Lord Rothermere has been confirmed as one of the key speakers at the 57th World Newspaper Congress, 11th World Editors Forum and Info Services Expo 2004 in May.

The chairman of the Daily Mail and General Trust, which owns Northcliffe Newspapers, will address more than 1,000 senior newspaper executives at the events, which are being held in Turkey.

The meetings are being organised by the Paris-based World Association of Newspapers.

The Congress, which addresses the business concerns of media companies, and the Editors Forum, which addresses newsroom issues, focus on exchanging knowledge and best practices. The events rely heavily on case studies of newspapers and how they perform under challenging conditions.

Association director general Timothy Balding said the Forum, "The Newsroom Revolution: New Technologies and New Competitors", would examine the challenges and opportunities for editors and journalists brought on by the digital revolution, as well as the implications of new financial constraints, falling circulations, permanent technological change and the need to redefine relationships with readers.

He said: "The conference will provide a unique panorama of trends and innovations in the press worldwide and an unmatched opportunity to meet and network with colleagues in the newspaper business from every culture, region and major market."

One of the event's new features will be a two-hour master class, featuring leading newspaper executives who have joined the new Association task forces on advertising, readership and digital media, to examine key strategic issues facing the newspaper business.

There will also be discussions on progress and problems with press freedom around the world.

Lord Rothermere will be joined by other speakers including Karen House, publisher of the Wall Street Journal, and Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the event, which runs from May 30 to June 2 in Istanbul. Confirmed Forum speakers include Simon Kelner, editor-in-chief of The Independent, and managing editor of The Times, George Brock, and his colleague David Wadmore who is associate head of design.

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