Media arrangements for CHOGM 2013

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What is CHOGM? The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is held every two years to enable leaders of Commonwealth countries to come together to discuss global and Commonwealth issues, and to decide on collective policies and initiatives.

The Commonwealth is home for two billion citizens of all faiths and ethnicities and includes some of the world’s largest, smallest, richest and poorest countries. Member countries come from six regions: Africa (19); Asia (8); the Americas (3); the Caribbean (10); Europe (3); and the South Pacific (11). This year, CHOGM is taking place in Sri Lanka, the first time an Asian country is hosting the summit. Every CHOGM is jointly organised by the host country and the Commonwealth Secretariat. These biennial meetings serve as the principal policy and decision-making forum to guide the strategic direction of the association. CHOGMs have focused on a range of global issues, including international peace and security, democracy, climate change, multilateral trade issues, good governance, sustainable development, small states, debt management,

education, environment, gender equality, health, human rights, information and communication technology, and youth affairs. The theme of the 2013 CHOGM in Sri Lanka, is ‘Growth with Equity’. CHOGM 2013 will be held from 10 to 17 November 2013 with the Heads of Government Meeting and parallel events are as indicated:

Pre-CHOGM FM’s meeting: 13-14 November 2013, BMICH Colombo
Pre-CHOGM Foreign Secretaries meeting
Pre-CHOGM media briefing: 13 November 2013, BMICH Colombo
Commonwealth Youth Forum: 10-14 November 2013, International Convention Centre, Hambantota
Commonwealth Business Forum: 12-14 November 2013, Cinnamon Grand Colombo
Commonwealth Business Forum: 10-14 November 2013, Chaaya Tranz, Hikkaduwa
Designing and commissioning of the CHOGM 2013 logo
Designing, commissioning and maintenance of the official website of CHOGM 2013
Creating public awareness – local and international
Designing, commissioning and maintenance of media centre
Media accreditation process
Host broadcaster

Sri Lanka as the host government has the total responsibility of organising the meeting and the Commonwealth Secretariat will play an integral role in the preparations for CHOGM 2013. Scope of the task assigned to Sub Committee on Media and Publicity Progress of the activities assigned for Media and Publicity Sub Committee Logo: An open completion was organised in 2012 to select the official logo of CHOGM 2013. More than 150 entries were received for this competition. The design submitted by Jagath Jayasinghe has been selected as the logo of CHOGM 2013 which has been subsequently accepted by the Commonwealth Secretariat in London as the official logo of CHOGM 2013. Web: www.chogm2013.lk. The official web was launched on June 2013 and now is functioning as the virtual office of CHOGM 2013 which gives all the vital information for all stakeholders and through which the accreditation process for delegates and media functions. Public awareness campaign: By understanding the importance of creating positive and informative image of the benefits of having international conference in this magnitude, the Sub Committee on Media and Publicity has already launched a massive media campaign. All the leading media and print media institutions have become co-media partners of this campaign. This media campaign includes a wide array of activities such as advertising, teaser campaign, outdoor promotion activities, etc. Media Centre and host broadcaster: According to the CHOGM standard requirements a Media Centre will be established at the BMICH to facilitate approximately 1,000 foreign and local media personnel with all the required latest facilities. This includes media broadcast offices, master control rooms, briefing rooms, video walls, etc., with the direct satellite linking facilities. By considering the complicity of the task, a worldwide tender has been called from the service providers with the proven experience of handling media centres of previous conferences in similar capacity. A suitable service provider with prior experience of handling media enters of last CHOGMs has been selected as the host broadcaster and service provider for the media centre. Media accreditation: As the standard practice of any CHOGM, media access is limited only for accredited local and international media personnel. The accredited media persons will be having access to the media facilities of CHOGM 2013. The accreditation process which is compulsorily run through the CHOGM official website is now open for both local and international media personnel to submit their applications. Local media personnel may contact Director General, of Government Information Department for further information on local media accreditation. Media pooling arrangement: Since the access for media is limited for main venues and events of CHOGM 2013, direct covering of the events will be through the media pools. The media pools will be managed by the host broadcaster. In addition to the direct covering of the events, clean feeds of all major events will be available at the media centre for accredited media personnel. Media hotels: For the convenience of the international media personnel, the following hotels have been identified as media hotels which would be reserved only for media personnel with accreditation. International media personnel are requested to contact hotels of their choice. 1. Hilton Residencies 2. Hotel Ramada 3. Hotel Sapphire 4. Hotel Renuka 5. Hotel Mount Lavinia All media personnel are warmly invited to give wide coverage of the event while enjoying the hospitality of Sri Lanka. (The writer is the Media Ministry Secretary.)

Media arrangements for CHOGM 2013

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