Maeve Donovan, Managing Director of The Irish Times, Ben Hammersley, a journalist and 'technologist' at Wired Magazine, and Rainer Esser, the Managing Director of Die Zeit, have joined the programme of the 'Managing the Crisis' conference, to be held at the Frontline Media Club in London on 28 and 29 September next.

The conference, organised by WAN-IFRA, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers, is a new event designed not only to examine the current financial crisis, but to help newspaper companies better deal with the structural transformation of the industry.

In addition to the financial pressures, the conference will focus on the impact of evolving consumers, competition from traditional and non-traditional sources, new personnel requirements, technological changes - and, perhaps most importantly, how management can avoid being overwhelmed by these changes.

Full conference details, including registration information - an "early bird"; discount is available until 25 August - can be found at www.ifra.com/managingthecrisis.

WAN-IFRA has also launched a "Managing the Crisis"; blog for speakers, participations, and anyone interested in contributing to the topic; it can be found at http://managingthecrisis.blogspot.com.

The conference will begin with an analysis of the issues and include case studies about how newspapers are dealing with different aspects of the crisis. It will conclude with a "reality check"; where participants can discuss with the experts, in a round table format, what they could do more of and what they can do better.

Other speakers include:

  Terry Maguire, Principal, International Media Development & Counsel, who will define the conference issues with an examination of the multiple crises that are occurring at the same time.

  Anna Kirah, Design Anthropologist, Psychologist and Vice President of Norway-based CPH Design 123, will discuss "Innovation, Success and the Age of Turbulence";.

  Vasily Gatov, Strategy Director of MEDIA3 in Russia, whose subject will be "Cost savings, or how to manage an earthquake: Lessons from Russian media";.

  Theo Blanco, Senior Sales Manager for Upsala Nya Tidning in Sweden, who will demonstrate how to boost advertising sales in a slowdown.

  Moritz Wuttke, CEO for Asia and China for Publicitas, who will examine alternatives to Google.

  Louise Mason, Head of Learning and Development at the Telegraph Media Group in the United Kingdom, whose presentation examines staff investment and how training remains vital for future business success.

  Richard Wellins, Senior Vice President for Global Marketing and Business Development for US-based Development Dimensions International, who will examine the benefits of "Leading in crisis - Getting the upper hand in a down economy.";

  Alan Rosenfeld, Business Development Manager, Design & Publishing, for Apple Europe, who will address "Consumerisation - 'Channel Me' and the way it influences media."; He will speak during a pre-conference visit to the Apple Executive Briefing Centre on 28 September.

  Plus more speakers to be announced. For the evolving conference programme, please go to at www.ifra.com/managingthecrisis.

About WAN-IFRA

WAN-IFRA, based in Paris, France, and Darmstadt, Germany, with subsidiaries in Singapore, India, Spain, France and Sweden, is the global organisation of the world's newspapers and news publishers. It represents more than 18,000 publications, 15,000 online sites and over 3,000 companies in more than 120 countries. The organisation was created by the merger of the World Association of Newspapers and IFRA, the research and service organisation for the news publishing industry.

About the Frontline Club

Frontline is home to a unique community of writers, photographers, diplomats, and aid workers united by their passion for independent journalism and their dedication to ensuring that stories that fade from headlines are kept in sharp focus. It exists to promote freedom of expression and support journalists who risk their lives in the course of their work. It hosts more than 300 events annually.

Inquiries to: Larry Kilman, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, WAN-IFRA, 7 rue Geoffroy St Hilaire, 75005 Paris France. Tel: +33 1 47 42 85 00. Fax: +33 1 47 42 49 48. Mobile: +33 6 10 28 97 36. E-mail: larry.kilman@wan-ifra.org.

Ioana Sträter, Programme Manager Events; WAN-IFRA, Washingtonplatz 1, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany. Tel: +49 6151 733769. Fax: +49 6151 733802. E-mail: ioana.straeter@wan-ifra.org.