Publishers agree to set up an industry body

They will now consult with all industry players with the aim of formally establishing a new representative body within the next 100 days.

The initiative is supported by WAN - the World Association of Newspapers, and FIPP - the Federation of International Periodical Publishers, global partners in the publishing conference.

The Dubai Consultancy, Research & Media Centre has agreed to facilitate the formation process and provide administrate support and resources until the new body is independently operational.

Ahmed Al Mansoori, president of DCRMC, congratulated publishers on taking the initiative, saying the new body would have a highly important role in raising industry standards in the region.

"FIPP and WAN represent similar industry bodies in countries across the world and the benefits they bring to bear are enormous," he commented. "We believe that the new association can achieve similar results on behalf of Middle East publishing and help develop the industry to new levels of skill and professionalism.

"Readers will enjoy a better product, while the industry will be able to speak with one voice on issues of professional concern, such as freedom of expression, legislation, copyright, training, and similar factors influencing the growth and development of the publishing sector."

Industry representatives from across the GCC and as far away as Hong Kong have joined forces to form the 12-person team given the mandate to work on launching the new organisation.

They will draw on the experience of WAN and FIPP whose membership includes 116 national associations. Paris-based WAN represents 18,000 newspapers worldwide, 72 national newspaper associations, 13 news agencies, and newspaper executives in 102 countries.

FIPP has 182 members in 53 countries, comprising 42 national associations, one regional association (Latin America), 104 publishing member companies, 31 associate members and six individual members. Between them, they publish more than 110,000 magazine titles with estimated annual advertising revenues in the region of US$70 billion.

Timothy Balding, director general of WAN said that the rise of the Internet and other developments are posing new challenges to Middle East publishers.

"In such an environment, it is import for publishers to cooperate on issues of mutual concern, and formation of an industry body will contribute significantly to this objective," he pointed out.

"We have seen how successful industry associations have been in other countries where we have helped with their formation and development, and there is every indication that the proposed Middle East industry body will make an equally positive impact."

Donald Kummerfeld, president and chief executive of FIPP, endorsed Balding's comments, saying: "Our mission is to promote nationally and internationally the common editorial, cultural, and economic interests of magazine, both print and electronic.

"Our member associations have an invaluable role in furthering these goals in their respective countries and I am sure that once this region's association is up and running it will make a major contribution to the furtherance of the region's publishing industry."