Wan-Ifra Printers Summit on 14-15 September

For 2022, the event is built around the theme, Back to business – print for the future, and the curated set of keynotes and panel discussions will help shape the thought leadership for the print industry.

The event starts on 14 September with the keynote on future of print in digital world, discussing the imperatives of print business. A mini networking expo to learn about the latest products and services from suppliers industry and a celebration gala dinner in the evening will conclude the day. 

There will also be a half-day workshop on benchmarking newspaper production based on KPIs on 14 September.

The next day will see a full day of conference sessions and networking expo. 

The World Association of News Publishers (Wan-Ifra) is the global organisation of the world’s press. The mission is to protect the rights of journalists and publishers around the world to operate independent media. Wan-Ifra provides its members with expertise and services to innovate and prosper in a digital world and perform their crucial role in society.

Wan-Ifra derives its authority from its global network of 3,000 news publishing companies and technology entrepreneurs, and its legitimacy from its 60-member publisher associations representing 18,000 publications in 120 countries.

Since its foundation in 1948, Wan-Ifra has always been committed to fostering international business cooperation among publishers; sharing best practices in both business and technology; working as a representative trade body to elaborate and advance quality standards in the production workflow and business value chain; and engage with public authorities, institutions, and other trade bodies to promote press freedom and advocate for the independence of news media organisations.

On 14 September, the inaugural remarks will be delivered by KN Shanth Kumar, director, The Printers (Mysore) and member of the board Wan-Ifra; Adrian Haack, director, Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), New Delhi and Magdoom Mohamed, managing director, Wan-Ifra South Asia.

The opening keynote — Content will never go out of fashion. What holds good for the future of print in digital world — will be delivered by Mohit Jain, board member and executive president, Bennett Coleman and Co (Times Group).

This will be followed by a roundtable — Back to business and revival of print — featuring Suresh Balakrishna, chief revenue officer, The Hindu; Samudra Bhattacharya, CEO, HT Media; Partha Sinha, president, Bennett, Coleman & Co; Varghese Chandy, vice-president, marketing and advertising sales, Malayala Manorama and Harrish M Bhatia, president, Ad Sales, DB Corp.

On 15 September, Satish Chandra Mishra, director, Jagran Prakashan and Paula Smith, sales director, Copap will offer publishers’ and suppliers’ perspectives on newsprint challenges and the way forward for the industry.

This would be followed by a discussion with technology managers and suppliers on optimising materials and other ideas, featuring Snehasis C Roy, director, technical, Bennett Coleman Co; Bernhard Schmiedeberg, senior VP, sales, EAE QIPC; and Utsab Choudhuri, senior vice-president, head technology at DIC India.

Amit Khurana, COO, newspaper group, TechNova, India will speak on digital printing of newspapers – the possibilities and business case.

The closing session will be on successful innovations and new ways of operating in print publishing. The speakers are John Cusack, business development manager, Baldwin; Saptangshu Chaudhuri; deputy general manager, printing, ABP; and Puneet Razdan, general manager, Hindustan Times.