The World Association of News Publishers, WAN-IFRA, has announced its endorsement of the Future of Media Conference which is being presented by Arena Holdings on 23 July 2020 in Parktown, Johannesburg.\u00a0 The Conference attracts the country\u2019s leading marketing, media, branding and advertising strategists as they engage on various aspects affecting the media industry today.<\/p>\r\n
WAN-IFRA has sixty national association members representing 18,000 publications in 120 countries, and aims to protect the rights of journalists and publishers around the World. The organisation drives the conversation on the future of independent news publishing while promoting editorial quality and professional practice.<\/p>\r\n
Vincent Peyr\u00e8gne, CEO of WAN-IFRA, says:\u00a0 \u201cEverything we do at WAN-IFRA is because we believe that freedom of expression is a fundamental right, a touchstone of all our freedoms, and press freedom enhanced by solid independent news publishing companies as one of its fundamental pillars. Strengthening an ecosystem where\u00a0marketing, media and advertising leaders can work together and discuss the various aspects that are affecting the industry, including the tech-evolution that drives the future of media is one of our core missions.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n
\u201cWe are clearly pivoting into a situation in the digital economy where users understand that good journalism has value and where publishers understand that new forms of collaboration and alliances will be absolutely essential to achieve sustainable profitability.\u00a0We need to encourage all the places where those exchanges take place, where an ecosystem crystallizes, where ideas and people meet, where emulators cross paths.\u00a0The Future of Media Conference<\/strong> is one of these\u00a0places.\u00a0We are glad and proud to join and support the event to convey this message and grow our community of partners in the region so they can access the unique resources and professional services that we provide to our members worldwide to help their businesses prosper,\u201d says Peyr\u00e8gne.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n Eben Gewers, Head of Advertising Sales at Arena Holdings – which presents the Future of Media Conference as part of the Group\u2019s commitment to the development of South Africa\u2019s media industry – values the endorsement from WAN-IFRA: \u201cWe believe there has never been a more important time for the media to reflect on its role and future in society \u2013 not only from an ethical perspective, but from one in which technology is rapidly evolving \u2013 and where publishers and advertisers need to ensure they keep themselves relevant and in-the-game. Arena is itself an organisation which has made a significant transition from being a predominantly print-based publisher to become the country\u2019s second largest online publisher, by embracing technology to ensure the highest-quality content is available to every South African. We are deeply appreciative of WAN-IFRA\u2019s endorsement of the Future of Media Conference, and the value it brings to the industry.\u201d<\/p>\r\n The Future of Media Conference line-up and agenda can be found on the event website:\u00a0 www.quicklink.co.za\/fom<\/a><\/p>\r\n For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Cortney Hoyland | hoylandc@tisoblackstar.co.za<\/a>.\u00a0 To register interest in participating as a speaker or to book tickets, please contact Jade Fleishman | fleishmanj@tisoblackstar.co.za<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n