Newspaper & Mailroom

More than 120 newsrooms across the world will mark World News Day 2020 on Monday 28 September

Monday 28. September 2020 - More than 120 newsrooms across the world will mark World News Day 2020 on Monday 28 September, highlighting the critical role that journalism and professional newsrooms play in helping citizens make sense of the world. World News Day is an initiative driven by the Canadian Journalism Foundation and the World Editors Forum, the network for editors within WAN-IFRA. It was initiated in Canada in 2018, and this is the first year it is being celebrated as one integrated global event.

Participating newsrooms from will use their pages, editorial columns and social media channels on the 28th September to show why #JournalismMatters. Some have planned their own events for their audiences and will produce special supplements on journalism that matters.
Two op-ed pieces are being made available, embargoed for publication on World News Day, 28 September, written by Warren Fernandez, President of the World Editors Forum and Editor in Chief of the Straits Times, Singapore, and David Walmsley, Editor in Chief of the Globe and Mail, Canada. They can be downloaded here.
Two global broadcasts will pay homage to the positive power of journalism.
The first webinar, scheduled for 16h00 Singapore/HK time (8h00 GMT), will focus on Youth and Media and the next steps to tackle the COVID-19 Pandemic. Registration required. Top speakers include Australian infectious disease specialist, Prof Dale Fisher, Dr June Tay, head of the Digital Media Programme at Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), editors from the Straits Times, Manilla Bulletin and Jakarta Post.
At 19h00 Eastern Time (24h00 GMT), CNN Media Correspondent Brian Stelter will host a World News Day webcast, including Dr Anthony Fauci, Director of the US Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases; Maria Ressa, CEO of Rappler; journalists and correspondents from The New York Times, CNN, BBC, Reforma, Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, National Geographic and ABC. It will include performances by artists such as Macy Gray. The full programme is here. Registration required.
World Editors Forum President Warren Fernandez said it was important for newsrooms to underline the contribution they make: “At a time when so much has been turned on its head, this much has become clear: Real news matters. The truth matters. Objectivity matters. Balance and fairness matter. In short, quality journalism matters. These are hallmarks of professional newsrooms.”
World News Day deliberately coincides with the UN International Day for Access to Information, in recognition of the importance of the right to know – for both journalists and citizens.