Media freedom in Africa will come under the microscope as global newspaper publishers and editors converge in Cape Town from Sunday to analyse challenges and opportunities facing the fourth estate.
Under the banner of the World Association of Newspapers (Wan), the 60th world newspaper congress and 14th world editors’ forum are to be hosted jointly in South Africa’s best-known tourist city until Wednesday.
About 1 600 participants from 105 countries are set to attend the meeting, making it the second largest of its kind in Wan’s 60-year history and the first to be hosted on the African continent.
The gathering kicks off with a discussion on Sunday on press freedom in Africa, described in the programme as the key to good governance and development on the continent.
”The media in dozens of African countries still remain engaged in the struggle to finally win freedom and independence,” it said.
A Wan statement said delegates would include publishers, chief executive officers, editors and other senior newspaper executives.
Among those attending were New York Times executive editor Bill Keller, Britain’s Daily Telegraph editor-in-chief William Lewis and several editors of South African publications.
The overriding theme would be ”Shaping the future of the newspaper”, with the aim to reflect on ”the extraordinary changes under way as the press positions itself to remain the most influential and important media in the information landscape”.
Wan, created to defend press freedom, promote the economic freedom of newspapers and boost cooperation among its members, represents 18 000 newspapers worldwide.
Its meeting is being held as South Africa celebrates 150 years of newspaper journalism.
The gathering is to be opened on Monday morning by South African President Thabo Mbeki and Wan president Gavin O’Reilly. — Sapa-AFP