Celebrating Print & Digital Developments

The 61st World Newspaper Congress and 15th World Editors Forum opened in Sweden with recognition of Sweden’s superb media example for the rest of the world - top-ranked digital developments combined with a deep love of print.

“In the exploitation of the new opportunities created by the Internet, the Swedish, like their Nordic neighbours, have also proved leaders, whether through their digital news sites, video and web TV, the exploitation of mobile devices or in the convergence of their editorial operations,” said Gavin O’Reilly, President of WAN, at the opening ceremony attended by a record 1,800 senior newspaper executives from 113 countries, in the presence of Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf, foreign ambassadors and other dignitaries.

“There is also a lesson to be learned here in Sweden, however, in the continuing strength of the print newspaper,” he said.

“In all league tables measuring the Internet - whether in terms of audience, advertising market share, broadband penetration - Sweden ranks among the leaders. And yet, consider this: each and every day, in the midst of this highly wired and digitally-educated environment, about 90 % of the adult population reads a newspaper in print, in 83 % of cases paid for. They don’t have to, it’s not a legal obligation, they choose to, despite the existence of so many alternative channels for getting information and entertainment. “

“It is a question of measure and perspective,” he said. “If WE don’t keep our heads and keep uppermost in our minds the realities and hard facts about the enduring force and impact of our core, print businesses, who will do it for us? Not those with the loudest voice or the most provocative viewpoint who, unfortunately, are those who tend to shape perceptions about our industry. “

Mr O’Reilly’s full remarks can be found here.

The Press is Essential to Democracy

In opening the World Newspaper Congress and World Editors Forum in Göteborg, Sweden, the King focused on the importance of a free press to democracy.

“To be able to read, to have access to the written word, is essential for democracy,” he said. “A democratic society requires openness. Unfortunately there are still too many people around the world who do not have this right.”

The King paid tribute to the World Association of Newspapers for its work in defending and promoting press freedom worldwide. “WAN is an experienced guardian of freedom of press and the independence of publishers and journalists,” he said. “The association has a central role in defending journalists in repressive societies and journalists in print.”

He also expressed respect for Li Changqing of China, the winner of the WAN Golden Pen of Freedom award.

And he also recognised the importance of newspapers in society by saying: “The power of the pen has an incredible impact on the daily lives of millions of people.”

”The Speed of Change is Enormous”

”The speed of change in our industry is enormous,” Mr Brunegård said in his opening remarks at the Congress and Forum. ”You could say being in this industry is like being in a tumble dryer.”

In the face of this change, Mr Brunegård said the press must become more innovative. ”Although the media may suffer from a lot of crises, there is still a growth in the business, and we must use this and become more motivated and creative’, he said.

’Innovation is necessary and we should aim to leave something behind that is better than what was left to us’, he says.

His last point is a plea for everyone to think about the biggest challenge our world is facing today: global warming. The media industry must lead the way in changing habits to combat climate change, he said.

’It is a part that is at the very top of our agenda and everyone should take this challenge seriously’, he said.

Golden Pen of Freedom Awarded to Chinese Journalist

A Chinese journalist who went to prison for reporting on a health threat before Chinese authorities announced it has been awarded the 2008 Golden Pen of Freedom, the annual press freedom prize of the World Association of Newspapers.

The award to Li Chongqing, who was released from prison in February after serving three years for reporting on an outbreak of dengue fever, marked the second consecutive year that the annual award has gone to a Chinese journalist. It was the first time since WAN created the award in 1961 that journalists from the same country have won it in consecutive years.

Mr Li was unable to obtain a passport and could not attend the award ceremony. His wife, Bao Dinling, was stopped at the airport in Beijing and prevented by Chinese authorities from attending.

But in remarks read by Li Jianhong, a writer who has been persecuted and arrested and forced to leave China, Mr Li said: “The facts that Chinese journalists have gotten the Golden Pen of Freedom Award two years in succession, and that China has become the world’s largest jailer of the journalists, have shown that the current situation of free expression in China is of growing concern to the whole world.”

The award was presented by George Brock, President of the World Editors Forum, who said: “The award was made on the individual merits of Mr Li’s case. He went to jail for exposing a serious outbreak of a dangerous disease before the authorities had told the public about it. The Golden Pen of Freedom recognises Mr Li’s brave conduct in revealing significant facts in the public interest.

“But Mr Li’s case also belongs in a context. China has the dubious distinction of being the world’s biggest jailer of journalists. “Despite the promises it made in its successful Olympic bid to improve conditions for journalists, China has continued its repressive policies, cynically believing that neither the Olympic movement nor the international community expects them to honour their promises of reform.”

Mr Li’s full remarks can be read here.

Mr Brock’s remarks can be found here.