Pittsburgh Summit Media Logistics Advisory
September 3, 2009
The following information is for media logistical planning purposes only. It is not for broadcast or publication.
DEADLINE APPROACHING: All dedicated media space and facilities must be ordered by September 8.
Credentials
All accredited media organizations that submitted their information by the deadline to the State Department and pass a routine background check will receive credentials to cover the Pittsburgh Summit. You will be contacted if there is a problem with your credential submission, otherwise you should assume you are credentialed.
Credentials will be distributed at the following times and locations. A photo ID is required to pick up your credential. If you are not able to pick up your credential in person, you may designate a third party to pick it up for you by emailing pittsburghmedia@state.gov.
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, West Lobby
Monday, September 21 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Tuesday, September 22 8:30 AM – 11:00 PM
Wednesday, September 23 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Location to be announced
Thursday, September 24 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Many of the coverage opportunities at the Pittsburgh Summit will be pooled and will require an event-specific underlay in addition to a summit credential. Media should make any underlay requests via their home country.
Access
All media entering the Convention Center during the summit must pass through a security screening checkpoint at Mellon Arena. The checkpoint will be located near Gate 7 of the Arena. Following screening, press will board a shuttle bus that will take them to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
Workspace
The U.S. Government will provide 1,500 media workstations in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center at no charge to journalists covering The Pittsburgh Summit. Each workstation will include a hard wired internet line and power outlet. These workstations are unassigned and are available on a first come first served basis. They are located in Halls D & E of the Convention Center on the ground level.
Media organizations may also choose to purchase dedicated workspace or facilities to fit their particular needs. The rate card listing available options and their pricing can be found at www.pittsburghsummit.gov/press. The order deadline for dedicated workspace or facilities is September 8.
Access to the media center will be according to the following schedule:
Tuesday, September 22: 8:30 AM – 11:00 PM Access for SETUP ONLY
Wednesday, September 23: 8:00 AM Access for editorial use/broadcast begins
10:00 PM Media Center closes for security sweep
Thursday, September 24: 8:00 AM Media Center reopens
The media center will remain open 24 hours a day during the summit
Saturday, September 26: 8:00 AM FINAL BROADCAST
12:00 NOON Media move-out deadline
Broadcast Transmission
It is strongly recommended that media organizations use fiber or rooftop satellite dishes for broadcast transmission from The Pittsburgh Summit. Satellite Truck parking is extremely limited and has already been allocated. Any cables required for broadcast transmission must be pulled by Hargrove. Please see the Hargrove rate card at www.pittsburghsummit.gov/press for more information.
Fiber circuits can be ordered from Verizon Communications or DQE. You should contact them at:
Verizon Pittsburgh Sales
800-696-5486
Barb Pendred
Chris Longenecker
broadcast.panyde@verizon.com
DQE Communications
Lisa Williams
email: lwilliams@dqe.com
tel. (412) 393-1089
Additional specific questions about transmission can be directed to Michael Murphy, Director of the Office of Broadcast Services at MurphyMJ2@state.gov or (202) 647-5163 (office) or (202) 412-4243 (cell).
Pittsburgh Summit Pool
There will not be a traditional host broadcaster or host TV for The Pittsburgh Summit. In its place is an agreement between the US TV Pool and AP, Reuters and Eurovision that is called the Pittsburgh Summit Pool. Any media organizations requiring access to the pool feeds should contact one of those organizations to make arrangements to receive the pool feeds.
Off-site locations
The White House has previously announced that Summit events will take place at Phipps Conservatory, the CAPA School and the Andy Warhol Museum. Access times and procedures for these events will be distributed closer to the summit dates.
Contacts
For any additional media logistics questions, please contact the Foreign Press Center at pittsburghmedia@state.gov.
