Information for accredited media

• PROGRAMME
• VENUE
• KEY MEDIA LOCATIONS
• ACCREDITATION
• OPENING HOURS
• ACCESS
• MEDIA CENTRE / FACILITIES
• CATERING
• POOLS
• BROADCAST AND CONTENT
• NATIONAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENTS
• OFF-SITE EVENTS
• NATO PUBLIC FORUM
• INTERPRETATION
• SECURITY
• LOST AND FOUND
• MAPS
• CONTACT POINTS

PROGRAMME

Please check the event programme for the schedule of events. The detailed media programme (pdf) also includes pools departures and other technical details.

VENUE

On 10-11 July, the NATO Summit will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The meetings will be chaired by the Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg. 

KEY MEDIA LOCATIONS

The International Media Centre

The International Media Centre (IMC) is located in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Allen Y. Lew Place NW, Washington, DC 20001.

Media Accreditation Office

The Media Accreditation Office is located at the Foreign Press Center (National Press Building, 529 14th St. NW, Suite 800 (8th Floor), Washington, DC 20045).

ACCREDITATION

You can collect your NATO Summit media pass at the Accreditation Office. You will need to show a valid national identification document (Passport or ID-card) and press card (or accreditation letter from a recognised media organisation). You will need to bring the same ID document that you used in your accreditation application.

Registration for Summit media accreditation closed on 21 June 2024.

Only media with confirmation from NATO that their application for accreditation has been successful can be granted a Summit media pass.

OPENING HOURS

ACCESS

For the Media Accreditation Office, use the 14th street entrance to get to the main lobby. The location is accessible on foot, by car, taxi, public transport. There is no reserved parking for media in the vicinity.  There will be no transportation for media between the Accreditation Office/Foreign Press Center and the IMC.   

On 8 and 9 July, media can only access the International Media Centre via 7th and M Streets, NW.  From 10 July, the access remains the same but the perimeter moves to 6th and M Streets, NW.

Due to security procedures and the distances between venues, media representatives should allow at least 45 minutes for processing and security checks.  This may take longer at peak periods.

Please note media will need to go through airport-style security screening. Media may not bring in umbrellas or metal coffee/water cups.

MEDIA CENTRE / FACILITIES

• General filing area which is the main working space for all media accredited to the Summit (including the TV and radio editing area).
• Indoor stand-up positions and the Summit TV studio, located in the same building. There will be no outdoor area for stand-ups.
• Two press theatres and 12 other press briefing rooms of different sizes. There will also be informal huddle / media stakeout positions.
• Lockers for media.
• Catering facilities.

Media will have unescorted access to the following:

• Filing and catering area.
• Press conference area, when press conferences are taking place.
• Media huddle/stakeout area.

For any questions during the Summit, accredited journalists can go to the Information Desk at the Media centre.

CATERING

Meals, soft drinks and snacks will be available for purchase in the Media Centre from 7:00am-7:00pm. Payments by credit cards only.

POOLS

Media access to the main Summit events will be based on a pool system. Specific pool cards for each event will be used to identify the media authorised to attend. Please consult the media programme to identify the pools for each event.

Media representatives will need to contact the Delegation of their media entity’s home country to request access to specific pooled events. A contact list of Delegation’s press officers will be available at the Information Desk in the Media Centre.

NATO will distribute pool cards to international media and media from countries with no official attendance at the Summit.

To request access to pools, email Summitmediaoperations@hq.nato.int. You will receive a confirmation if your request can be accommodated, together with the details for picking up your pool cards.

Pool cards for the Public Forum are available upon request at the Information Desk in the IMC.

By accepting a NATO pool position, you commit to share immediately all information and material collected while in the pool with any accredited media that request it, at no charge and with no restriction on the use of the material for news purposes. Media representatives and news organisations must identify that it is pooled material every time it is used. Pooled material can only be used for legitimate news purposes and it cannot be sold.

BROADCAST AND CONTENT

The Host TV will transmit all pooled events live both in the Media Centre and on satellite free of charge.  The satellite coordinates, transmission details and other information for broadcasters will be posted and  available here once the schedule is made public. Please check back regularly by clicking on the Book Now button and then on Participation+ B-roll will be uploaded to NATO’s multimedia platform www.natomultimedia.tv. New users need to register in advance of the Summit, as every registration needs to be confirmed.

Transcripts of the Secretary General's public remarks, as well as pictures taken by NATO photographers will be available on the NATO website www.nato.int.

The Summit Host TV will provide complimentary video of official events and coverage opportunities as a “clean” feed with no graphics or chyrons (“Host TV”).  Broadcast Standard: NTSC HD/SDI 1080i 59.94 with embedded audio of language channels.  Live video and audio feeds of Host TV will be available through the following resources: 

• Video Downloads from the Cloud. Host TV will also provide time-sensitive turns of video on demand via the cloud. Complementary video clips of selected programming will be available for download (H264 broadcast quality) within minutes following each event through the Host TV Iconik cloud platform - https://wdcnatosummit2024video.com 

• Broadcaster Access at Washington, DC AVOC. The United States will broadcast a live Host TV feed to the Verizon Washington D.C. AVOC that all media organizations can access copyright-free. These feeds will be on an Encompass Digital Media circuit at the AVOC and can be booked through the Encompass Occasional-use Booking Center: 24/7/365 on call – (800) 295-4198 (Prompt #1 Twice). Outside the U.S. – (203) 965-6300 (Prompt #1 Twice) bookings@encompass.tv  Please note:  the content is public domain (copyright-free), but still subject to associated switch fees between Encompass and the media entity booking their feed.  

