The invitation was issued during this year’s World News Media Congress and World Editors Forum in Durban, South Africa, which drew 700 publishers, chief editors and other senior newspaper executives from around the world.

“It was time for us to return to Europe to celebrate our 70th anniversary in a country with an exceptional heritage,” said Vincent Peyrègne, CEO of WAN-IFRA.  “Portugal’s vibrant culture and dynamic media scene serve as an ideal setting for the global media to gather. Like 70 years ago, we have entered a pivotal moment when trust in discerning media providers is increasingly precious. The shift from advertising to reader-based revenue is reshaping the fundamentals of our industry, increasingly focused on audience, new forms of collaboration and alliances, and engaging, trust-based journalism and solutions.”

The 70th World News Media Congress will be held at the Estoril Congress Centre, in the city of Cascais, on the outskirts of Lisbon. Registration and information about next year's Congress and Forum can be found at wan-ifra.org/portugal2018.

The event will be organised in partnership with the Portuguese Publishers Association (APImprensa).

“We hope to not only contribute to an unforgettable celebration of WAN-IFRA’s 70th anniversary but also to strengthen the relations between Portuguese publishers and their peers around the world,” said João Palmeiro, President of APImprensa. “We thank WAN-IFRA for this opportunity to provide the platform for a debate in which civil society groups, international institutions, tech entrepreneurs and news businesses can work together to preserve the values of a free, healthy and independent press in today’s society.” 

It is the second time that the World News Media Congress will take place in Portugal. The first time was in Lisbon in 1986. A list of the venues of all WAN-IFRA Congresses, from 1948 to the present, can be found at http://www.wan-ifra.org/node/78299

Contact – Inquiries

Christin Herger, Senior Project Manager, Global Events WAN-IFRA, christin.herger@wan-ifra.org Tel : +49 69 240 063 28

About WAN-IFRA

WAN-IFRA is the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers. Its mission is to protect the rights of journalists across the world to operate free media, and provide its members with professional services to help their business prosper in a digital world and perform their crucial role in open societies. With formal representative status at the United Nations, UNESCO and the Council of Europe, it derives its authority from its global network of leading news publishing companies and technology entrepreneurs, and its legitimacy from its 80 national association members representing 18,000 publications in 120 countries. 

The World Editors Forum (WEF) is the leading network for print and digital editors of newspapers and news organisations around the world. It is built on a commitment to defend press freedom and promote editorial excellence. WEF is at the forefront of newsroom change. It helps editors from all over the world, and at different stages of transition, shape their newsrooms and the journalism of the future, by identifying newsroom innovation, trends, tools and practices. It shares intelligence through its daily blog, networking events, conferences, research and study tours. The World Editors Forum is an established network with a 20-year history of connecting editors on issues that matter for the future of independent and free news publishing. More on www.wan-ifra.org/wef

Visiting Cascais

A short train ride along the shore from Lisbon's Cais do Sodré station leads to Cascais, a popular resort favored by European nobility and kings in the early 20th century. Today it is a colorful cosmopolitan town with elegant pedestrian streets, luxuriant villas, fashionable shops, restaurants and bars. Cascais is only thirty-five minutes away from Lisbon International Airport by car. Lisbon’s International Airport is an important European hub, with 36 regular airlines operating to offer you a total of 112 destinations. Cascais airport, located only fifteen minutes away from the town centre, is the second main airport infrastructure in the Lisbon regio. Cascais is located on the Estoril Coast (also known as the Portuguese Riviera), in the Greater Lisbon subregion The town is situated on the western edge of the Tagus estuary, between the Sintra mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. http://www.visitcascais.com/en

Places Nearby

Estoril - The inspiration for James Bond; Europe's largest casino; spectacular golf courses 
Sintra - Enchanting and mysterious atmosphere; romantic palaces; Europe's westernmost point. 
Queluz - Palace mixing Versailles' French grandeur and Portuguese eclecticism 
Lisbon - The Age of Discovery, World Heritage monuments, museum treasures, vibrant nightlife 
Ericeira - Traditional seaside village; surfing mecca, superb seafood 
Mafra - One of Europe's biggest palaces, the building that bankrupted the nation