WAN-Ifra’s World Newspaper Congress event in Kiev is a gesture of solidarity with independent Ukraine publishers, the organisation’s president says.

With the World Editors Forum, it has called for greater support of press freedom in Ukraine amid concerns about the state of democracy in the country.

In a letter to members, president Jacob Mathew calls on the international media community to show its solidarity with the independent press in Ukraine at the World Newspaper Congress, World Editors Forum and Info Services Expo 2012, to be held in Kiev from September 2-5.

With some European leaders intending to boycott the Euro football championship matches in Ukraine this summer, the organisation says it has been asked whether it is appropriate to bring its annual meetings to Kiev: “We are going to Kiev to stand in solidarity with the local independent press, which struggles daily under great pressure, often in isolation,” Mathew says.



“By holding our events in Kiev, we will provide them 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,” he says, noting the events are hosted by the two major Ukrainian newspaper associations, the Ukrainian Association of Press Publishers and the Independent Regional Press Publishers of Ukraine.

The events also offer opportunities to engage with the authorities and draw global attention to the problems, the letter says.

“For these reasons and more, I would like to invite you to join us in Kiev, not only to benefit from the presentations, networking and discussions, but to add your voice to those upholding media freedom in the country, the letter says.



More than 1000 publishers, chief editors, managing directors, chief executives and other senior newspaper executives are expected in Kiev for the Congress, Forum and Info Services Expo, the global summit meetings of the world’s press.

Full details are at http://www.wan-ifra.org/kiev2012