More than 1,000 newspaper publishers, chief executives, managers and editors from over 90 countries will gather in Dublin this summer for the 2003 World Newspaper Congress and World Editors' Forum.
The event, organised by the Paris-based World Association of Newspapers (WAN) with National Newspapers of Ireland (NNI), is to examine trends in the newspaper industry, including projections for the future.
A four-day programme of events has been scheduled between June 8th and 11th, with seminars, demonstrations and social events at a number of venues, including the Royal Dublin Society and the Berkeley Court Hotel.
Announcing details of the congress and forum yesterday, the NNI chairman, Mr Gavin O'Reilly, praised the WAN for choosing Dublin as the host city.
"This is the biggest and most prestigious newspaper event that's ever taken place in Ireland," he said.
The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, also welcomed the decision, saying it was "a strong and very welcome endorsement of Ireland's reputation as a leader in areas like media, technology, communications and infrastructure."
Dr Seok Hyun Hong, president of the WAN, said the aim of the congress would be to provide a "road map" to help publishers and editors confront many of the complex operational and strategical questions which faced the business.
Issues to be discussed at the event, which is sponsored by Eircom, Waterford Wedgwood and Tourism Ireland, include an overview of world trends in the newspaper industry.
