(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN press release: Paris, 10 May 2001 For immediate release Press Freedom Success Stories Feature at the World Newspaper Congress When it comes to global press freedom issues, the news is often grim. But there are success stories as well, and these will be featured next month at the […]
(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN press release:
Paris, 10 May 2001
For immediate release
Press Freedom Success Stories Feature at the World Newspaper Congress
When it comes to global press freedom issues, the news is often grim. But there are success stories as well, and these will be featured next month at the World Newspaper Congress and World Editors Forum in Hong Kong.
An outstanding line-up of speakers from Malaysia, Spain, Syria, Russia, Pakistan, Qatar, Zimbabwe, Albania and Armenia will participate in the annual World Association of Newspapers Press Freedom Round Table on 3 June, which will focus both on the success stories and on current “hot spots” where media and journalists are still in danger.
The event is part of the 54th World Newspaper Congress, 8th World Editors Forum and Info Services Expo 2000, to be held from 3 to 6 June at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. More than 1,000 newspaper owners, publishers, chief executives, senior editors and other managers are expected to attend the events, the global meetings of the world’s press organised by the Paris-based WAN.
The “success stories” session of the Press Freedom Round Table will feature:
–Steven Gan, Editor of malaysiakini.com, a Malaysian daily news website featuring independent reporting, in-depth analysis and investigative journalism. Launched in November 1999, the site was created by journalists unhappy with one-sided news coverage and the lack of press freedom in Malaysia. In testing and pushing the boundaries of free speech and press freedom, Malaysiakini also hopes to counter the culture of self-censorship in the country.
–Mohamed Al-Ali, Managing Director of Al-Jazeera Television in Qatar, the biggest media and political phenomenon to hit the Arab world in decades. The satellite TV station “has every Arab leader gnashing his teeth” with its unique brand of open information and free debate.
–Sasa Vucinic of the Hong Kong-based Media Loan Fund, which assists media in troubled countries to develop solid business conditions to secure true editorial independence.
–Boris Navarsardian, Director of the Yeveran Press Club in Armenia, which has helped establish a dialogue among journalists, through training events, in the historically antagonistic neighbours Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. The cross-border approach, aimed at overcoming nationalism and hostility based on stereotypes, could serve as a model in other regions torn by conflict.
–Shaaban Abboud, a Syrian journalist of the new generation, who will speak about the groundswell of protest and revolt by journalists and intellectuals in Syria, which remains one of the world’s most repressive dictatorships, but may be ready for change.
–Remzi Lani, Director of the Albanian Media Institute and Chairman of the South East European Media Professionals Organisation, which is helping to rebuild free and independent media in the Balkans.
The “hot spots” session will feature:
–Najam Sethi, Editor of the Friday Times in Pakistan, a leading voice for freedom of expression in the country. Mr Sethi, who was beaten, arrested and held in detention in a series of attacks against journalists who have criticised Pakistan’s government, will describe how the situation is evolving.
–Geoffrey Nyarota, Editor in Chief of the Daily News, Zimbabwe, whose printing plant was destroyed by a bomb blast in January. The Zimbabwean government and its supporters had become increasingly critical of the newspaper’s independent stance and had threatened to shut it down. Mr. Nyarota will speak about the deterioration of press freedom in the country.
–Angel Arnedo Gil, Editor of El Correo in Bilbao, Spain, will speak about working for the press in an atmosphere of constant intimidation in the Basque region of Spain, where media enterprises and journalists are being attacked by the terrorist organisation ETA.
–Grigory Kunis, co-founder of the St. Petersburg Times, will present the perspectives for both national and regional independent media in Russia, where press freedom is again under intense pressure.
Further information on the Hong Kong events, together with the full programmes, the participation list and the registration options, can be found on the WAN web-site at www.wan-press.org or by contacting jhewkin@wan.asso.fr.
Members of the Host Committee for the Congress and Forum are: Joy-Shan Lam, Managing Director, Hong Kong Economic Journal; Kin-ming Liu, General Manager, Apple Daily; Andrew Lynch, Editor, Hong Kong iMail; Nigel Oakins, Publisher and Executive Director, Hong Kong iMail; Ray Bashford, Deputy Editor, South China Morning Post; Philip Revzin, Publisher, Asian Wall Street Journal; Francis K.C. Tiong, Executive Director, Ming Pao Enterprise Corporation; and Randy Weddle, Managing Director, Asia/Pacific, International Herald Tribune.
The Congress and Forum will enjoy the sponsorship of: Apple Daily, the Bonnier Group, The Freedom Forum, The Hong Kong SAR Government, The Hong Kong Tourism Board, The Hong Kong Economic Journal, The Hong Kong iMail, International Herald Tribune, Ming Pao Enterprise Corporation, Radio Television Hong Kong, Sing Tao Holdings, the South China Morning Post and Swire & Sons. The events are supported by The Society of Publishers in Asia and the partners of the WAN READY Project.
WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, represents 17,000 newspapers; its membership includes 67 national newspaper associations, individual newspaper executives in 93 countries, 17 news agencies and eight regional and world-wide press groups.
