PROCEDURE

for accreditation of mass media representatives

for the International Festival of Arts

“Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk”

This Procedure for accreditation of mass media representatives has been developed in order to organize information support to the events of the International Festival of Arts “Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk” (hereinafter referred to as – “Festival”).

Accreditation is valid for the period of the Festival.

Mass media representatives (hereinafter referred to as – “Mass media”) have the right to be accredited at the Festival, which is exercised in accordance with the requirements set forth in Article 35 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On Mass Media”.

Applications for accreditation of foreign mass media representatives, signed by the head of the mass media company and completed in accordance with the established form, which is available on the websites of the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Belarus (http://mininform.gov.by) and SI “Centre of Culture “Vitebsk” – the Board of Directors of the International Festival of Arts “Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk” (hereinafter referred to as – “Board of Directors”) – https://fest-sbv.by, shall be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus (220030, Minsk, Lenina Str., 19; fax + 375 (17) 210-42-51; e-mail: ).

Deadline for applications is June 1 each year.

5. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus sends the final lists of foreign mass media representatives for accreditation at the Festival to the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Belarus until June 10 each year.

6. Accreditation of Belarusian mass media representatives at the Festival is carried out by the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Belarus.

7. Applications for accreditation of Belarusian mass media representatives, signed by the head of the mass media company and completed in accordance with the established form, shall be submitted to the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Belarus (220004, Minsk, Pobediteley Ave., 11; fax + 375 (17) 203-34-35, e-mail: ).

8. The following information should be provided in the accreditation application:

- about the journalist: full name, position, passport data (including identification number, if available), date (day, month, year) and place of birth, place of residence (registration), contact details (mobile and work phone numbers, email address);

- about the the Editorial Board: full name of the mass media company, full name of the editor-in-chief (Head of the mass media Editorial Board), the mass media’s mission and objectives, circulation, periodicity, time of broadcasting, number of unique visitors (for web-based media), the region of circulation, planned amount of releases/reports covering the Festival;

- if the applying mass media representative has ever covered previous editions of the Festival, he/she needs to submit copies (in electronic form) of the topical publications and TV (radio) spots related to the Festival.

Deadline for applications is June 1 each year.

9. Mass media Editorial Boards, except for mass media of Vitebsk region and TV and radio companies that perform television shooting of the main events of the Festival, qualify for accreditation of their journalists within the following quotas:

printed periodicals – for a maximum of 2 people;

printed periodicals, publishing a special Festival issue – for a maximum of 4 people;

news agencies – for a maximum of 2 people;

TV broadcasting companies – for a maximum of 3 people;

radio companies – 1 person.

10. The Ministry of Information of the Republic of Belarus forms the final lists of Belarusian and foreign mass media representatives accredited to cover the Festival and sends them to the State Institution “Centre of Culture “Vitebsk” – the Board of Directors of the International Festival of Arts “Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk” until June 25 each year.

11. Accreditation of Belarusian and foreign mass media representatives at the Festival events with the participation of the President of the Republic of Belarus is carried out by the Press Service of the President of the Republic of Belarus.

12. The accredited mass media representatives’ access to the Festival events is available on presentation of a special pass (badge), which is issued by the Board of Directors on the basis of a list approved by the Ministry of Information.

13. To receive the special pass (badge), the mass media representative needs to present his/her mass media ID card.

14. A genuine badge holder is not allowed to transfer their special pass (badge) to another person.

The accredited mass media representatives have a right to:

– attend events organized and held within the framework of the Festival, except for private events;

– receive the Festival-related press releases, information and reference materials, intended for public circulation in mass media;

– take video and sound recordings, photos during public events;

– ask the Board of Directors and the Festival Press Center for support in arranging interviews or obtaining comments.

The accredited mass media representatives are obliged to:

– abstain from interfering into the Festival events organization (interfering is defined as meddling by means of oral statements or actions aimed at drawing public attention to the meddler’s own self and/or at interruption of the event; abstain from photo and video shooting if filming disrupts the event, and also abstain from other activities that might hinder organization of the event attended by the accredited journalist due to his/her job responsibilities as the mass media representative);

– in due time and manner, leave the place of the event or meeting of the “official photo session”;

– while performing one’s own professional activities, respect rights and legitimate interests of the Festival participants and guests, the Board of Directors and the Festival Press Center;

– submit upon request of the Board of Directors copies of each topical publication, TV (radio) spots covering the Festival.

The Festival organizers represented by the Board of Directors or the Ministry of Information have a right to refuse applications for accreditation of mass media representatives for the following reasons:

– when some data provided by the mass media in the accreditation application form is incorrect;

– when documents submitted by the mass media for accreditation don’t comply with the hereby Procedure;

– for other reasons based on a reasoned decision.

Accreditation of the mass media representative turns invalid in the following cases:

- termination of the mass media company represented by the journalist;

- the mass media management’s decision to revoke the journalist’s assignment to cover the Festival;

- in case the mass media, which has applied for journalist’s accreditation, dismisses him/her, notably the Editorial Board is obliged to inform the Ministry of Information or the Board of Directors of the Festival about such decision within two days;

- in case of the violation of the requirements set out in paragraph 16 of this Procedure, as well as committing other offenses during the Festival.

19. The mass media management shall be informed about the decision to revoke the mass media representative’s accreditation. In all cases listed above, the mass media badges shall be returned to the Board of Directors of the Festival.

20. If it is necessary to make a decision, caused by a number of other circumstances not set forth in this Accreditation Procedure, the decision may be taken in an exceptional case by the Ministry of Information in agreement with the Board of Directors of the Festival.

21. Accreditation is valid at all venues identified by the Festival programme.