Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit

MEDIA ARRANGEMENTS

2005 WORLD SUMMIT AND 60TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

UNITED NATIONS, SEPTEMBER 2005

The 2005 Summit of the United Nations will be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, September 2005, with the 60th General Assembly to follow immediately thereafter. The Building will be closed to the public during this period and access will be restricted to only those persons who are accredited and wearing a United Nations grounds pass.

1. Media Accreditation

Correspondents already possessing a valid United Nations grounds pass will not need additional accreditation for the Summit. All others must apply for accreditation by submitting a completed accreditation form available from:

The Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit's website at www.un.org/media/accreditation

Please refer to the website for details regarding accreditation requirement, media access to the UN Secretariat, as well as liaison services for coverage of open and bilateral meetings, press conferences and briefings.

All members of the media accompanying Heads of State and Government or heads of delegation must complete an application form for accreditation (Annex II), attached to an official letter from the permanent mission concerned, addressed to:

The letter must list the names of the media representatives with their functional titles and affiliation.

Members of the media accompanying Heads of State and Government or heads of delegation must present themselves to the Media Accreditation Office, where they will have their photographs taken and be issued a United Nations grounds pass upon presentation of national passports and valid photo identification.

All other media wishing to cover the 2005 World Summit and the General Assembly will have a United Nations grounds pass issued at the Media Accreditation Office upon presentation of a letter of assignment from their Editor-in-Chief, addressed to the Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit. Two pieces of photo identification (such as a passport, national press credentials, police press pass or drivers' license) are also required. Other credentials, such as bylined articles, may be requested. Criteria for media accreditation are available at www.un.org/media/accreditation.

For security reasons, all media representatives will be required to wear both their United Nations grounds pass and national press ID at all times.

2. Location and work hours of the Media Accreditation Office

The Media Accreditation Office will be situated in Room 100 of the UNITAR Building, 801 First Avenue (north-west corner of 45th Street and First Avenue). From August 15-30 September 2005 the Media Accreditation Office will be located in a tent on the North Lawn of the United Nations, near the 48th Street entrance on First Avenue. From Monday, 5 September to Friday, 9 September 2005, the hours of operation will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.

The hours of operation for the days immediately prior to and during the 2005 World Summit and General Assembly will be as follows:

Weekdays from 15 August to 9 September		9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday	10 September	9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday	11 September	9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Monday	12 September	8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Tuesday	13 September	8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Wednesday	14 September	6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Thursday	15 September	6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday	16 September	8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday	17 September	9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday	18 September	9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Weekdays from 19-30 September		9 a.m.to 6 p.m.

For security reasons, all media representatives will be required to wear both their United Nations grounds pass and national press identification at all times.

All media representatives will be required to present a valid United Nations grounds pass to the United Nations security officers at the gate.

Media are advised to arrive early to allow sufficient time for screening. Last-minute arrivals will encounter delays, and may be further delayed should First Avenue be closed for motorcades.

3. Entry and screening procedures

The designated press entrances for the 2005 World Summit are as follows:

Tuesday, 13 September	Visitors' Entrance, First Avenue and 46th Street (open at 8 a.m.)
Wednesday, 14 September	48th Street Gate, First Avenue and 48th Street (open at 6 a.m.)
Thursday, 15 September	48th Street Gate, First Avenue and 48th Street (open at 7 a.m.)
Friday, 16 September	48th Street Gate, First Avenue and 48th Street (open at 7 a.m.)

Resident correspondents without equipment may use the 42nd Street Gate, which opens at 6:30 a.m.

All media representatives will be required to present a valid United Nations grounds pass to the United Nations security officers at the gate.

Media are advised to arrive early to allow sufficient time for screening. Last-minute arrivals will encounter delays, and may be further delayed, should First Avenue be closed for motorcades.

