George Hoff, Director of CBC News Gathering, Canada

The pressures of daily journalism don't leave much time to consider and debate the issues and challenges facing the media. This Forum is such an opportunity. It will be a chance to hear different points of view and develop ideas on how to improve the reporting that we do East to West, day in and day out.

The events of the past year: be it war, terrorism, disease or a fragile world economy, present daily challenges as to how we provide the context and balance that our audiences demand. From the hurly burly of a 24-hour news channel to more 'point of view' but timely documentary programs, television and radio channels around the world can learn from each other.

I look forward to meeting old friends and making many new friends as we consider ways to produce stronger information programs that will better inform our audiences whether we are from the East or the West.