Instead of the standard media accreditation procedure described under Media Accreditation, each delegation’s designated WSIS Focal Point may choose to register journalists travelling with VVIPs and VIPs through a special fast-track procedure that waives the normal requirements for proof of professional status.

Alternatively, journalists travelling with VVIPs or VIPs may elect to accredit themselves directly, ahead of the event, by registering online under the standard media accreditation procedure. Journalists who choose to register through this standard media accreditation procedure need to fulfill all the normal criteria required to obtain press credentials.

Please read carefully the procedure for fast-track accreditation below before completing the form.
The link to the form is given at the end of the procedure.

Fast-track media accreditation

Under the fast-track accreditation procedure, Focal Points are required to submit an accreditation form, duly completed, for each journalist. It is only the documentation attesting to professional status, required under the standard procedure, that is not required under the fast-track procedure. All other information must be provided.

This fast-track procedure requires each delegation’s WSIS Focal Point to register media travelling with VVIPs and VIPs sufficiently ahead of time to allow for each Focal Point to collect and distribute badges prior to journalists’ arrival at the Kram PalExpo in Tunis.

It is to be noted that any request that is not drawn up in strict conformity with the procedures laid down in this document will not be processed and will be returned to the sender for correction.

Important: For security reasons, all media accreditation and badging will take place at the WSIS Registration and Badging Centre, located approximately 6 km from the Kram PalExpo. Any person not in possession of a badge will not be admitted to the Kram PalExpo. It is therefore essential that delegations’ designated WSIS Focal Points ensure that they have actually handed over the badges of journalists they have accredited.

Print and online journalists

It will be the responsibility of each delegation's WSIS Focal Point to contact the journalists they have registered as travelling with VVIPs or VIPs to inform them of the requirements and procedures applicable to their activities during the Summit.

Each Focal Point will be responsible for distributing badges to journalists they have registered. Under no circumstances will these badges be issued directly to journalists. (See under "Collecting of journalist badges" below for further details.)

Completed online forms, accompanied by a passport-style photo for each journalist, must be submitted to the WSIS Media Office in order for badges to be prepared and issued in advance. Further details regarding the technical specifications of the photographs is available here.

Photographers, radio journalists and TV crews

Delegations may accredit photographers, radio journalists and TV crews via the same fast-track accreditation procedure applicable to print and online media. Again, all accreditation forms must be submitted by the delegation’s designated WSIS Focal Point along with an accompanying passport-style photo.

In addition, delegations are advised to nominate one official photographer and one official cameraman and camera assistant. In cases where space or security problems prevent all crews being granted admission to rooms, these official photographers and camera crews will be given priority. Nomination of the official photographer and official cameraman/assistant can only be done by the designated WSIS Focal Point. Official photographers and camera crews will be issued with a special armband by the Media Pool Coordinator. The Media Pool Coordinator’s office is located in the Media Centre.

Please note that failure to nominate an official photographer and official cameraman may severely limit access to specific parts of the Summit.

Procedure and Form

The procedure and form for accreditation using the fast-track procedure is available online. It is accessible only by means of a secure procedure.

In addition to the forms completed online, delegations' Focal Points must fax an official letterhead to the WSIS Media Office (FAX: +41 22 730 52 01) with an exhaustive list of journalists for whom forms have been submitted, specifying their names and duties and the names of the press entities for which they will be covering the Summit.

It is to be noted that any request that is not drawn up in strict conformity with the procedures laid down in this document will not be processed and will be returned to the sender for correction.

The WSIS Media Office must be in a position to ensure that any person requesting press accreditation, either directly or through the designated Focal Point, is a professional journalist representing a recognized media concern. The WSIS Media Office reserves the right to request additional documentary proof of the applicant's status. All requests will be examined individually and the WSIS Media Office's decisions shall be final.

Collecting journalist badges

Badges for those journalists travelling with VVIPs or VIPs who have been registered by a designated WSIS Focal Point will be prepared in advance, and will be made available for collection by each delegation’s official Focal Point in Tunis from 5 November 2005. When collecting badges, the WSIS Focal Point will be required to present official proof of identity (passport or national ID card) and to sign a form attesting that the badges listed on the form have been delivered to him/her. The Focal Point will be responsible for distributing badges to the journalists concerned before their arrival at the Kram PalExpo.

Please note that unless they have pre-accredited themselves directly or have been pre-accredited through their delegation’s WSIS Focal Point, journalists travelling with VVIPs and VIPs will have to go through the standard accreditation procedure at the WSIS Registration and Badging Centre before gaining access to the venue. This procedure requires strict proof of professional status, and could involve lengthy delays.

Please note also that professional photographic, television and radio equipment of any kind can only be taken into Summit meeting rooms and the VVIP area by persons wearing WSIS media badges or a special armband provided by the Media Pool Coordinator.

THE FORM TO ACCREDIT MEDIA ACCOMPANYING VVIPS AND VIPS IS FOUND HERE.

Contact:
WSIS Media Office
International Telecommunication Union