Information for Journalists

Press Registration Requirement
Online Press Registration
Visa Requirements
Press Credentials Pick-Up
Press Room Arrangements
Program of Seminars
Interview Requests
Photo Opportunities for TV and Still Photos
Availability of Still Photos and Video Clips
Television Transmission and Facilities
Satellite Trucks
Press Conferences
Contact Information

Press Registration Requirement

All working press must have Spring Meetings credentials to attend the meetings.

Requests for media accreditation will be denied if applicants cannot establish they are professional journalists.

To be accredited:

• Journalists in the Washington area must have press credentials issued by either the White House, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the House and Senate Press Gallery, the U.S. Department of Defense, or the USIA Foreign Press Center.

• Journalists based outside Washington must have:

1. press credentials issued by national or local authorities;
   
   OR
   
   
2. clear evidence that you are on assignment from a specific news organization or publication. This applies to all freelancers, including photographers. A valid assignment letter from that news organization, or publication, is required. Photographic agencies must provide clear evidence from a client news organization or publication.
   
   Submissions should be sent to:
   
   Press Registration
   Email: press@imf.org
   Fax: +1 202-623-4004

If such credentials are not held, or are in question, it will be at the discretion of the IMF and World Bank to determine whether access to the Spring Meetings is granted.

The IMF or World Bank will not be responsible for journalists' travel costs and/or other expenses.

Online Press Registration

Journalists who meet the requirements above should register on-line at https://0-www--amsweb--ext-imf-org.library.svsu.edu/press-ext/reg.aspx.

Registration for press credentials will close on April 14, 2011.

The IMF or World Bank will not be responsible for journalists' travel costs and/or other expenses.

Visa Requirements

Journalists traveling from overseas to cover the Spring Meetings, who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States, are reminded that they will need to display a valid I visa to immigration officials at their port of entry into the U.S.

Before departure, participants are requested to obtain entry visas for the United States from the U.S. diplomatic or consular missions in their countries. The lack of a valid visa may cause authorities to deny boarding at the port of embarkation, as well as delays in clearance with immigration authorities upon arrival at the port of entry into the United States.

Participants should be aware that changes are being made to U.S. immigration procedures for certain countries, including some which are currently under the Visa Waiver Program. It is strongly recommended that all participants check with their nearest U.S. diplomatic or consular mission, or on the internet at http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html, for the procedures which will be in effect at the time of the Spring Meetings. If visas are required, applications should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time for processing.

Press Credentials Pick-Up

Journalists who have been approved for accreditation can pick up credentials starting at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, April 11, at the Press Registration Desk, located in the World Bank's H Building Lobby, with entrance on the west side of 19th Street, between F and G Streets of the World Bank's H Building (600 19th Street, NW, Washington, DC). You are required to present press credentials and photo identification.

The Spring Meetings press credentials grant access to the Press Room, press conferences and briefings in IMF Headquarters.

Representatives of Civil Society Organizations should visit Information for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) for details on CSO accreditation.

Press Room Arrangements

The Press Room at IMF Headquarters, at the corner of 19th St and Pennsylvania Avenue will open at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 12, and close on Sunday evening, April 17.

Technicians for financial news wires and other accredited news organizations may arrange for advanced access to the IMF Headquarters press room starting at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, April 11, through special arrangements with the IMF's Media Relations Division (media@imf.org).

The IMF Headquarters press room has limited space, and operates on a first come, first-served basis. Each desk will be equipped with power outlets and a telephone that enables only free local calls. Long-distance calls may be placed collect, or through telephone credit cards. Self-service fax machines will be available in the Press Room, although use will require a major credit card. The Press Room provides wireless (Wi-Fi) access for personal laptops. For further information regarding telecommunications arrangements within the IMF, please contact Catherine Harty, Tel: (202) 623-7168 E-mail: charty@imf.org

Computers are not provided to journalists. However, a limited number of internet kiosks will be available in the Press Room. The Internet kiosks allow easy access to the IMF web site and World Bank Group web site. The web sites will have links to a joint Spring Meetings' site containing the schedule of press events, as well as transcripts, news releases, and other information as it becomes available.

ISDN Lines

The press room does not have ISDN lines in place. Journalists who require an ISDN line can order one directly through Verizon. Please e-mail Potomac.media@verizon.com or call (301) 236-6012.

Interview Requests

IMF and World Bank media relations divisions handle requests for interviews with IMF and World Bank officials during the Meetings. However, the press officers do not service interview requests for official delegations to the Meetings. Those requests must be made directly to the delegations.

Photo Opportunities for TV and Still Photos

There will be photo opportunities at the start of ministerial committee meetings (e.g. International Monetary and Financial Committee and Development Committee), which may be pooled depending on demand.

Photojournalists are requested to assemble 15 minutes prior to the event at the IMF/World Bank Press Desk.

Availability of Still Photos and Video Clips

A selection of still photos in high resolution will be available after each event on the Spring Meetings web site. In addition, broadcast quality video clips of selected press conferences will be available for downloading on www.thenewsmarket.com. This service is free of charge.

For World Bank events, broadcast quality clips will be available for download at www.un.org/unifeed and on our World Bank FTP Server. For inquiries contact Mehreen Sheikh at the World Bank on (202) 458 7336 - msheikh1@worldbank.org

Television Transmission and Facilities

To inquire about the limited video and audio transmission arrangements from IMF Headquarters, please send an email to media@imf.org, or a fax to [1] 202-623-6772. Inquiries should be submitted no later than Friday, April 23.

Satellite Trucks

Broadcasters who would like to do live interviews may park their trucks on the street. Please contact Sgt. Kenny Bryson at the MPD (Metropolitan Police Department, contact number 202-727-4383) for information regarding the exact location for parking the trucks.

Official Events

Except for brief photo-opportunities at the start of committee meetings, press cannot attend those meetings.

• The International Monetary and Financial Committee of the Board of Governors, Saturday, April 16.
• The Development Committee, known officially as the Joint Ministerial Committee of the Boards of Governors of the Bank and the Fund on the Transfer of Real Resources to Developing Countries, Saturday, April 16.
• The Group of 24 Ministers, which is known officially as the Intergovernmental Group of Twenty-Four on International Monetary Affairs and Development, Thursday, April 14.

Press Conferences

A tentative schedule of the press conferences is posted under Schedule of Events.

All press briefings are transcribed and posted on the external web sites of the IMF and World Bank Group as soon as possible. Most briefings will also be web cast live.

IMF Media Briefing Center

The Media Briefing Center offers advance access to embargoed IMF information. It is a password-protected site for working journalists only.

World Bank Online Media Briefing Center

The Media Briefing Center offers advance access to embargoed information of the World Bank. It is a password-protected site for working journalists only.

Contact Information

International Monetary Fund Press Office
Name	Contacts	Fax	E-mail
William Murray	+1 202 623-7064	+1 202 623-6772	wmurray@imf.org
Conny Lotze	+1 202 623-9396	+1 202 623-6772	clotze@imf.org
Jennifer Beckman (Broadcast/Photos)	+1 202 623-7165	+1 202 623-6772	jbeckman@imf.org
World Bank Press Office
Name	Contacts	Fax	E-mail
David Theis	+1 202 458-8626	+1 202 522-2632	dtheis@worldbank.org
Amy Stilwell	+1 202 458-4906	+1 202 522-2632	astilwell@worldbank.org
Mehreen Sheikh (Broadcast)	+1 202 458-7336	+1 202 522-2632	msheikh1@worldbank.org