The 7th IISS Regional Security Summit: The Manama Dialogue
Press Policy
3 – 5 December 2010
The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa, PO Box 55577, Manama
Tel: (973) 1758 0000; Fax: (973) 1758 0333
Welcome to the 7th IISS Regional Security Summit: The Manama Dialogue. Organised annually since 2004, the IISS Manama Dialogue is designed to provide a forum for the national security establishments of the participating states to exchange views on regional security challenges. It is a unique forum in that it is made up of governmental delegations from over 25 countries, including not only the states of the region and the immediate neighbourhood, but also the outside powers with security interests in the Gulf.
The 7th IISS summit will draw together the highest concentration to date of policy-makers involved in regional security, and delegations will once again comprise a measured blend of prime ministers, defence ministers, foreign ministers, national security advisors, and military and intelligence chiefs.
Please find below our guidelines for coverage of the IISS Manama Dialogue, together with instructions regarding registration and other logistical requirements.
It is advisable for all media to register before 22 November 2010. Onsite registration is possible in a limited number of circumstances, but the process will take longer on the day.
Contents:
Receiving an Invitation and Advance Registration
On-Site Registration
Press Room
During the IISS Manama Dialogue: Press Briefings and Conferences, Keynote Address and Plenary Sessions
Specific Regulations for TV Crews
Specific Regulations for Photographers
Restricted Areas
Requesting an Interview
Rights and Intellectual Property
Receiving Invitation and Advance Registration
The IISS endeavours to invite as many media representatives as possible, giving priority to media affiliated with those nations that are officially represented at the IISS Manama Dialogue. To this end, the IISS sends out an initial round of media invitations, but certainly welcomes requests for accreditation.
Online registration will open from 11 October 2010. Those wishing to participate should email manama-press@iiss.org and registration details will be sent to them from this date. It is necessary to register in order to receive an ID badge, without which access to the secured area will be denied. Back to top
Onsite Registration
Pre-registered media may collect their ID tag and press packets from 1000hrs on Friday, 3 December 2010 in the lobby of the Ritz-Carlton hotel. Media who were unable to pre-register may do so on site, but we strongly encourage advance online registration to minimise the amount of time you will be kept waiting. Back to top
Press Room
The IISS press room is located in the Plantation Terrace of the Ritz-Carlton, outside the secured area near the indoor pool.
A real-time video link situated in the press room will show the keynote address on the evening of Friday 3 December and the plenary and Q&A sessions on Saturday 4 December and Sunday 5 December. Transcripts (as prepared and/or as delivered) will be sent to the press room as they are released by the government delegations, as well as uploaded to the IISS website. However, we cannot guarantee any window of time or even the release of the speech. If ‘as delivered’ is going to be a time-sensitive matter for you or you require one of our translated languages, we encourage the use of tape recorders that can be plugged into the media equipment in the press room
There will be wireless internet and broadband connections for laptop computers in the press room as well as several desktop computers and printers available for media use, but laptops are strongly encouraged. Back to top
During the Manama Dialogue: Press Briefings and Conferences, Keynote Address and Plenary Sessions
Opening Press Conference: Friday 3 December 18:00
On Friday evening, there will be an Opening Press Conference featuring IISS Senior Staff, location TBA, for all media.
Details of official press conferences and other media events will be posted in the press room as the information becomes available from government delegations. We will also email press conference announcements.
Television Debate: Friday 3 December 19:00
A panel of senior government officials and top policy experts will engage during the television debate ‘Perspectives from the Manama Dialogue’.
Keynote Address: Friday 3 December 21:00
Media Representatives will be escorted into and out of the ballroom before the Keynote Address and after the Q&A. For the Keynote Address, due to protocol, media representatives admitted to the ballroom must stay for the duration. The IISS will advise on any additional requirements pertaining to the Keynote Address closer to the IISS Manama Dialogue.
Because of space limitations and if your agency registers multiple people, we ask you to nominate only one journalist (this excludes photographers and cameramen) to be in the ballroom for the Keynote Address. The IISS will reserve a dedicated area for media representatives in the ballroom and will provide the necessary interpretation equipment. All TV cameras must be set-up on the platform in the back of the ballroom no later than 2045hrs, and photographers must gather in the roped area in front of the stage.
