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FIRST PHASE:
The original World Association of Press Councils was established by six Press Councils, including Turkish Press Council, on 23 October 1992 in New Delhi, India.
The basic principle of WAPC is to participate in the development of the idea of "freedom of expression and of responsibility in the international media", to share the experiences already acquired in this field, and to promote co-operation among the Press Councils and similar bodies that have been established with the aim of self regulation.
The idea of formation of WAPC was initially incorporated in the Agenda by the High Judge A.N. Grover, the Chairman of Indian Press Council at that time in 1983, during a conference organized in connection with "International Communication Year".
Through the efforts of High Judge Grover and the representatives from the Press Councils of various countries and similar bodies met in 1985 in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. In the final declaration following the meeting the participants from the Press Councils formulated their expectations as summarized below:
"That the freedom of expression is an integral part of human rights which cannot be violated",
"That the freedom of press should be applied with an understanding of the existence of several other principles",
"That the establishment of Press Councils and similar bodies have already complied with the principles of self-regulation and of press freedoms, hence that the Press Councils were getting encouragement for further development efforts",
"That Press Councils and similar bodies should be absolutely determined to avoid getting involved with governmental activity".
This meeting was followed by second international meeting in 1989 again in Kuala Lumpur.
In this meeting the main topic was the "WAPC Charter" drafted and submitted by Prof. David Flint, the Chairman of the Executive Council. From that date until October 1992, when WAPC was finally established, various suggestions and alternative forms were discussed within the national Press Councils, platforms and the draft submitted by Prof. David Flint was adopted as the most suitable set of rules to be the charter of the WAPC. Thus the World Association of Press Councils was officially born. WAPC was founded by the Press Councils of Australia, Nepal, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom and Turkey.
But the name of Turkey was not included among the "founder" countries who had signed the Charter. This fact brought criticism from the Turkish media and from the public opinion. After the issue is brought to the agenda of the Executive Council, Turkey formally included to the founding members gruop.
Late Lord McGregor of Durris was the first President of the Association, Chairman of the Australian Press Council Prof. David Flint elected to the first Chairmanship of the Executive Board. Vice Presidents and Executive Council members were:
Gopal Prasad Pant-Chairman of Nepal Press Council, High Judge Fernando-The Chairman of Sri Lanka Press Council, Oktay Eksi-Chairman of the Press Council of Turkey, Thomas Cedric Larkin-Chairman of Press Council of New Zealand, and Mark Bolland of the British Press Complains Commission was the Treasurer.
Justice P.B. Sawant, the Chairman of Indian Press Council succeeded Lord McGregor" as The President of WAPC.
The first "Regional Meeting" of the Association was held in Katmandu, the capital of Nepal and the second "Regional Meeting" followed in June 1995 in Helsinki, the capital of Finland. In August of the same year Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, hosted the fourth International Conference and the first General Assembly of the Association.
Following meetings of WAPC took place in Istanbul (March 1996); Abuja (1997); Istanbul (Sept. 1998); Brisbane (June 1999); Cairo (April 2000); Dakha (2001); Tallinn (2002); Istanbul (Consultative- Nov.2003); Daar es Salam (Oct. 2004);
SECOND PHASE:
The originally established WAPC had not been registered in any country as an Association or as a legal entity. In order to get rid of the obstacles stemming from this fact, a meeting has been organized by the Turkish Press Council in June 2006, in İstanbul. Oktay Ekşi of the Turkish Press Council, Rt.Hon. Justice G.N.Ray The Chairman of Press Council of India, Chris Conybeare of the Honololu (Hawaii) Community Media Council, Anthony Ngaiza of the Media Council of Tanzania, Aflatun Amashow the Chairman of Pres Council of Azerbaijan, Esther Kamweru of Media Council of Kenya, Haruna Kanaabi of the Independent Media Council of Uganda, o behalf of İsmet Kotak the Chairman of Press Council of Turkish Cypriots Ms.Şule Lokmanoğlu, Moinuddin Quadery Showkat of Bangladesh Press Council, Beenwell Mwale of the Media Council of Zambia took part at the meeting. All the participants unaniomusly decided the World Association of the Press Councils should be re-established according to the Turkish law and officially registered in Turkey. Establishment of the Association officially completed on 10 October 2006 (based on decree of the Ministerial Council Number 2006/11114)
Oktay Ekşi has been elected as the President and the Treasurer; Rt.Hon.Justice G.N.Ray as the Vice President and Chris Conybeare as the Secretary General of the WAPC for three years term.
Executive Council meeting of the WAPC took place on 4 May 2007 in Nairobi. Election of the Office bearers renewed in Nairobi meeting according to the Article 9.2 of the Constitution and the same names re-elected to their previous positions.
Recent development:
Third General Assembly and Executive Council Meeting of WAPC was held on 09 July 2009 in Istanbul. In that meeting Rt.Hon.Justice G.N.Ray, Chairman of Press Council of India elected as the new President of WAPC, Mr.Kajubi Mukajanga, Executive General Secretary of Media Council of Tanzania elected as the new Vice Chairman of WAPC. Mr.Chris Conybeare, Chairman of Hawaii Media Council (USA) and Mr.Oktay Ekşi, Chairman of (Turkish) Press Council kept their positions as Secretary General and Treasurers respectively.
Mr.Oktay Ekşi was President of WAPC since February 2002 (beginning in the first phase of WAPC) till he declined to be re-elected in the last meeting of 9 July 2009 in order to open pave to new leadership.
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