World Association of Newspapers Puts Annual Forum on Hold

By: E&P Staff The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) is putting on hold its global annual forum scheduled to take place in India during March.

The Guardian U.K. reports reports the association is postponing the meeting, including the World Editors Forum, due to the economy's downturn.

"The economic crisis has had a devastating effect on participation in the events, which are simply not viable at this stage," Bertrand Pecquerie, director of World Editors Forum, told the Guardian.

"Our belief is that newspaper companies will, by necessity, learn to live with the crisis over the year and will be more willing to invest again in conferences and travel by the end of 2009. The exact new schedule will be confirmed shortly. We need your suggestions in this difficult period."

The Guardian says that in the past, the forums attracted 1,500 newspaper executives and editors.