Plenary Sessions: Saturday 4 December and Sunday 5 December
Agencies are invited to join all the plenary sessions. Please be in place 15 minutes before the start of each session. Simultaneous Special Sessions are open to delegates only and are strictly off the record.
Special Address: Sunday 5 December 11:15
A Special Address will be delivered on Sunday following the Simultaneous Special Sessions. Media are invited to cover this event and more details will be released closer to the IISS Manama Dialogue.
Closing Press Conference: Sunday 5 December 14:30
There will be a Closing Press Conference on Sunday 5 December, at 14:30 hours, location TBA. Back to top
Specific Regulations for TV Crews
Space for TV cameras is available in the ballroom on dedicated platforms. We will make every effort to accommodate your needs. In addition, your agency may take the IISS live feed from the press room or the ballroom.
For safety reasons no tripods will be allowed outside of the designated camera area at the back of the ballroom. As space is extremely tight, cameras are not permitted to film from the sides or move around during proceedings. Should you need multiple camera angles, we encourage you to use our video footage which you are free to take and edit.
TV crews wishing to broadcast live should contact the IISS beforehand to make necessary arrangements. Back to top
Specific Regulations for Photographers
During the proceedings photographers must keep to designated areas. We will endeavour to provide brief photo opportunities for the Keynote Address and at the beginning of each plenary. We would be grateful if photographers would return to the rear of the ballroom when requested to do so by a member of the IISS staff. In addition, details of official photo opportunities will be posted in the press room as the information becomes available.
In the event that the IISS is unable to accredit your agency, we request that photographers who are part of the select group pool share their images. Back to top
Restricted Areas
Journalists and media may not enter, photograph or film during the delegate lunches on Saturday and Sunday. Media must restrict their activities to the secured area and press room. In particular, the Ritz-Carlton strictly forbids any unauthorised filming of the lobby and common areas of the hotel without explicit permission by the Ritz-Carlton’s public relations department.
Requesting an Interview
In advance of the IISS Manama Dialogue, media may request interviews through an online submission form which can be found on the press area of the IISS website. While we cannot confirm participants far in advance, media may request the ‘Senior Representative’ from a given country, IISS Senior Fellows or IISS experts.
During the IISS Manama Dialogue, there will be ample opportunity to request interviews during the coffee breaks and between formal proceedings through the Press Officer. In the Press Room, there will be Interview Request Forms which should be completed and handed to the Press Officer who will submit batches of these at allocated times to government delegations. If delegates wish to accept the interview they are asked to contact the media individuals directly to establish a time and date. Media are also encouraged to request interviews directly with delegates; going through the Press Officer is not a requirement.
Should you need assistance with a room, the Press Officer will be happy to assist. Similarly, the Press Officer will convey media requests from delegations to the media representatives. If requested, the IISS may release your name and contact details to delegates to request a meeting with your agency. Your agency is under no obligation to accept.
Journalists who obtain interviews with participants are free to report statements provided they have the full understanding and agreement of the interviewee. Back to top
Rights and Intellectual Property
Coverage of the 7th IISS Regional Security Summit: The Manama Dialogue by the media—including delegates—must be carried out with the understanding that the IISS will be afforded the right to reproduce articles submitted as a result of attendance at the Dialogue both in its publications and on its website, and will also have the right to use images taken at the event, in generally but not exclusively the same formats free of charge.
As a consequence, the IISS would be grateful if photographers would submit copies of their images to enable the Institute to quickly assess. We would also be grateful if broadcast agencies would submit copies of the aired footage. Photographers and broadcast agencies can be assured that the International Institute for Strategic Studies will treat such imagery and coverage with due care and will only use it for their purposes.
Photographers and broadcast media are permitted to use our images, which will be placed on the IISS website at various times during the Manama Dialogue. Broadcast media are permitted to take and use our live feed. Back to top
We look forward to welcoming you to the IISS Regional Security Summit: The Manama Dialogue in December 2010.
