Media arrangements for journalists covering 111th session of WHO Executive Board
14 January 2003 - The 111th session of the WHO Executive Board (EB) will take place from 20th-28th January 2003 at WHO Headquarters. In addition to the regular agenda, the nomination of a candidate for the post of Director-General (DG), for approval by the World Health Assembly in May 2003, will also take place.
The nomination will occur either on the evening of 27th January or the morning of 28th January. There will be a public announcement after the final selection of the winning candidate. It will be the decision of the nominated candidate whether she or he will hold a press conference after the public announcement has been made.
Arrangements for press:
For accreditation, journalists are invited to contact Mrs Lorna Wieteska in room E112 of the main WHO building, by telephone: (+41) 22 791 2599, or email: wieteskaa@who.int.
WHO has arranged for a Press Room (160A) for accredited journalists to be set up on the ground floor of the main building during the EB meeting. Room 160A is located directly behind the Brazilian painting in the main lobby.
There are four computers in the Press Room with Word software, access to the Internet and outgoing electronic mail facilities. For journalists wishing to use their own portable PCs, there are four analog lines for outside connection. Four telephone lines and a fax machine are also available.
During the public announcement of the nomination of a candidate for the post of DG, there will be a live feed from the EB room to the Video Conferencing Centre (E230) reserved specifically for accredited journalists.
Video streaming will be broadcast live from the EB room via the Internet or television monitors to the Press Room. Television networks interested in picking up the announcement live, should reserve directly with the European Broadcasting Union.
For television and radio journalists, the studio, equipped with an audio ISDN line and EBU video link, is located in the basement (SS 245), near the main EB room. For technical specifications please see www.who.int/multimedia. BETA copies of the DG announcement will be available upon request. Footage and photographs from the public proceedings of the EB will also be available upon request. For reservations and technical assistance, please contact Mr Jean-Marc Glinz (+41 22 791 3924, or mobile: 41 79 475 5515).
Journalists wishing to arrange interviews with the candidates shortlisted for the position of DG are advised to make their own arrangements with the relevant UN missions.
For journalists wishing to cover the public proceedings of the EB, there is a clearly marked press gallery on level SS1 on the left-hand side of the EB Room. TV cameras and photographers do not have access to the main floor.
EB documentation can be accessed via the WHO website:www.who.int/gb/
WHO’s legal text on the nomination process for the new Director-General can be viewed at: www.who.int/gb/EB_WHA/PDF/EB111/eeb111id1.pdf