The events, being held for the first time in Africa, are expected to draw at least 1500 publishers, chief editors and other senior newspaper executives.
"The 2007 summit meetings of the world's press will be very special in many ways," says Timothy Balding, CEO of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN), organisers of the events.
"Most importantly, perhaps, the events will be held for the first time ever in Africa. While newspapers throughout the world confront the exciting challenge of creating multi-platform news and advertising enterprises, the media in dozens of African countries still remain engaged in the struggle to finally win freedom and independence."
First announced Congress speakers include:
Other speakers include Mark Dodson, CEO of GMG Regional Media in the UK and Ed Greenspon, editor-in-chief of the Globe & Mail in Canada.
More speakers will be announced over the next few months.
The Congress, which addresses the business concerns of media companies, and the Editors Forum, which addresses newsroom issues, focus on exchanging knowledge and best practices. The events rely heavily on case studies of newspapers and how they perform under challenging conditions.
The Congress, which runs concurrently with the World Editors Forum and Info Services Expo, will also represent a number of other landmarks:
To mark this last anniversary, the Congress in 2007 will take 'Shaping the Future of the Newspaper ' as its overall theme, reflecting the extraordinary changes underway as the press positions itself to remain the most influential and important media in the information landscape.
The events will kick off on Sunday 3 June with the annual WAN round tables on digital media, young readers and press freedom. These conferences will, respectively, look at 'Maximising the Digital Potential of the Newspaper', 'Winning Strategies for Engaging a New Generation' and 'Press Freedom in Africa: the Key to Good Governance and Development'.
The opening ceremony will take place on the morning of Monday 4 June and will be addressed (subject to confirmation) by Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa.
In addition to learning about trends, innovations and best practice in the newspaper industry internationally, WAN participants know that they can also expect to have a lot of fun.
Apart from a great programme of social events being planned by the hosts, the Newspaper Association of South Africa, there will be the 2nd World Press Golf Tournament, sponsored by MAN Roland, and a wide range of pre- and post-Congress programmes of remarkable variety.
Information on all aspects of the events can be accessed at www.wan-press.org/capetown2007, as well as regular business programme updates and the evolving participation list.
Sponsors of the events include Remgro, Richemont & VenFin, Mondi Shanduka Newsprint & Mondi International and the Sunday Times.
The Paris-based WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, represents 18000 newspapers; its membership includes 76 national newspaper associations, newspaper companies and individual newspaper executives in 102 countries, 12 news agencies and 10 regional and world-wide press groups.