[WSIS CS-Plenary] Press Liaison at Tunis Summit

[Tracey Naughton]

Dear All,

I have been approached by the ITU Media Department and asked if I  
would be the Civil Society liaison person at the Summit. They are  
getting a lot of requests already for media time, from many civil  
society bodies. They feel the need for a person with internal working  
knowledge of CS to assist them here.

I replied saying that:

a. I may not be there, but if I am, and if it is agreed, I could  
cover the role [this is a voluntary role]

< not said to the ITU - but it depends on the level of trust - who  
wants 1000's of bosses or torrents of abuse?>

b. There will likely be debate about this within civil society, a  
clear response could take time...

c. There may be another media savvy person from civil society who  
would be willing to undertake the role (volunteers pleeeeease)

d. We need clarity on the role (see below for the suggestions I have  
run past them)

e. We need clear guidelines on what can happen and be said at both  
the media spaces proposed. Those of you who attended Content & Themes  
Meetings at PrepCom 3 will recall I reported that we can take up the  
ITU offer of a twenty minute portion of the daily hour long ITU Press  
Conference. This may be guided by the diplomatic agreement that in  
all likelihood will exclude criticism of the host country. [For now  
this only my speculation and it's not yet confirmed. It was the  
situation in PrepCom 3 under the house rules of the Palais des  
Nations]. In addition we can organise media conferences in an open  
area (as happened in Geneva).

f. We need to know if there are guidelines for what can be said in  
the open media space.

I have raised the imperative of freedom of expression.

I await the ITU response on guidelines and will put the response  
before you.

In the meantime I ask for your input on this.

I have to say that WSIS is right now quite low on my rather full  
agenda, but I will track this one, but not between Sunday evening and  
next Thursday as I will be in the Gobi desert.

Some of you have also approached the CS Secretariat and asked for  
media over-passes. I think we will need some guidelines here too. The  
media area is a work space, not a lobbying space, though journalists  
of course should want to read the pulse and hear a diversity of  
views. Previously the ITU have indicated that temporary passes could  
be made available for CS people to access journalists by appointment,  
but perhaps they would accept another proposal. Of  course, members  
of civil society who are media personnel and who are covering the  
Summit can apply as Media.

I think the ITU would like a CS liaison person to, among other  
things, direct traffic - that is connect journalists to civil society  
people who are spokespeople or people with particular expertise.

So please go ahead and comment on this one. I will listen in when not  
in the desert.

regards to all

Tracey



suggestions for civil society media liaison person (who would need to  
be supported by the CS Secretariat):

- organise speaking slots for civil society in the daily ITU Press  
Conference (by caucus?? by issues?  there are many new participating  
organisations who may not have orientated to a caucus)

- organise times for civil society press conferences that will happen  
in an open area

- review press releases (not to censor but in an editing role for  
those who would like that support)

- deliver the press releases to the media area

- make connections between journalists and civil society spokespeople.








Tracey Naughton

(to November 9, 05)

Pact Mongolia Office

Peace Avenue 24

Ulaan Baatar

Mongolia

Tel:     (976 11) 46 09 01

Fax:   (976 11) 46 10 48

Email: tracey at traceynaughton.com








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