Ukraine's Kyiv Debuts Hosting World Newspaper Congress and World Editors Forum

KYIV, September 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Ukraine just finished hosting the 64^th World Newspaper Congress and 19^th World Editors Forum, attended by almost 1000 representatives of the world-leading media from over 90 countries. The congress offered a platform for discussing issues of the future of media industry and newspaper operations, digital challenges and profitability. International media CEOs had a chance to meet Ukrainian government officials and reflect on the issues of freedom of press and speech as well as right to information in Ukraine first hand.

Video: http://wnu-ukraine.com/multimedia/videos/?id=93

Aside from discussing the main topics, the event was focused on the business aspect of operations, about the quality of editorials, professionalism, as well as how to write in the current multimedia world. Each of these aspects was the essence of which journalists' works were commended with the main award of the entire forum, the Golden Pen of Press Freedom. "Press freedom is the core of advancing the issues in media and business today. Opening press freedom plays a major role in media in that we always give out the Golden Pen of Press Freedom to the year's most recognized and courageous journalists," explained Heipel executive director of WAN-IFRA World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers.

In addition to industry perspectives the participants have been informed about the media situation in Ukraine. Notably, during the opening ceremony the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych highlighted the importance of creating economic conditions for the development of free and independent press, reported on the progress with the right to information and access to public information, protection of the journalists' rights and advised foreign media representative to experience the status of media freedoms in Ukraine first hand.

Freedom of press has been a major topic in Ukraine since the early 2000's, noted Yodwut Klinthong a foreign relations officer of the Royal Thai Government. "I think it's a great achievement for Kyiv to hold this event… Obviously this country is no new destination for people internationally, especially since Ukraine did just host the EURO 2012 Championship with great success, but holding this forum here gives opportunity to journalists to focus on current and truthful media about this country and it's an opportunity for Ukraine as well."