MEDIA ACCREDITATION, FACILITIES AND AUDIO-VISUAL RESOURCES

The Department of Public Information offers a varied range of audio-visual resources and facilities to enable media to cover the work and activities of the United Nations. The Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit offers guidance on how these resources can be utilized to enhance their coverage. Media are requested to provide specific dates and contexts of the archival material they are seeking.

Special arrangements are made during global meetings to support the high magnitude of media coverage of Heads of State, Government and delegations from the 192 Member States of the United Nations.

MEDIA ACCREDITATION

Media representatives in possession of valid United Nations grounds pass will be allowed to cover events at the United Nations without any additional accreditation. All others will be asked to submit an on-line registration form. The form is available at http://www.un.org/media/accreditation/form/index.html. Please note that all media applying for accreditation on-line will receive e-mail notifications as to the status of their application. Also, all media submitting this registration form will be required to submit a letter of assignment from their Bureau Chief or Editor-in-Chief, addressed to Gary Fowlie, Chief, Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit, by fax to 1 (212) 963-4642. Two pieces of photo identification (such as a passport, national press credentials, police press pass, driver's license or state ID) are also required. Other credentials, such as bylined articles, may be requested.

UNITED NATIONS AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIALS

Photographs

UN photos are available from URL: www.unmultimedia.org/photo. Digital photos are available as soon as the images are acquired and processed. Nominal fees for the issuance of prints may apply. Please direct photo inquiries and requests to:

United Nations Photo Library
Room S-805 L
Tel. 1(212) 963-6927 and 1(212) 963-0034
Fax: 1(212) 963-1658 and 1 (212) 963-3430
E-mail: photolibr@un.org

For the photographs of the Permanent Representatives of the Members of the Security Council, please click here.

Video tapes

Video material (edited and B-roll) is available on Betacam NTSC, VHS NTSC and DVD NTSC to major broadcasters on selected topics and UN activities. Advance tape orders will generally be available the day of, subject to availability of tape recorders. Tapes ordered afterwards will be available as soon as possible. To request a videotape, contact:

United Nations Television
Tel. 1 (212) 963-1561 and 1(212) 963-9270
Fax: 1 (212) 963-3860 and 1(212) 963-4501
E-mail: gonzalezm@un.org, fong@un.org and teza@un.org (Please direct your request to all three to ensure prompt attention)
URL: www.un.org/av/tv/archives.htm

Live television feeds

Live television feeds will be available through commercial carriers. For information, please contact:

United Nations Television
Tel. 1 (212) 963-7650 or E-mail: ludlam@un.org

Broadcasters interested in accessing UN Television's live coverage of an event should contact James Ludlam at 1(212) 963-7650. To book a TV studio, please call 1 (212) 963-7653 or 1 (212) 963-7650.

UNifeed

The United Nations now offers broadcast quality video for easy download from the Internet. The service, called UNifeed, is available for free at www.unmultimedia.org/tv/unifeed. It consists of three to six stories a day, sound bites and natural sound, with shot lists and scripts adaptable into local languages. News stories, features and expert interviews from Headquarters, field operations, agencies, funds and programmes: UNifeed enables you to cover important global issues by offering timely video from throughout the UN system. For production, contact Paula Harrington at (212) 963-7458 or harringtonp@un.org. For distribution, contact Caroline Petit at (212) 963-6982 or petitc@un.org.

Audio files

Digital audio files, audio cassettes or CDs of the coverage proceedings are available as soon as statements are delivered. For information and requests, contact:

United Nations Audio Library
(Located on the first basement concourse, level 1-B, in Room GA-27)
Tel: 1 (212) 963-9270, 1 (212) 963-9272, 1 (212) 963-7262
Fax: 1 (212) 963-3860
URL: www.unmultimedia.org/radio/library

Audio is normally available in the original ("floor") language in which statements were delivered. Special requests for recording of the interpretation in one of the six official languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) should be made in advance, and are subject to the limitations of the recording facilities.

Accredited correspondents are provided with audiocassettes of news items free of charge. Additional copies, back orders and other special requests are subject to charge and are handled by the Sound Recording Unit, Room GA-13 C; telephone: 1 (212) 963-7658.

Multimedia Promotion and Distribution

UN Multimedia Promotion and Distribution provides UN Radio and TV products and services, establishes partnerships with broadcasting organizations worldwide and facilitates contacts with in-house production.

On its website (http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv) visitors can find news on UN Family audiovisual productions and events, an on-line catalogue of UNTV-produced 21st Century TV series and UN in Action TV series, collections on environment and more.

