From Gavin O'Reilly and George Brock
Dear Colleague,
We have great pleasure in inviting you to participate in the 61st World Newspaper Congress, the 15th World Editors Forum and Info Services Expo, which will be held in Göteborg, Sweden, from 1 to 4 June 2008.
As Presidents of the World Association of Newspapers and the World Editors Forum, we can ensure you that everything possible is being done to welcome you warmly to these events and to provide a spectacular programme.
Sweden is a special place for newspapers and other media: it gained press freedom in 1766; it claims the oldest daily publication in the world - from 1645; and much closer to our times, it is the home of the first and biggest free daily group, Metro. Swedish titles also have one of the highest sales penetrations in the world and, a rare phenomenon, men and women read the press in almost equal numbers.
Today, the Swedish press has embraced innovation and the Internet age with enthusiasm: newspapers shifted from broadsheet to compact format long ago; the multi-media activities of press groups are among the most advanced in the world, whether in terms of Internet editions, convergence, the exploitation of mobile devices, or the exploitation of web TV. From time to time billed as the high-tech capital of the world, Sweden has yet one more top spot in media league tables: Internet takes a higher share of the advertising market - 12 % - than anywhere else.
The theme of the 2008 World Newspaper Congress reflects the changing nature of our industry - 'Newspapers: A Multi-Media, Growth Business'. Print publications remain the core activity of press companies, generating most of their profits and proving remarkably resilient against the onslaught of other information channels. At the same time, the Internet is allowing newspapers to significantly extend their audiences and reach and to dominate their markets as never before. How best to exploit the multi-media opportunities now open to newspapers will be at the heart of the presentations and debates in Göteborg.
The theme of the 2008 World Editors Forum will be 'The Integrated Newsroom: Why, How and When', because integration will be the key word next year. Many newspapers have already begun the process of integrating print and online operations. Others consider that maintaining two separate newsrooms is a more efficient model in the digital age. The Forum will help editors-in-chief choose the formula that best fits their audience. The conference will also focus on a range of other topics including newsroom design, training, mobile news, trends in hyper-local information, week-end editions, and much more.
Alongside these events, Info Services Expo 2008 will showcase the new services and technologies which are shaping the newspaper of the futureMore than 1,500 publishers, editors, managing directors, CEOs and other senior newspaper executives from over 100 countries are expected at our conferences, which are firmly established as the annual Summit meetings of the world's press.
We look forward to seeing you in Sweden!
Gavin O'Reilly
President, World Association of NewspapersGroup Chief Operating Officer, Independent News & Media
George Brock
President, World Editors ForumEditor, The Saturday Times, United Kingdom
Dear Colleague,
We are very proud and pleased to have been given the opportunity to host the 2008 World Congress and we welcome you to join us in Göteborg, Sweden.
June is the start of the Nordic summer when we enjoy light for almost 24 hours. In the far north the sun never goes down. Sweden welcomes you from its very best side.
Göteborg is a charming coastal city with a long shipping tradition. It is well prepared to receive important people such as you. Many important dignitaries have enjoyed the hospitality of Goteborg.
I am convinced that the congress will add to your professional skills by a very stimulating programme. It is also my sincere wish that the social activities will give you many opportunities to meet with colleagues and get to know our beautiful country.
Very welcome to Sweden and Göteborg,
Pär Fagerström
President of the Swedish Newspaper Publishers' Association