4. Media Centre and other facilities

The facilities available in the "media work space" area on the third floor of the Secretariat Building will include television monitors, telephone, fax, audio dispatches and Internet access at commercial rates. The Ex Press Bar on the third floor of the General Assembly Building will serve as an overflow area for the media, particularly the official photographers and cameramen waiting to enter the booth assigned to them. These locations will also be equipped with electrical outlets and a television monitor showing the proceedings in the Plenary Hall.

The United Nations will establish a Media Centre for the local and visiting media in Conference Room 1, on level 1-B, which will provide the following technical services:

Television monitors carrying live proceedings on closed circuit television of the plenary meetings of the Summit, meetings of the Security Council, press conferences of Heads of State, arrivals of motorcades at Headquarters and gatherings of Heads of State for the round tables.
Video distribution in NTSC and PAL standards, with the "floor" and English tracks. Media organizations must provide their own video recording decks.
Audio distribution to record official proceedings will be available, with provision for language selection, including "floor" audio and English interpretation.
Paging system for general announcements to the media.
Telephone lines (credit cards required) and 110 volt electrical outlets; journalists using their own laptops must provide their own modems.
Computers with Internet access.
Wi-fi Internet service.
Documents distribution (including press releases).

An information desk will be staffed at all times from 13 to 16 September to assist journalists with both substantive and organizational questions. For queries, call Media Centre at 1 (212) 963-9611, 1(212) 963-9612 and 1 (212) 963-9613.

Wi Fi connection is also 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 A,B,C,D Hallway, Conference Rooms A, B and C.

5. United Nations audiovisual materials

Offices providing audio-visual services will open at 9 a.m. during the 2005 World Summit and the General Assembly debate.

Photographs will be available to accredited media free of charge. Photographs of morning speeches will be available during the afternoon of the same day and photos of the afternoon speeches on the morning of the following day. Please direct photo inquiries and requests to:

Videotapes of speeches are available for a fee in NTSC VHS and NTSC Betacam SP. Advance tape orders will generally be available on the day of the speech. Tapes ordered afterwards will be available as soon as possible, usually within one or two days. To request a videotape of a speech, contact:

gonzalezm@un.org

tanj@un.org

Direct your requests to both to ensure prompt attention.

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

Please note that only pool television production services will be available from United Nations Television during the 2005 World Summit.

Broadcasters interested in accessing UN Television's live coverage of the 2005 Summit and General Assembly debate, should contact James Ludlam at 1(212) 963-7650. If they wish to book a TV studio, call 1 (212) 963-7653 or 1 (212) 963-7650. A detailed schedule of live and ENG coverage will be emailed to broadcast clients in advance of the Summit.

Audio cassettes and a selection of digital audio files will be available, free of charge from

Speeches are normally available in the original ("floor") language in which they were delivered. Special requests for recording of the interpreter's track 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 audio cassettes of news items free of charge. Delegates may request one cassette of each speech 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. Tel: 1 (212) 963-9272.

The United Nations Radio broadcasts live 15-minute daily weekday programmes from UN Headquarters in six official languages. 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). Internet users can listen to programmes on http://www.un.org/radio, shortly after it is produced. For details about current partner stations in English and other languages and shortwave frequencies/transmitters/schedules in Africa and the Middle East, contact Audio-visual Promotion and Distribution, Room S-805A, Tel: 1(212) 963-6982 or 1(917) 367-5007. Fax: (212) 963-6869. Email: audio-visual@un.org.

6. Internet

The UN Website (http://www.un.org) through a dedicated portal webpage will provide 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.

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.

The UN Webcast Service (http://www.un.org/webcast) provides daily live and on-demand broadcasting over the Internet of UN open meetings, conferences, press briefings and events. The September 2005 World Summit and the 60th General Assembly will be covered live in English and the original language of the speaker (floor). The archived webcast video will be made available on the Webcast web site, along with the text of statements. In order to facilitate timely availability of statements on the web site, delegations should send them via e-mail to webcast@un.org. Queries should be directed to the UN Webcast at:
1 (212) -963-6733.

