspaper associations, newspaper companies and individual newspaper executives in 102 countries, 12 news agencies and 10 regional and worldwide press groups.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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