[WSIS CS-Plenary] Press Liaison at Tunis Summit

[Rik Panganiban]

Tracey,

I'm happy to support you doing this difficult task, if you are  
reckless enough to volunteer!  And you can count on CONGO staff to be  
on hand to help.

Rik Panganiban

On Oct 13, 2005, at 2:52 PM, Tracey Naughton wrote:

> 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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