Due to the continued uncertainties and travel constraints around the Covid-19 pandemic, WAN-IFRA is calling off the World News Media Congress, which was initially planned for Zaragoza, Spain, in September 2020. Meanwhile, it has named Taiwan as its venue for the 2021 Congress and rescheduled the 2022 Congress in Zaragoza.
WAN-IFRA CEO Vincent Peyregne said, “It is with a great deal of disappointment that we have had to cancel this year’s World Congress. Two years from now, we will make good our promise to take the World News Media Congress again to Zaragoza in 2022.” Next year, the world’s press is invited to Taipei, Taiwan, from 23 to 25 June 2021, to attend the 73rd World News Media Congress including the 28th World Editors Forum and the 5th Women in News Summit.
“I am delighted to be able to announce today the return of the World Congress to Asia, eight years after its historic landmark in Bangkok,” said Peyregne. ”2021 will be a pivotal year at a time when the pandemic has undercut the predictability of normal life, and news publishers are seeking answers to vital, even existential issues as they adjust their strategies, evolve, and transform. At some point, Covid-19 will be vanquished, news enterprises will bounce back. But it won’t be a return to normal. Getting to normal is not so much about getting back the old normality as it is about getting back the ability to know what is going to happen tomorrow. Taipei will, therefore, be a crucial and timely meeting point. The 2021 Congress will be a unique occasion to capture the lessons of the pandemic, what it means for our relationship with the public, the new economic outlook for the sector, and reaffirm the role of a free press in keeping our societies well informed and bringing our communities together.”
WAN-IFRA will organize the 2021 event in partnership with UDN (United Daily News Group), one of Taiwan’s leading media and technology companies. The events will take place at Taipei’s Nangang Exhibition Center.
“We are extremely excited to be able to host the World News Media Congress 2021 in Taipei! It has been eight years since the Congress was last held in Asia. In 2020, we all experienced dramatic changes in the news industry, and our life and work models were heavily impacted by the pandemic. Taipei 2021 will be a great opportunity to hold conversations and reflect on new paths for quality journalism. We look forward to seeing you in free, democratic, and beautiful Taiwan!” – Duncan Wang, chairman, United Daily News Group.
