After studying various offers, the general assembly held at Verbania, Italy in November 2011, unanimously decided to hold our 2013 World Congress in Panama City. This is the first time central America hosts this prestigious world congress. Panama took the first initiative to invite the congress in the year 2010 on the occasion of the celebration of the 500 years of the establishment of the Panama City municipality. 2013 marks the 500 years of the celebrations related to the increased navigation activities on the Pacific Ocean, the foundation of the Panamanian diocese, the first on the American continent’s main land. In 2013, the Panama Canal will start celebrating its 100 years anniversary; the Miraflores Locks next to the Pacific Ocean was completed in the year 1913. The theme of the congress will be related to the realities of today’s media and the challenges they pose as well as the realities of the Americas especially central America.

Smiling America with a Spanish accent

Panama is a beautiful nation at the heart of the American continent. The nation has earned an important place on world map with regard to international and economic development. This central American nation is considered the Singapore of the Americas because of its modernity, efficiency, and hospitality. Panama is also the major air travel hub of the Americas connecting central, north and south Americas and the Caribbean. As one of the travellers put it: “Panama is the smiling America with a Spanish accent”. Of Course Panama has a lot more and it is up to you to experience all that during the world congress.

Dates and theme

The dates of the congress are 29 September to 6 October 2013. The congress will discuss the realities of the new media, social networks, the freedom of journalist as well as the various challenges and responsibilities. One of the preoccupying factors of today’s media is the rapid fabrication and angling of news and the propagation of half truths and lies: Media giants based in the so called developed nations can today bombard mobile phones with one-line or few-words news combined with advertisement. Thus people worldwide do not any more regularly receive news and information through radio, newspapers, television or Internet but constantly through their or their neighbours’ mobile phones that are often limited to calls and text messages. The final formulation of the world congress theme will be made known in the coming months.

Why to attend the congress

There are 1001 reasons to attend our world congress, here are just a few of them: Meet with colleagues and friends from all parts of the world; Build professional networks that can be useful to you as a journalist, your news agency, print or online publication, blog, or broadcast, radio or television; Evaluate the profession of the journalists in the technology dominated media world; Join the efforts to protect the freedom of journalist; to promote journalistic responsibility in order to eliminate propaganda based on lies and fabricated news at the interests of ideologies, politics, religion and business; Understand the life and realities of Panama, Central America and the Americas; Realise reportages on events and realities and interviews with personalities and colleagues from all corners of the world.

Panama Canal

Panama Canal is not only a technological wonder and engineering masterpiece but also represent the essence of the human person in his or her constant quest for travel, elegance, luxury and above all, the search for freedom and wisdom. Thus the nation of Panama which was divided by the Canal became another solid brick in bringing together peoples worldwide. The new locks of the Panama Canal will be ready in the years 2013-2014 hundred years after the Miraflores locks.

Prepare for the congress from now on

We invite all members and friends to prepare for the world congress which will be a great milestone in our professional and personal lives. Here are a few tips on how to get ready for the congress: Save money from now on; Inform your employers already now on the importance of the congress so that they can support your travel to Panama; Involve individuals, institutions and enterprises in the efforts for journalism ethics and thus they can also be with you at the congress in Panama; Prepare a team of reporters and friends to travel to Panama with you so that they can also benefit from the congress; Reserve the dates of the congress (29 September to 6 October 2013) already now so that you can get ready with steady schedules of your preparation.