South Africa will host an international newspaper congress attended by more than 1 300 delegates in 2007, Print Media South Africa said on Friday.
The Newspaper Association of South Africa has won a bid to host the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) 60th World Newspaper Congress, as well as the 14th World Editors’ Forum and Expo Services, for 2007, the general manager of Print Media SA, Natasha Volans, said in a statement.
South Africa’s bid, which was endorsed in a letter to the WAN by President Thabo Mbeki, was presented earlier this month in Copenhagen, Denmark, by Volans and Johnnic Communications CEO Connie Molusi.
More than 1 300 newspaper publishers and editors are expected to attend the congress in Cape Town from June 3 to 6 in 2007.
The WAN has a membership of 72 national newspaper associations and about 18 000 publications, said Volans.
Molusi said the event is an exciting opportunity not only for South Africa’s newspaper industry, but also for the country.
”With the renewed focus on growth and development taking place in Africa, we believe that this event will be a significant occasion for the continent and is an opportunity to encourage greater participation from publishers, editors and media decision-makers from Africa,” Molusi said. — Sapa