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(Study Tour languages: English and Spanish - consecutive translation)

With local economies booming, provincial autonomy increasing, and Internet penetration multiplying, the Spanish regional press is taking advantage of its expanding influence by embracing digital news production. Newsroom convergence, streamlined editorial processes, and interaction with readers are just a few examples of how these newspapers are radically transforming their daily operations.

The World Editors Forum would like to invite you on a three-day tour of the most innovative newsrooms of the Spanish regional press. This is your chance to see successfully integrated newsrooms in action, to gain insight into the convergence process and to learn from the trials and tribulations of some of Spain's most popular newspapers.

Experiencing these innovations first-hand will revolutionize your thinking as to how newsrooms should be organized and quality, regional content should be produced in the digital age.

Join us in Madrid and Barcelona as we visit:


MADRID

Tuesday, July 10, 19h00

Arrival and dinner with El Pais' Editor-in-Chief, Javier Moreno.

Wednesday, July 11, 10h00-13h00

20 Minutos - Free, local and completely integrated
Arsenio Escolar has led 20 Minutos through a radical convergence and will lead visitors through the freesheet's unique newsroom. With 14 regional editions, 20 Minutos isn't Spain's most widely read general interest newspaper only because it is free. Come discover the real core of its success: an aggressive newsroom integration strategy, including a centralized newsdesk and 24-hour news production, that is heralded throughout Europe.
http://www.20minutos.es/


Lunch at Botín, the world's oldest restaurant according to the Guiness Book of World Records. Discussion with Juan Varela, one of Spain's top media analysts. 


Wednesday, July 11, 16h30-19h00

El Pais/EP3 - Laboratory of innovation
Since June 2005, Director of Prisacom, Mario Tascon, and Editor Pablo Guimon have played key roles in developing the print and online cultural supplement, EP3, aimed at younger readers. The publication's popularity has exploded thanks to city-specific information throughout Spain. Tascon and Guimon will show you how its constantly updated, Flash-based website and weekly print edition work together to maximize impact, sell more papers, and feed the father paper with ideas for its own adaptation to the Internet.
http://www.ep3.es/


Dinner and cultural event (to be announced)


Thursday, July 12, 9h00-10h30
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Vocento - Editorial decisions via satellite
Vocento's Director of Editorial Montserrat Lluis will give visitors a first-hand view into one of the daily video editorial meetings held via satellite by the heads of Vocento's 13 regional newspapers such as La Voz de Cádiz and El Diario Vasco, all leaders in their markets. Also learn how Vocento's news agency, Colpisa, is being transformed into a newsroom that will coordinate general information between the regionals, allowing them to focus resources on local news.
http://www.vocento.com/

Thursday, July 12, 10h30-12h00

Editor Koldo Dominguez will interact with study tour participants as he explains the operations of enlaCe, the award-winning citizen journalism site that has made Vocento's regional, El Correo, a model for papers the world over.
http://www.elcorreodigital.com/vizcaya/


BARCELONA
(transfer to Barcelona, 13h05-17h42, Altavia train)

Thursday, July 12, 18h15-20h00

El Periodico - Localize analysis
Pep Puig, Director of Editorial at El Periodico, the second-largest paper in Catalonia, will teach visitors how the paper structured its newsroom in a way that its Web and print content are diversified yet complementary. Section heads preside over print and online content driving their journalists to post breaking news immediately to the website, leaving more time and space for opinion and analysis in the print edition. More analysis has spurred further interest in reader participation and forums, chats and citizen photography populate elperiodico.com.
http://www.elperiodico.com/


Dinner at 21h30 at Foundation Miro with the Mayor of Barcelona, Jordi Heureu
Special visit of the Foundation Miro.

Friday, July 13, 10h00-13h00

La Vanguardia - Managing integration
Catalonia's largest paper and most visited news website is in the process of integrating its print and digital operations, a project which encompasses training for journalists and a centralized newsdesk. The head of integration, Enric Sierra, will take you through strategies for reorganizing a traditional newsroom, dealing with staff concerns, and boosting circulation, which La Vanguardia successfully did in 2006 to the tune of 5%.
http://www.lavanguardia.es/


Lunch, 14h00-15h30

At El Pais office in Barcelona.
Working lunch with CEOs of start-ups from Catalonia and discussion with regional editors. Hosted by Xavier Vidal-Folch, El Pais Deputy Editor.

After 15h30
Flights home