WAN-IFRA is the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers. Its mission is to protect the rights of journalists across the world to operate free media, and provide its members with professional services to help their business prosper in a digital world and perform their crucial role in open societies. It derives its authority from its global network of leading news publishing companies and technology entrepreneurs, and its legitimacy from its 80 member publisher associations representing 18,000 publications in 120 countries WHAT WE DO AND WHY We believeæthat business sustainability enhanced by a culture for innovation is the best guarantee for publishers to play their pillar role to advance freedom of expression in open societies.æThat's whyæour mission is twofold. One theæone hand,æWAN-IFRA is coming out with new and insightful information every single day. It offers exceptional value and support to its members by building knowledge, creating networking opportunities. It offers a lot of individual servicesæto its members, from business and technology insights to training and advisory services. On the other WAN-IFRAæplays aæcritical role in theæpromotion of a free press around the worldæand offers its services and support so that news executives,æeditors, and journalists can safeguard the values of the next level journalism, and build unique capacity to shapeæa new public sphere in aædigital/social/mobile society. WAN-IFRA represents the newspaper industry in all international discussions and has formal associate status to represent the newspaper industry at UNESCO, and consultative status at the United Nations, the World Intellectual Property Organisation, the Council of Europe, and international sport organisations.