Absolutely, is the general concensus.

Here are the views of randomly selected delegates:

Ehsan Admed Sehar, chief editor of the Daily Nawa-e-Ahmedpur Sharqia and president of the Rural Media Network of Pakistan:

“I work in a rural feudally-governed area in the southern Punjab where we recently converted our newspaper from a weekly to a daily. It now has a circulation of about 9000. The conference has been a special experience for me in that it enabled me to network and speak to editors and journalists from round the world. My immediate aim on returning home will be to take the newspaper online. The government of Pakistan is providing facilities to provide internet facilities for all at a much cheaper rate. I came as a sponsored delegate and am most grateful for the opportunities this conference has given me.”

Gervais Gango Thiery, editor in chief of Situations in the Cameroon:

“It has been a very good experience meeting editors and people who are fighting for the liberty of the Press. This has been of special interest to me. I come from a country where we have one of the highest literacy rates in Africa - between 80 and 90% - but the circulation of our paper is just 20 000. Today I attended the discussion on free newspapers and realised that we could not afford to provide print news free just yet. The investment is too big but we will work towards that goal.”

Finbarr O’Reilly, Reuters award winning photographer based in West Africa:

“It has been most useful having the opportunity of networking and exchanging ideas with editors and delegates from different parts of the world. The conference has provided me with the opportunity of discussing the launch of an awards project for African photographers. At this stage it is still conceptual. Newspapers in Senegal where I live are of a low quality and largely pro government. Radio remains the main means of spreading information, much of which comes via international TV stations such as the BBC.

Angela Emuna, director of Punch in Nigeria: “What a worthwhile conference. It was certainly worth coming. I have garnered many ideas on how to be more innovative, projects that will probably result in the restructuring of both the advertising and the editorial departments. Our publication has a circulation of 100 000 and is available online by subscription. There is more we can do to increase readership and I am excited by what I have learned and the ideas I can take home.”

Patrice Schneider of the Media Development Loan Fund based in Switzerland:

“Was it worth the trip? Absolutely! The opening event, focusing on press freedom, was spectacular - undoubtedly the most emotional ever in the ten years I have been attending WAN conferences. I was in tears! Our organisation focuses on two levels: press freedom and the funding of media in emerging democracies. The conference has given us the opportunity of speaking to many delegates, and we have come up with many useful ideas to help independent democracies."

Teh Eng Huat, managing editor of Star Publications in Malaysia:

“The Star has a print circulation of 320 000 and an online website. We moved into the multi-media sphere some time ago and provide subscribers with a range of electronic services, including sms alerts, podcasts and videoing online. We plan to include SMS videoing on mobile phones soon. Our newspaper was recently redesigned by internationally acclaimed designer, Mario Garcia who was able to oversee the re-design of the Wall Street Journal simultaneously. The conference has been a very good experience. I was particularly interested in the reorganisation of newsrooms as outlined by the Telegraph. It is something we shall have to do soon.”