The Congress, Forum and Expo drew more than 1300 publishers, chief editors and other senior executives from 88 countries to Istanbul for the global meetings of the world’s press organised by the World Association of Newspapers.

The theme of the event was “Winning Strategies in the New Business Environment,” and some say that is the only possible theme for the global newspaper industry.

Brendan Hopkins, APN News & Media in Australia and New Zealand CEO, says, “Since the first newspapers rolled off the presses more than 200 years ago, publishers have constantly been facing up to the pressures of new business environments. In our business, change is relentless, from wooden type to hot metal to computer-to-plate. There has never been a period in publishing history where technology and consumer tastes have stood still.”

Karen House, publisher of the Wall Street Journal, put it this way: “As we in the newspaper industry emerge from a global business recession and continue to operate in turbulent times, it helps to remember that the world of business is constantly evolving and so must publications if we are to serve the evolving needs and interests of our customers.”

The key message that was intertwined among all the presenters, debates and dialogues over the duration of the event is that strategic innovation is alive and thriving among global newspapers and that the fast-changing media landscape is offering more opportunities than threats to established media.

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