APEC Media Centre Opens For 1,500 Of World's Media

APEC International Media Centre Opens For 1,500 Of World's Media - 1100 Media Accreditation Passes Already Collected

One of the largest International Media Centres (IMC) ever built in the southern hemisphere has opened at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour for APEC Leaders Week 2-9 September.

The purpose-built 10,000 square metre media centre will welcome more than 1,500 international and domestic press, photographic, broadcast and online accredited media as they report the events of APEC in Sydney this week.

The media centre comprises an International Broadcast Centre and Main Press Centre over two halls including a press conference room which seats 260, a main press working area for 300 media, briefing rooms for 85, interview rooms, and private offices hired by media organisations.

Commonwealth APEC Spokesman, Anne Fulwood said APEC in Sydney, the most significant diplomatic event Australia has ever hosted, will attract intense media interest in Australia and throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

"Comprehensive arrangements have been put in place to provide the best possible coverage of the event," Ms Fulwood said.

"The media centre was designed and built with proven models used during the Sydney Olympics and Melbourne Commonwealth Games, and draws on a wealth of experience from other major events such as CHOGM, the Australian Tennis Open and 2003 Rugby World Cup.

"This will be one of the first times a major event in Australia has combined both the broadcast facilities and the press facilities under one roof, rather than being co-located across various venues.

"Media will have a one-stop facility to cover the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Sydney and broadcast the events as they unfold live," she said.

Host Broadcaster Globecast Australia, with partners Gearhouse Australia and ABC Resource Hire, along with Host Photographer, Getty Images, will provide timely unbiased footage and images of the APEC Australia 2007 activities and meetings including airport arrivals, the cultural performance, spouse programme, official photo and final declaration. Many of the activities will be provided as live feeds to the International Media Centre.

"Australia's largest outside broadcast truck sourced from Gearhouse Broadcast to act as the Master Control Room will bring images of the event to millions of people around the world," Ms Fulwood said.

APEC Australia 2007™ Exclusive Technology Partner Microsoft will provide a stress relief for working media in the chill out area of the Main Press Centre where journalists can challenge Tiger Woods and various football stars on the latest X-Box 360 games.

The Department of State and Regional Development and Tourism New South Wales, Invest Australia and Tourism Australia will have a presence at the centre, maximising the opportunity to showcase Australia to the media of the Asia-Pacific and further afield.

"We have worked closely with various agencies to encourage visiting media to visit key attractions in Sydney, New South Wales and wider Australia while they are here," Ms Fulwood said.

The IMC will operate for a minimum of 12 hours daily from 1 September until Sunday 9 September during APEC in Sydney and facilitate media coverage of the:

* Concluding Senior Officials Meeting (CSOM) [2-3 Sept]
* APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) [2-6 Sept]
* APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM) [5-6 Sept]
* APEC Australia 2007™ Business Summit [6-7 Sept]
* ABAC Dialogue with Leaders [8 Sept]
* APEC Economic Leaders Meeting (AELM) [8-9 Sept]

The IMC features:

* Welcome Desk
* Business Centre
* Photo Work Areas and Photo Services area
* Work area seating 300 press journalists
* Private Office Space
* Media Conference Room with interpretation services
* Two television studios
* TV Edit suite
* Radio Production Facilities
* Ten live stand-up points
* An archive and tape dubbing facility
* Broadcast Information & Bookings
* Media Briefing Room
* 3 x Interview Rooms
* Two cafes
* Information Distribution services
* Lockers
* Sponsor and tourism booths

APEC branding showcasing the themes of this year's APEC, 'Strengthening our community, building a sustainable future'

Approximately 130 trained student volunteers, many bilingual, will also be on hand to assist in the IMC and benefit from practical work experience.

"We look forward to welcoming representatives of Australian and international media organisations to Sydney for such an important world class event and providing a wonderful snapshot of Sydney and Australia to the world," Ms Fulwood said.

ENDS

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