Hong Kong, 5 June 2001
For immediate release

The book's editors, Juan Antonio Giner and Barry Sussman, say in the
introduction:

"Its title is 'Innovations in Newspapers,' not 'Innovations in Technology.'
Yet, more and more, we find ourselves immersed in technology, in internet
and web sites, in the so-called multi-media convergence approach and
multi-media engines and bi-media reporters and phrases that do not exactly
roll off the tongue, ones we never dreamed of uttering, such as 'NTT DoCoMo
imode."

"Innovations in Newspapers," released at the World Newspaper Congress in
Hong Kong this week and available from the Paris-based WAN, looks at the
following topics:

--Newspaper web sites and classified advertising. Case histories of twelve
newspapers in ten countries show extremely wide variation in movement in
on-line classifieds. Yet not one paper has reported that its print business
has suffered.

--The impact of multi-media diversification, convergence and integration on
the practice of journalism. The study found that nearly three-quarters of
newspaper executives surveyed said that multi-media convergence was starting
to happen at their companies.

--How dailies are moving toward becoming full multi-media news agencies.
Some are investing millions in integrated facilities, cross-training of
staff and others are moving more slowly, but all are facing similar
challenges. Some are obvious, such as the need for speed and versatility.
Others are less obvious, such as the backlash from reporters and editors who
are fearful that the changes compromise editorial integrity.

--The world's best on-line newspapers and how they are maturing, both in the
business sense and journalistically.

--A report card on how the world's wire services are meeting the new needs
of 24-hour newspapers. Most newspaper executives surveyed are happy with the
service, but there are some demurrals too.

--Mobile services and the 'merumaga' craze in Japan, where users are getting
weather forecasts, news and e-mail from their portable telephones. The
report finds that hand-held applications are well-suited for the Japanese
but are not so easily exported.

--The "micro-formats" in which newspapers use less space to tell readers
more. The authors say a new model is emerging for a compact newspaper
structured around these new and highly varied micro-formats.

--The phenomenon of Latin America's new popular dailies, which cost 50
percent less than traditional papers, have short pagination, plenty of
colour; good graphics and design, brief stories and 'news you can use.' Many
are tabloids and, though many are also put out by publishers of traditional
newspapers, they do not cannibalise the market.

--A look at the "vision" issue, and how chief editors and publishers have
contributed to lack of watchdog reporting that had a scandalous impact on
the 2000 US presidential election. This lack of in-depth, investigative
reporting ­ both in the US and elsewhere ­ makes everyone a loser.

--What international leaders of the newspaper industry see as the main
challenges of the near future, and what they think are some of the most
innovative newspapers in the world. The report includes the results of a
survey of newspaper managers around the world, as well as the opinions of
some of the leading observers of the industry on the world's most
interesting newspapers.

To order Innovations in Newspapers: The 2001 World Report, (available in
English or Spanish) consult the WAN website, www.wan-press.org/bookstore/ or
contact the WAN Secretariat, 25 rue d'Astorg, 75008 Paris France. Tel: +33 1
47 42 85 00. Fax: +33 1 47 42 49 48. E-mail: [email protected].

Individual members of WAN receive all publications for free. For membership
information, consult the WAN web site at
www.wan-press.org/membership/index.html.

The Paris-based WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry,
represents 17,000 newspapers; its membership includes 68 national newspaper
associations, individual newspaper executives in 93 countries, 17 news
agencies and eight regional and world-wide press groups.

Inquiries to: Larry Kilman, Director of Communications, WAN, 25 rue
d'Astorg, 75008 Paris France. Tel: +33 1 47 42 85 00. Fax: +33 1 47 42 49
48. Mobile: +33 6 10 28 97 36. E-mail: [email protected]

---
Larry Kilman
Director of Communications
World Association of Newspapers
25, rue d'Astorg
75008 Paris France
Tel: +33 1 47 42 85 00
Fax: +33 1 47 42 49 48
E-mail: [email protected]
Visit our web site at www.wan-press.org