CNA Conference on "News Agencies: Concerns - Challenges"

CNA Conference on "News Agencies: Concerns - Challenges"

The Cyprus News Agency (CNA) organized an International Conference on “News Agencies: Concerns and Challenges”, on 16 November 2009, at St. Raphael Hotel, in Limassol, Cyprus.

Participants included CEO/Presidents, Directors General/Editors-in-Chief or other high-ranking officials from international and national news agencies, from Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia and other parts of the world.

CNA Board Chairman Costakis Constantinou welcomed participants. Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou addressed the opening ceremony, on behalf of the President of the Cyprus Republic Demetris Christofias. George Eliopoulos, Deputy Head and Press Officer of the Representation of the European Commission to Cyprus, also addressed participants.

Among those who attended the opening ceremony were Director General of the Ministry of the Interior Lazaros Savvides, the Ambassadors of Bulgaria, Hungary, Georgia and Syria, whose countries were represented at the Conference by their national news agencies. Other delegates included Cypriot media representatives, foreign correspondents and Cypriot university professors.

The morning session of the Conference dealt with the international issue of migration in relation to the role of news agencies.

The issue was presented by five speakers from the International Organisation of Migration, the Research Centre in Applied Economy for Development in Algeria, the Department of Social and Educational Policy, School of Social Sciences of the University of Peloponnese, in Greece, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and the European Commission.

The afternoon session dealt with specialized issues concerning news agency business, such as technology, new content, internet, multimedia, digital journalism, digital strategy.

Speakers in this session came from the Department of Journalism, Bowling Greek State University in Ohio, the Athens News Agency (ANA/MPA), the Association Press (AP), the French News Agency (AFP), the Spanish News Agency (EFE), the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki “Institute of Audio-Visual Media” and the MINDS International.

On 17 November 2009 participants visited ancient sites, including Kolossi Castle, Couriun Ancient Site, Aphrodite birth place at Petra tou Romiou and Pafos Mosaics.

The CNA Conference was organized in cooperation with the Representation of the European Commission to Cyprus. Sponsors: Cyta (Cyprus Telecommunications Authority), Athens Technology Center (ATC), Cyprus Airways, Action Global Communications.

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