Dr Hwang will discuss new technology solutions and the future of content provision, a role for which he is uniquely qualified. Under Dr Hwang’s direction, Samsung Electronics has become a leading innovator of new semiconductors for the mobile and digital consumer markets, with a remarkable growth rate of 49 percent in 2003-2004.

The Digital Roundtable will kick off the Congress and Forum, the global meetings of the world’s press, with an examination of how digital technology can be used by newspaper publishers to increase readership, advertising and profitable transactions.

More than 1,000 publishers, CEOs, managing directors, chief editors and other senior executives are expected in Seoul for the Congress, Forum and Info Services Expo 2005, which will take place from 29 May to 1 June. Information about the events, including the full programme, a list of participants and registration information, can be found by clicking here.

The Digital Roundtable, which takes the theme, "Any Time, Any Place: News in the Ultimate Information Society", will take place on 29 May. In addition to the keynote session featuring Dr Hwang, sessions include:

  Lessons from the early adopters of "multi-device" content provision, featuring a presentation by Chang-hee Park, General Manager of Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo, and case studies from Europe and Asia.

  An examination of the research opportunities, partnerships and new advertising and transaction models available to newspaper publishers through mobile and other digital devices, presented by Telenor, Norway’s leading telecommunications company and a major international player in the industry.

The 58th World Newspaper Congress, 12th World Editors Forum and Info Services Expo 2005 are an encounter with the world’s most innovative newspaper strategies and the people who conceive them. Highlights include:

  A discussion of what kind of newspapers readers will require in the years ahead by leading global publishers, including Arthur O. Sulzberger, Chairman of The New York Times Company, Ryoki Sugita, President and CEO of Japan’s Nihon Keizai Shimbun, and Trevor Ncube, CEO of the Mail and Guardian in South Africa.

  A session on "Beyond Print, The Next Generation of Media," featuring Fred Hilmer, Chief Executive Officer of John Fairfax Holdings in Australia, Dae-je Chin, Minister of Information and Communication, Korea, and former President of Samsung Electronics, Shinichi Hakoshima, President of Japan’s Asahi Shimbun, and Sandy Romualdez, President of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

  A session on "new frontiers for journalism" featuring Krishna Bharat, head of Google’s Research & Development Centre and the creator of Google News, and Dan Gillmor, author of "We the Media: Grassroots Journalism by the People, for the People", who is developing a citizen-generated, grassroots journalism project.

  A look at new launches, new formats and new approaches to product, pricing and distribution by Bengt Braun, President & CEO of Sweden’s Bonnier, Michael Grabner, Deputy Chairman of Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck in Germany, and Théo Bouchat, Publications Director of Edipresse in Switzerland.

  An presentation of innovative techniques for increasing readership from Carlos Oliva-Velez, Senior Vice-President of Metro International, Alejandro Junco de la Vega, President & CEO of Mexico’s Reforma Group, and Michael Golden, Publisher of the International Herald Tribune.

  An examination of changing advertising market conditions and how newspapers should respond by Kevin Roberts, Chief Executive of Saatchi and Saatchi, Ryuichi Mori, Managing Director and Board Member of Dentsu and Tim Ellis, Global Director of Advertising and Media for Volvo.

  The annual update on world trends in the newspaper industry, by Timothy Balding, Director General of WAN.

  The 2005 Global Report on Innovations in Newspapers, by the Innovation International Media Consulting Group, presented by Juan Señor, Claude Erbsen, and Juan Antonio Giner.

  An exhibition of the winning photos in the World Press Photo competition, which attracted more than 4,000 photographers from 124 countries.

  As in past years, the Congress and Forum will feature a wide array of social events, including a 400th birthday bash for the anniversary of the first newspaper!

  And much more.

There is still time to register! Full information here.

The Paris-based WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, represents 18,000 newspapers; its membership includes 72 national newspaper associations, individual newspaper executives in 102 countries, 11 news agencies and nine regional and world-wide press groups.

Inquiries to: Larry Kilman, Director of Communications, WAN, 7 rue Geoffroy St Hilaire, 75005 Paris France. Tel: +33 1 47 42 85 00. Fax: +33 1 47 42 49 48. Mobile: +33 6 10 28 97 36. E-mail: lkilman@wan.asso.fr.