Bangladesh publisher bdnews24.com, Jang Group (Pakistan), the Australian Jewish News, and vendors Microsoft, Saxotech and Indonesia’s Marketeers are among 22 new members of WAN-Ifra, the organisation says.

Chief executive Vincent Peyrègne says the boost reflects growing support for the expanding activities of the leading global service organisation for news media. “We have become an agent of media transformation, be it business models, strategic organisation or technology,” he says.

Other new members in 2013 include: Viestilehdet OY, Denmark; Utgivarna in Sweden; Finnmedia in Finland; the Gulf Press Association, Bahrain; Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe; Kristeligt Dagblad, Denmark; Aylesford Newsprint, UK; Grupo Crónica, Argentina; Periódico  A.M. y Al Día, Mexico; Empresa Editora El Comercio, Perú; PCS, UK; D-Share, Italy; Milliyet, Turkey; Operative, USA; Badische Neueste Nachrichten, Germany; and Samori Media Connection, Belgium.

WAN-Ifra 18,000 newspapers, 15,000 online sites and 3,000 companies in more than 120 countries. It also includes 78 national newspaper and media associations.