Ladina Heimgartner has been elected as the President of WAN-IFRA

Ladina Heimgartner was elected as the new President of WAN-IFRA during the World News Media Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark. The event, attended by over 1,000 publishers, editors, journalists, and news executives from 80 countries, saw Heimgartner succeed Fernando de Yarza López-Madrazo.

Heimgartner, along with other newly elected board members, will lead WAN-IFRA for the next two years. In her acceptance speech, Heimgartner emphasized the importance of media in shaping the global narrative and the need for unity in defending press freedom and truth-seeking.

The congress also saw the election of four new members to the WAN-IFRA Supervisory Board, including Noora Alanne, Patricia Fonseca, Denis Pierrard, and Werner Zitzmann. The organization expressed gratitude to retiring board members for their service.

During the congress, the WAN-IFRA Board issued key resolutions addressing critical issues in the global media landscape. These resolutions included support for independent media in Ukraine, condemnation of journalist killings in Gaza, and a call for greater accountability in media.

Despite the challenging economic climate, WAN-IFRA reported positive results for 2023, with increased membership and successful events throughout the year. The organization remains committed to supporting press freedom and independent journalism worldwide.

For further information, contact Vincent Peyrègne, CEO of WAN-IFRA, or Mariona Sanz, Press Contact for the World News Media Congress 2024. WAN-IFRA continues to play a vital role in protecting the rights of journalists and publishers globally.