7. Other arrangements

Pool coverage: Nearly all visual media coverage will be done by selected media pools due to logistics and space considerations. The pools are reserved exclusively for United Nations Television, United Nations photographers, international wire services and photo agencies. In the case of print media, the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) will notify the Department of Public Information of its representative.

The official media accompanying a Head of State or Government or head of delegation, including the official photographer, will not be permitted to participate in these pools. One exception will be the luncheon in which their Head of State or Government or head of delegation participates, in which case, the official photographer will be allowed to join the pool, and will be subject to direction by the media liaison staff. Please note that all media pools will be accompanied by media liaison staff.

Other stakeout areas are being considered for a very limited number of journalists. For further information, call 1 (212) 963-6934 or fax to 1 (212) 963-4642

Television and photo coverage in General Assembly Hall: Official photographers and television crews will have an opportunity to cover the speech of their Head of State and Government or head of delegation on a rotational basis, from the press booths surrounding the General Assembly Hall. Owing to space limitations, they may not remain to cover other speeches. A limited number of still photographers, escorted by DPI liaison staff, will also be allowed to take photographs during speeches from the bridge located in the rear of the General Assembly Hall. These operations will be coordinated from the Liaison Desk situated on the third floor in the General Assembly Building. For queries, call Media Liaison Desk at
1 (212) 963-7756 or 1 (212) 963-3353.

Tickets to the press gallery in General Assembly Hall: Fifty three seats are available for media representatives in the press gallery of the General Assembly Hall. The Media Liaison Desk will distribute tickets on a first-come first-served basis 30 minutes before the morning and afternoon meetings. Correspondents leaving the press gallery before the end of the meeting are asked to return their tickets to the Liaison Desk for use by others.

Studio for TV interviews: A small, quiet room will be available for ENG taped interviews. Broadcasters need to bring their own portable lights. For bookings/inquiries, contact the Media Liaison Desk at 1 (212) 963-7756 and 1 (212) 963-3353.

Radio studios: Limited radio facilities is available to accredited journalists. For radio studio availability, contact UN Radio by email: chia-rubin@un.org, martinich@un.org and otienno@un.org. Please direct requests to all three to ensure prompt attention.

Copies of speeches for press: The text of speeches by Heads of State or Government, or heads of delegation are made available by the relevant delegations in the Media Centre in Conference Room 1 (located in the first basement, level 1-B), and 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 will provide 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/news. Queries should be directed to the Press Service at 1 (212) 963-7211 (English) and 1 (212) 963-2360 (French).

8. Background material and other queries

For media materials about the Summit and key issues, see the United Nations web site at www.un.org. The site will also provide up-to-date information about documents, the overall programme, special events, NGO activities and a listing of live web casts of certain segments of events.

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. Email: mediainfo@un.org

9. Press conferences and briefings for journalists

Briefings will be held daily in Room S-226 at noon by the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General and the Spokesperson for the Co-Chairs of the Summit. Press conferences by senior UN officials, delegations and Permanent Missions of Member States will also take place in the same room or in Conference Room 2. The list of press conferences will be announced daily by the Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General and posted at www.un.org/news/ossg/conf.htm, as well as on the web site of the Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit at www.un.org/media/accreditation.

10. Coverage of bilateral meetings

Photo opportunities will be available for bilateral meetings that are open for coverage. Media representatives covering these meetings will be asked to assemble at the third floor Liaison Desk, from which point they will be escorted by a media liaison officer.

11. Coverage of treaty signature/ratification event

Media representatives will be able to cover the signature and ratification of treaties during the Summit from a special platform near the Delegates' Entrance (ground level). There will be space for a limited number of photographers. For information, contact the Treaty Section, Office of Legal Affairs, at 1 (212) 963-5048.

12. Dining facilities

The following dining facilities will be accessible to the media during the 2005 World Summit.

Cafeteria	(Secretariat Building, first floor)
UNCA Club	(Secretariat Building, third floor)
Staff Café	(Secretariat Building, fourth floor)
Vendery/ExPress Bar	(General Assembly Building, third floor)