WAN-IFRA Executive Committee endorses organisation's report findings on press freedom in the United Kingdom; Committee calls on the British government to "take steps to ensure it upholds the high standards of press freedom expected from a leading democracy."

The Executive Committee of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), meeting in London today (11 April), endorsed the findings of the organisation's press freedom report published following a fact-finding delegation of international editors visited the United Kingdom earlier this year.

The McClatchy Company (NYSE:MNI) announced today that it has reached a definitive agreement to sell the Anchorage Daily News to Alaska Dispatch Publishing LLC for $34 million. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2014.

"The Anchorage Daily News is a profitable newspaper that makes us proud journalistically," said Pat Talamantes, McClatchy's president and CEO. "We weren't looking to sell the Daily News, but after Alaska Dispatch Publishing approached us, we saw advantages to local ownership in this case and opportunities for consolidation that would strengthen both news organizations."

The world's most innovative digital news media – from giants like the Guardian and Norway's VG to the smaller DOTYK, the first tablet-only weekly in the Czech Republic – were honoured Tuesday evening (8 April) as winners of the European Digital Media Awards, the annual prizes from the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).

The awards, which recognise outstanding work by European publishers in digital advertising, data visualization, tablet publishing, mobile service, news websites, reader engagement, online video, and outstanding new projects, were presented in a ceremony during Digital Media Europe 2014, WAN-IFRA's annual digital event in London.

Newspaper advertising is in free fall in many markets, putting enormous pressure on the journalism funded by that advertising.

The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) believes fresh ideas for advertising are needed to protect the essential role it plays for news media, and it is organising an Advertising Hackathon at the World Advertising Forum, World Newspaper Congress, and World Editors Forum, to be held in Torino, Italy, in June.

WAN-IFRA's latest press freedom campaign highlights the plight of jailed journalists worldwide; 30 cases will be profiled in the 30 days leading up to World Press Freedom Day.

The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the World Editors Forum today (4th April) launch an exciting online campaign to highlight the plight of jailed journalists worldwide.

Other 'Stories of Extraordinary Impact' shared by best-selling author Mitch Albom and Olympian Lolo Jones; performances by Ingrid Michaelson and "Kinky Boots" star, Andy Kelso

Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) today held GANNETT_FRONT 2014, the company's second annual upfront event, which showcased how it is partnering in new ways to use the power and reach of its portfolio to bring innovative solutions to the advertising community.  With a daily audience of 118 million, Gannett reaches more than half of U.S. adults. This year's program was built around the transformational story of Gannett and its unique ability to generate awareness nationally while also activating consumers locally.

Aftonbladet is Sweden's leading evening newspaper, but with three TV studios, four hours of live TV each weekday, one million daily streams started each day and 3.2 million daily unique users (in a country of 9 million), video is now a large part of what this "newspaper" is all about.

"Moving images is the main focus now," said Magnus Zaar, Head of Aftonbladet TV, who will present the company's initiatives at the World Newspaper Congress, to be held in Torino, Italy, from 9 to 11 June next.

OMA's design for Axel Springer's new media centre in Berlin has been chosen as the winner in the final round of a public design competition. The building will embody Axel Springer's corporate shift from print to digital media, and will create a new hub in the existing Axel Springer campus in central Berlin.

Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer: "We are very happy to be able to build the new building of our publishing house together with Rem Koolhaas. He presented the conceptually and esthetically most radical model. The fundamental innovation of working environments will support the cultural transformation towards a digital publishing house."

Press freedom in Mexico faces widespread and growing threats from "soft censorship" that includes government use of financial incentives and penalties to pressure news media, punish critical reporting, and reward favourable coverage, according to a new report released today by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).

While Mexican journalists are frequently targets of physical attack, soft censorship is another more subtle and very significant danger to press freedom, the report warns.

La Stampa Editor-in-chief Mario Calabresi draws on international journalism for his inspiration. But the global news community would do well to look to the Italian daily for inspiration as well.

Mr Calabresi will share La Stampa's approach to social media, digital journalism and more at the 21st World Editors Forum, to be held in La Stampa's home town of Torino, Italy, from 9 to 11 June next.

Is it wise to partner with Facebook, Google and Yahoo! or can news publishers succeed without them? Is native advertising possible without sacrificing credibility? Those are some of the questions to be answered at Publish Asia, the region's leading annual conference for newspapers and news publishers, to be held in Hong Kong from 23 to 25 April next. The conference will be opened by H.E. Leung Chun-ying, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The programme for the event, organising by WAN-IFRA, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers, reflects the changing face of news media in the digital and mobile age.

KnowledgeView was the golden partner

Media and publishing Experts from around the world gathered at the regional 9th WAN-IFRA conference to talk about the shift towards digital media and the need for innovation

Among the topics highlighted in the conference is the shift in readership towards mobile and increased dependency on technology to reach this growing audience.