• IMC Host TV distribution. All Host TV opportunities will be displayed throughout the IMC in the Washington Convention Center viewable by all accredited journalists. Direct signal distribution will be available free of charge for video at a central point in the International Media Center.  Video Connection: BNC (with embedded audio of language channels). Broadcast Standard: 1080/50i (Europe)  and 1080/60i (US) HD/SDI.

Host TV will also provide continuous broadcast quality video feed of the Public Forum.  The Public Forum will also be shown live on NATO’s YouTube channel and through CCTV in the Media Centre (selected events). A livestream will also be available on www.natopublicforum.org .

RF Coordination and Transmitting Equipment Registration

• Prior to operating any radio frequency equipment (e.g. wireless microphones, IFB, RF cameras, etc) or video transmitters at the Summit venue, you must obtain frequency coordination and assignment from the Summit Frequency Coordinator. Operation of uncoordinated wireless transmitting devices (other than cell phones and Wi-Fi client devices) within the venue property is strictly prohibited at all times. 

• Frequency assignment(s) and ID flags may be obtained at the Frequency Coordination table outside the International Media Center. Available RF spectrum is very limited. Advanced frequency coordination is strongly encouraged by submitting your request at https://CPFreqRequest.com/NATO75-DC/ password NATO75*2024&DC.

• Confirmation of frequency assignment(s) and ID flags may be obtained at the Frequency Coordination table at the International Media Centre.

Should you have any questions regarding frequency coordination or your RF equipment for this event, please contact the NATO 75 frequency coordinator at: RFCoord.NATO75.DC@CPFreqRequest.com or +1-914-319-2848.

NATIONAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENTS

The participating Heads of State and Government may hold press conferences in the Media Centre. If those are open to all media, time and location will be announced on the CCTV. Details about national media plans (press briefings, bilateral meetings) are available from the national delegations. Please email press@hq.nato.int for a list of national press officers.

OFF-SITE EVENTS

On 8 July, a baseball game at Washington Nationals Park where the NATO Secretary General will throw the first pitch.

On 9 July, NATO’s 75th Anniversary Commemorative Event will be held at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will host the NATO Summit Defense Industry Forum on the same day.  An event on Women, Peace and Security hosted by the U.S. Department of State will also take place.

On 10 July, A dinner for Heads of State and Government and their spouses/partners, hosted by the President of the United States and the First Lady, will be held at the White House. 

On the same evening, there will be a dinner for Ministers of Foreign Affairs hosted by the Secretary of State of the United States at the Library of Congress.  A dinner for Ministers of Defence hosted by the Secretary of Defense of the United States will take place at Fort McNair.

For further details and questions about these events contact: SummitMedia@state.gov

A number of delegations to the Summit will arrive at Joint Base Andrews (JBA), Maryland, on 8, 9 and 10 July. Media coverage of the Head of Delegations’ arrivals is open to the press, including private aircraft arrivals. Media interested must submit an access request identifying the country they are covering NO LATER THAN Saturday, July 6, 2024, through this portal: Media Operations (af.mil). Press traveling with their leader do NOT need to RSVP to cover the arrival.

Please note that due to the number and frequency of arrivals to JBA, dual landing zones may be in use, and as such, media may need to select the arrival they wish to cover.

Access: International arrivals at Joint Base Andrews will be open to pre-credentialed media only; all journalists must have a NATO Summit media credential.

NATO PUBLIC FORUM

The NATO Public Forum will take place alongside the NATO Summit at Marriott Marquis Hotel. Details about the event are available at www.natopublicforum.org. The Public Forum will also be shown live on NATO’s YouTube channel and through CCTV in the International Media Centre (selected events), while a livestream will also be available on the public forum website. Media inquiries can be directed to: press@atlanticcouncil.org.

Direct coverage by credentialed media will be pooled and access will be escorted from the International Media Centre. Media can ask for pool cards at the Information Desk.

INTERPRETATION

There will be simultaneous interpretation into French, Russian and Ukrainian of the NATO Secretary General's press conferences and public remarks at the start of the Summit’s working sessions. Headsets will be available in the press conference room for Secretary General's press conferences. Interpretation in multiple languages will also available during the live-streaming on the NATO website.

SECURITY

It is strongly recommended to arrive early to clear security checks. Please comply with the instructions of security staff. Passes must be visible at all times.

If you lose your accreditation badge, please write to NATOAccreditations@hq.nato.int and report at the Information Desk. 

LOST AND FOUND

Please check at the Information Desk.

MAPS

Download map

 CONTACT POINTS

General logistics, pool access:  Summitmediaoperations@hq.nato.int

Media accreditation:  NATOAccreditations@hq.nato.int

Rate card questions (edit booths, standups, etc):  Laura.Ewell@freeman.com
 
TV Studio:  broadcastoperations@hq.nato.int

B-roll and video distribution:  content@natomultimedia.tv

NATO Summit Media Coordination:
Ms. Alina COCA – Summitmediaoperations@hq.nato.int

US Media Coordination:
Ms. Shanan Guinn – SummitMedia@state.gov

Media queries and / or requests for interviews of NATO officials:
NATO Press and Media Service – press@hq.nato.int
US: MediaInterviews@state.gov