Please contact:

Promotion and Distribution
Caroline Petit at 1 (212) 963-6982 and Diane Barkley at 1 (212) 963-6939
Fax: 1(212) 963-6869 E-mail: audio-visual@un.org

United Nations Radio broadcasts

The United Nations Radio broadcasts live 15-minute daily weekday programmes from UN Headquarters in six languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. Broadcasters worldwide are free to use each segment individually or transmit the programme in its entirety through a variety of distribution methods, including satellite, telephone feed and electronic file transfer (FTP). Listeners in Africa and the Middle East with shortwave radio receivers can tune in to Arabic, English and French broadcasts directly. Internet users can listen to programmes on http://radio.un.org, shortly after it is produced. For details about current partner stations in English and other languages and shortwave frequencies/transmitters/schedules, please contact Audio-visual Promotion and Distribution, Room S-805A, telephone: 1(212) 963-6982 or 1(917) 367-5007; fax: (212) 963-6869; e-mail: audio-visual@un.org.

INTERNET

United Nations Website

The UN Website (http://www.un.org) through a dedicated portal webpage provides coverage of the Security Council, General Assembly, ECOSOC and other meetings, conferences, press briefings and events in the six official languages, including background information, press releases, news stories, documents, photos, and access to radio programmes, webcast videos and statements.

UN News Centre

The UN News Centre, at www.un.org/news, serves as a main portal for UN news, and is continuously updated. It also provides a wide array of links to related source materials, including press releases, selected reports of the Secretary-General, Security Council resolutions and Presidential statements, and other documents on major United Nations issues. On the UN News Centre, visitors can also subscribe to a free e-mail news alert service that will bring stories on the latest UN developments straight to their mailboxes or desktops.

United Nations Webcast

The UN Webcast service (www.un.org/webcast) provides daily live and on-demand broadcasting over the Internet of UN open meetings, conferences, press briefings and events. The meetings are covered live in English and the original language of the speaker (floor). The archived webcast video will be made available on the Webcast website, along with the text of statements. Queries should be directed to the UN Webcast at: 1 (212) 963-6733.

FACILITIES AND ARRANGEMENTS

Media workspace

A media workspace area is available on the third floor of the Secretariat Building for the convenience of the media and includes television monitors, telephone, fax, audio dispatches and Internet access at commercial rates.

Wi-Fi connection is also available in the Delegates Lounge, the Neck Area ( in 1-B level, between the elevators and the Viennese Café), the Security Council, Trusteeship Council, Economic and Social Council, Viennese Café, the entire second floor area of the GA Hall, GA-27, Audio Room, South Lobby (lounge area in front of the first floor cafeteria), SA-1B-30 ( level 1-B, past the south side post office, near the language class training rooms), Conference Rooms 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, Conference Room 10 (ACABQ), Conference Rooms A,B,C,D Hallway, Conference Rooms A, B and C.

Radio studios

Limited radio facilities are available to accredited journalists. For radio studio availability, contact UN Radio by e-mail: chia-rubin@un.org, and martinich@un.org. Please direct requests to both to ensure prompt attention.

Documents for media

Print copies of documents are made available to the media at the Media Documents Distribution Counter in the third floor press area of the Secretariat Building.

United Nations press release coverage

The Department of Public Information provides press release coverage in English and French of open meetings. Press releases may be obtained from the third floor racks in the Media Documents Centre, and on the Internet at www.un.org/apps/pressreleases.

Background material and queries related to UN meetings and activities

For media materials about any major global event and its key issues, see the United Nations web site at www.un.org.  A summary of daily and upcoming meetings at the United Nations can be found in the UN Journal, available online at http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/En/lateste.pdf

For additional information, suggestions for interviews, and other related assistance, contact the Strategic Communications Division of the Department of Public Information, at 1(212) 963-5851, 1(212) 963 2932, and 1 (212) 963 8264; fax: 1 (212) 963-0536; e-mail: mediainfo@un.org.

Briefings and news conferences

Daily noon briefings are held for journalists in room S-226. Press conferences by senior UN officials, delegations and Permanent Missions of Member States also take place in the same room, unless otherwise noted. As media events are subject to change, journalists should consult the daily Media Alert, which is updated regularly and is available at www.un.org/media/accreditation/mediaalert.asp. An updated schedule of press conferences can also be found at www.un.org/news/ossg/conf.htm.

Interviews

To schedule an interview with a UN staff member, please call the Secretary-General's Spokesperson's office at 1 (212) 963-7160. To schedule an interview with national figures or experts, please contact the press attaché of the relevant Permanent Mission to the United Nations.