The most recent Conference was held in Sri Lanka at the Trans Asia hotel in Colombo from 25-28 February 2003.

The Conference was a roaring success with lively discussion and wide-ranging representation from across the Commonwealth. Through personal and professional understanding these conferences allow the CPU to assess the concerns and needs of the Commonwealth press, and this gives each country an opportunity to learn about and support their respective media cultures.

What was resolved?

Sivanesaselvam, Kumar Nadesan and Ranjit Wijewardene

1. Stronger freedom of the press in Sri Lanka
The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka explained the changing role of the press in his country and the newly formed Press Complaints Commission in his opening address on 25 February 2003.

The law of Criminal Defamation has been repealed in Sri Lanka and new legislation is being drafted to protect the press.

Click here to view a transcript of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka's speech

2. Sri Lanka is formally commended for impressive legislative moves toward Press Freedom
Delegates who attended the Conference tabled a unanimous resolution commending Sri Lanka on its efforts toward strengthening press freedom.

The repeal of the Law on Criminal Defamation and the establishment the Sri Lankan Press Institute and the Press Complaints Commission were announced along with a number of potential legislative moves meriting the special CPU delegates' resolution.

Click here to view the CPU Biennial Conference resolution in full

Trevor Ncube, Bill Saidi, Chiza Ngwire & Iden Wetherell

3. Commonwealth editors deplore the maltreatment of journalists in Zimbabwe
The Commonwealth Editors' Forum announced a collective resolution about the abuses their colleagues are facing in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe was debated throughout the Conference due to the deep concern over its diminishing press freedom.

Click here to view the Commonwealth Editors' statement on Zimbabwe

4. CPU launch Legal Assistance Programme
The CPU is to offer a Legal Assistance Programme to member newspapers from developing countries who do not have access to legal support. Full details will be available on this site shortly.

Awards

Kuldip Nayar

Indian journalist Kuldip Nayar receives CPU Astor award for press freedom

Renowned South Asian journalist Kuldip Nayar won the CPU Astor Award for his outstanding contribution to press freedom and human rights, awarded at the CPU Biennial Conference in Sri Lanka on 28 February. Find out more



Professor Robert Pinker is commended for his outstanding contribution to self-regulation of the press.

Professor Robert Pinker & CPU Executive Director Lindsay Ross

The CPU presented Professor Robert Pinker, Acting Chairman of the Press Complaints Commission in the UK a special award for his outstanding contribution to self-regulation of the press throughout the Commonwealth.

Five years ago, Professor Pinker visited Sri Lanka at the request of the CPU and the Editors Guild of Sri Lanka, to start the process which has led to the establishment of the Sri Lanka Press Complaints Commission (announced on 22 February 2003). Over the past 18 months, he has also been a key member of the CPU team that has travelled throughout the Commonwealth to hold seminars on press regulation.

Professor Pinker has delivered various informative speeches explaining the workings of the Press Complaints Commission in the UK as a blueprint with an aim to educate journalists about the strengths of an independent system versus a state controlled press council. He has also functioned as a consultant to those interested in establishing systems in their respective countries.

The CPU considers it an honour to have worked closely with Professor Pinker and plans are underway for follow-up meetings on the strengths of self-regulation of the press.

Next Conference
The CPU Committee has agreed that the next Conference will be held in the Pacific region. The dates will be announced in due course.

Speeches
Select from the list below to read transcripts of speeches made at the Conference.

The list can also be found in the drop-down list navigation at the top of this and subsequent Conference pages.

Opening Address made by Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka at the opening of the Commonwealth Press Union Biennial Conference, in Colombo.

Who Guards the Guardians? Is Election Media Monitoring Effective?
By Gilbert Ahnee (Mauritius)

Publish and be damned? But jailed?
By Mary Russell
Group Legal Advisor
Associated Newspapers Limited

Report back to the CPU Biennial Conference on the 5th Commonwealth Editors' Forum
By Dominique Searle (Gibraltar)

The Online Revolution
By Nick Guthrie
Executive Editor, BBC WSTV

The next generation of consumer
George Brock

Shaping the future of newspapers
By Eamonn Byrne

Knowing your market in a recession
By Ted Glynn

Closing Address
By Don McKinnon, Commonwealth Secretary-General

CONFERENCE & FORUM VIRTUAL PHOTO ALBUM
Visit our photo album highlighting the recent CPU Biennial Conference in Sri Lanka.

Recent Conferences:

Sri Lanka 2003
Barbados 2000
Malaysia 1998
South Africa 1996
Malta & Cyprus 1994
Edinburgh 1992