Ukraine Hosts 64th World Newspaper Congress

KYIV, Ukraine, September 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Publishers from across the globe gathered in Kyiv to talk about current problems the media are facing - challenges of latest communication technologies and unbiased presentation of information. The President of the Ukrainian Association of Press Publishers Borys Lozhkin and the President of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) Jacob Mathew opened the World Newspaper Congress in Kyiv (September 2-5, 2012).

At the opening ceremony Borys Lozhkin mentioned that the Congress should become the new stage of development for Ukrainian media business. He highlighted the importance of the phenomenon of the freedom of speech as not just the right to information but as the cornerstone of the publishing business in Ukraine. He also said that supporting freedom of speech is first and foremost supporting independent media, providing them with financial support and developing press distribution network.

Borys Lozhkin also suggested applying to the Ukrainian media the same tax relief that IT industry would enjoy starting 2013. Media business in Ukraine has a VAT discount, and tax regulations may have substantial influence of the media industry in the country.

Continuing the subject of financial struggles of the media, the WAN-IFRA president Jacob Mathew touched upon the subject of digital media affecting the regular streams of income in the world of reporting. He reckoned that journalists and publishers had to keep up with the development of communication technologies.

Jacob Mathew went on to discuss the freedom of speech. Any democratic government is interested in the support of free press, he said. No crime against a journalist or a publisher should be left unpunished. WAN-IFRA president also praised the media cooperation group at Ukraine's Presidential Administration, saying it was vital for the group to gain trust from the members of the press. WAN-IFRA president also underscored that while the literacy level in Ukraine was one of the highest in the world, media outreach was not that high.

"By holding our events in Kyiv, we will provide them [local press] with an opportunity to share their experiences with the international newspaper community, allow them to benefit from international best practices, provide training opportunities, and offer moral support," reads the open letter by Jacob Mathew, published in late May 2012.