PPF and World Association of Newspapers to cooperate in launching the Prague International Multimedia Training Centre (IMTC)
02/18/2009
Within the framework of PPF’s media project, the International Multimedia Training Centre (IMTC) is to be established in Prague, Czech Republic.IMTC intends to become a centrepiece of media industry education and training and will be pursued by PPF in the CEE and CIS region. IMTC is expected to start its activities in May, 2009.
According to the Memorandum, WAN (http://www.wan-press.org) will provide advisory and consulting services in 2009. A WAN consultant will be based in Prague, on a constant basis, undertaking comprehensive research of multimedia synergies and the management of converged media companies in the 21st century. Through its division for senior news executives, the World Editors Forum (http://www.worldeditorsforum.org), WAN will provide top speakers for IMTC seminars and Master Classes, including high-ranked journalists, editors-in-chief, media management executives and innovative researchers.
Roman Gallo, PPF’s director for media strategies, said, “We are proud to announce the launch of the multimedia education and management project, which reflects the know-how that our team would like to share with colleagues in the Czech Republic but also in the broader CEE and CIS region. We value very much WAN’s contribution and involvement as PPF"s main partner. We are confident that our project will attract the interest of media practitioners, as well as students, academics, state authorities and NGOs. The IMTC Prague-based seminars and Master Classes will be supported by practical examples of multimedia management.”
Bertrand Pecquerie, WEF Director, commented, “print and online convergence is one of the most important challenges that the newspaper industry will have to take up in the upcoming years. Setting up a converged newsroom in the heart of this great historical city that is Prague is a symbol for the whole of Eastern Europe. WAN wanted to participate to this new international training centre that will benefit all media groups in the region. We expect a lot from this initiative, both for print and online news projects.”
Notes for the Editors
The Paris-based WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, defends and promotes press freedom and the professional and business interests of newspapers world-wide. Representing 18,000 newspapers, its membership includes 77 national newspaper associations, newspaper companies and individual newspaper executives in 102 countries, 12 news agencies and 11 regional and world-wide press groups.