The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization made up of 76 national newspaper associations, 12 news agencies, 10 regional press organisations and individual newspaper executives in 100 countries. The association was founded in 1948 and, as of 2011, represented more than 18,000 publications globally.
WAN's objectives are to defend and to promote freedom of the press, to support the development of newspaper publishing, and to foster global co-operation. It has provided consultation for UNESCO, the United Nations and the Council of Europe.
Contents |
WAN administers the annual Golden Pen of Freedom Award to recognize a journalist or media organisation that has made an outstanding contribution to the defence and promotion of freedom of the press.
Since 1998, WAN has maintained annual tallies of media employees killed around the world. The worst year on record is 2006, when 110 media employees died in the line of duty.[1]
The Chief Executive Officer is Christoph Riess; the President of WAN is Gavin O'Reilly[2], Chief Operating Officer of Ireland-based Independent News and Media plc; and the Treasurer is Fred Arp, Chief Financial Officer at Telegraaf Media Group in the Netherlands.