All working press must have Annual Meetings credentials to attend the meetings. Requests for media accreditation will be denied if applicants cannot establish they are professional journalists. This applies to all freelancers, including photographers and bloggers.

To be accredited:

• Journalists in the Washington area must have press credentials issued by either the White House, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the House and Senate Press Gallery, the U.S. Department of Defense, or the USIA Foreign Press Center.
  
  
• Journalists based outside Washington must have:
  1. Valid press credentials issued by national or local authorities;
     
     OR
     
     
  2. Clear evidence that you are on assignment from a specific news organization or publication. A valid assignment letter from that news organization, or publication, is required. Photographic agencies must provide clear evidence from a client news organization or publication.
     
     Submissions should be sent to:
     

     Press Registration
     email: press@imf.org

If such credentials are not held, or are in question, it will be at the discretion of the IMF and the World Bank Group to determine whether access to the Annual Meetings is granted.

Journalists who meet the requirements above should register online.

Registration for press credentials will close on Saturday, October 8, 2016.

The IMF or the World Bank Group will not be responsible for journalists' travel costs and/or other expenses.

Press Registration Request >

Journalists traveling from overseas to cover the Annual Meetings, who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States, are reminded that they will need to display a valid I visa to immigration officials at their port of entry into the U.S.

Before departure, participants are requested to obtain entry visas for the United States from the U.S. diplomatic or consular missions in their countries. The lack of a valid visa may cause authorities to deny boarding at the port of embarkation, as well as delays in clearance with immigration authorities upon arrival at the port of entry into the United States.

Participants should be aware that changes are being made to U.S. immigration procedures for certain countries, including some which are currently under the Visa Waiver Program. It is strongly recommended that all participants check with their nearest U.S. diplomatic or consular mission, or here, for the procedures which will be in effect at the time of the Annual Meetings. If visas are required, applications should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time for processing.

Journalists who have been approved for accreditation can pick up credentials starting at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, October 3, 2016, at the Press Registration Desk, located 1850 I Street, NW, Washington, DC. You are required to present press credentials and photo identification.

The Annual Meetings press credentials grant access to the Press Room, press conferences and briefings in IMF Headquarters. At all times, members of the press must be escorted by IMF or World Bank Group staff within office areas of the IMF and the World Bank Group buildings.

Representatives of Civil Society Organizations should visit Information for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) for details on CSO accreditation.

The Press Room is located in the IMF HQ2 building, at the corner of 19th St and Pennsylvania Avenue, and will open at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, October 3, and close at 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 9, 2016.

Technicians for financial news wires and other accredited news organizations may arrange for advanced access to the IMF Headquarters press room through special arrangements with the IMF's Media Relations Division (media@imf.org).

The press room has limited space, and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Each desk will be equipped with power outlets. The Press Room provides wireless (Wi-Fi) access for personal laptops. For further information regarding telecommunications arrangements within the IMF, please contact Antony Kamunde, tel: 202-623-6731 email: akamunde@imf.org

Computers are not provided to journalists. However, a limited number of internet kiosks will be available in the Press Room. The Internet kiosks allow easy access to the IMF website and the World Bank Group website. The websites will have links to a joint Annual Meetings' site containing the schedule of press events, as well as transcripts, news releases, and other information as it becomes available.

The press room does not have ISDN lines in place. Journalists who require an ISDN line can order one directly through Verizon. Please email Potomac.media@verizon.com or call Eileen Ferraro 973-649-1314.

IMF and World Bank Group media relations divisions handle requests for interviews with IMF and World Bank Group officials during the Meetings. However, the press officers do not service interview requests for official delegations to the Meetings. Those requests must be made directly to the delegations or through the Executive Directors representing their constituency.

There will be photo opportunities at the start of ministerial committee meetings (e.g. International Monetary and Financial Committee and Development Committee), which may be pooled depending on demand.

Photojournalists are requested to assemble 15 minutes prior to the event at the IMF/World Bank Group Press Desk.

A selection of still photos in high resolution will be available after each event on the Meetings website and on www.flickr.com/photos/imfphoto and http://www.flickr.com/photos/worldbank. Download and use of images are free of charge, but must be credited to the listed photographer and organization when published online or in print.

In addition, broadcast quality video clips of selected press conferences will be available for downloading on http://mediacenter.imf.org/ and on www.un.org/unifeed. This service is free of charge.

For World Bank Group events, broadcast quality clips will be available for download at www.un.org/unifeed and on our World Bank Group FTP Server. For inquiries contact Mehreen Sheikh at the World Bank Group on 202-458-7336 - msheikh1@worldbankgroup.org

To inquire about the video and audio transmission arrangements from IMF Headquarters, please contact Bruno Silvestre at the IMF at bsilvestre@imf.org. Please note that LiveUs cannot be used within the IMF buildings.

Broadcasters who would like to do live interviews may park their trucks on the street. Please contact Sgt. Kenny Bryson at the MPD (Metropolitan Police Department, contact number 202-727-4383) for information regarding the exact location for parking the trucks.

A tentative schedule of the press conferences will be available.

All press briefings are transcribed and posted on the external websites of the IMF and World Bank Group as soon as possible. Most briefings will also be webcast live.

Only press are allowed entry into press conferences/briefings.

The IMF Press Center offers advance access to embargoed IMF information. It is a password-protected site for working journalists only.

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The Media Briefing Center offers advance access to embargoed information of the World Bank Group. It is a password-protected site for working journalists only.

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Not Registered Yet? Register today!