Johannesburg, 3 February 2020: 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. The Conference attracts the country’s leading marketing, media, branding and advertising strategists as they engage on various aspects affecting the media industry today.
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.
Vincent Peyrègne, CEO of WAN-IFRA, says: “Everything 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 marketing, 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.”
“We 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. We need to encourage all the places where those exchanges take place, where an ecosystem crystallizes, where ideas and people meet, where emulators cross paths. The Future of Media Conference is one of these places. We 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,” says Peyrègne.
Eben Gewers, Head of Advertising Sales at Arena Holdings – which presents the Future of Media Conference as part of the Group’s commitment to the development of South Africa’s media industry – values the endorsement from WAN-IFRA: “We believe there has never been a more important time for the media to reflect on its role and future in society – not only from an ethical perspective, but from one in which technology is rapidly evolving – 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’s 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’s endorsement of the Future of Media Conference, and the value it brings to the industry.”
The Future of Media Conference line-up and agenda can be found on the event website: www.quicklink.co.za/fom
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Cortney Hoyland | hoylandc@arena.africa. To register interest in participating as a speaker or to book tickets, please contact Jade Fleishman |fleishmanj@arena.africa.
For more information about the World Association of News Publishers, visit www.wan-ifra.org
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About the Arena Holdings Events Division
The Arena Holdings Events Division draws on the editorial expertise and media-powerhouse advantage of Arena Holdings to deliver stimulating and engaging encounters that encourage excellence across South Africa’s various industries. Aligned to the thought-leadership of Arena’s prominent platforms like the Sunday Times, Financial Mail, Business Day, Sowetan, Business Day TV, The Home Channel and Ignition TV, we are committed to facilitating events that nurture the socio-economic success of our country. Our leading industry events include the Sunday Times Top 100 Companies, Sunday Times The Directors Event, Business Day TV SME Summit, Absa Business Day Supplier Development Awards, The Radio Awards, Sunday Times Generation Next, Sunday Times Top Brands, the Future of Media Conference, and a host of bespoke events for our clients. www.arena.africa
Issued by: Samantha Pugh, Pugh Public Relations & Corporate Communications
e: sam@pughpr.co.za c: 071 874 5460
On behalf of: Taryn Westoby, Head of the Arena Holdings Events Division