An industry assembly is issuing a challenge to the idea that newspapers are in decline – claiming the reality is different to what media commentators might think.

Gavin O'Reilly, acting president of the World Association of Newspapers, told delegates to the 58th World Newspaper Congress and 12th World Editors Forum in Seoul, Korea, that 400 years after the birth of the printed newspaper, the industry was undergoing a renaissance.

He said: "It is somewhat ironic that in a year in which the newspaper is 400 years old, so many media commentators are still suggesting that the game is up for newspapers.

"After 400 years of newspapers rightly dominating the media landscape - and successfully weathering the onslaught of radio, TV and latterly the new digital age, it's hard to see the full-time whistle blowing quite yet."

He said that the latest conventional wisdom - that the newspaper industry was in terminal decline – did not reflect reality and should be vigorously challenged by the industry.

Addressing more than 1,300 senior newspaper executives from 82 countries, he said: "Publishers today have become acutely commercial, responsive and inventive.

"Simply put, we've upped our game.

"We've invested millions and millions in new state-of-the-art colour production facilities.

"We've become leaders in merchandising; we've invested millions behind our brands.

"We've aggressively targeted consumers - both young and old; we present a medium that is relatively fragmentation-proof.

"And the Internet - supposedly the nemesis of our industry - has in fact become a critical and vibrant part of our product and brand mix.

"And it is that which will form the basis of our success - recognising the unrivalled strength of our medium and its place and relevance in its society.

"Newspapers represent an integral part of over a billion people's life every day - showcasing and celebrating the serendipity of life."

He also addressed the problems of press freedom worldwide, and criticised recent legislative moves in South Korea, which are seen as restricting press freedom, including one which aims to set limits on market share of newspapers.