The International Press Institute (IPI) will hold its annual World Congress in Vienna, Austria, and Bratislava, Slovakia, from 11 to 14 September 2010, the organisation officially announced at the beginning of March. The 2010 World Congress will mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of IPI, and the organisation will celebrate 60 years of defending press freedom in a series of events, culminating in the World Congress in the "twin cities" of Vienna and Bratislava.
Under the overall theme, "Thinking the Unthinkable: Are We Losing the News? (Media Freedom in the New Media Landscape)", the three-day conference will focus attention on the state of the news media itself, providing new business models and solutions for the media, and the unique opportunity to meet and interact with major players from both traditional and new media outlets. The Congress will also look at new ways of delivering information and how new technologies are proving to be a powerful ally of freedom of opinion and expression. At a special gala dinner and ceremony, to be held at Vienna City Hall, IPI will honour "60 World Press Freedom Heroes" to commemorate the 60 years of its existence. IPI's Press Freedom Heroes are individuals who have made a significant contribution to the defence and promotion of press freedom, especially - but not only - if this involved acts of resistance or bravery under conditions of hardship. The event is expected to draw over 400 participants and their guests from around the world.
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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