MEDIA AND PRESS GUIDELINES

 

 
Coat of Arms
 
 MEDIA AND PRESS GUIDELINES The following guidelines are issued for use by media and press representatives during the State Funeral of His Majesty King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV.  Your cooperation and observance of these guidelines would be very much appreciated during this period of national bereavement and mourning for the Royal Family and the people of the Kingdom of Tonga.  
 
  1. Guiding Principles
These media guidelines have been drafted taking into consideration the:
    • national, historical and traditional significance of the event;
    • nature of the event and the mourning of the Royal Family and people of Tonga;
    • security of the Royal Family and visiting overseas dignitaries;
    • need to ensure that media and press reports are timely, accurate, and appropriate; and
    • safeguard the interests of the general public, many of who will have waited for hours, so that their view is impeded as little as possible by press activity.
    • ‘Atalanga and Tonga Images. The production company acknowledges that the Lord Chamberlain/Prime Minister Office may have unlimited rights to all images (film/still photography) taken off/on ‘Atalanga/Tonga. The Lord Chamberlain/Prime Minister Office has co-ownership of these images with you. Permission must be obtained from the Lord Chamberlain/Prime Minister Office in writing to use any of these images in promotional or other purposes not relating to the specific purpose agreed upon by both parties. 
  
  1. Media Centre
The media centre is responsible for:
    • Receiving, processing media accreditation applications and issuing of media passes;
    • providing information to the media on logistical and operational matters pertaining to the media coverage of the funeral
    • arranging press releases, press conferences and interviews from the Government Media Committee
    • dealing with general enquiries from the public on the funeral program

 The information centre will be located on the first floor of the Post Office.  It will be open 24 hours or as needed. Press releases and regular updates will be provided at the centre.  Further information is available at the following

websites:www.pmo.gov.to

www.palaceoffice.gov.to 

The facilities provided by the centre will include:TelephoneFax Internet accessPrinterPC Media personnel may purchase phone cards if they wish to make  overseas calls and faxes.  Representatives from the two telephone carriers, Tonga Communications Corporation and Tonfon will be available.   Mobile roaming is available in Tonga for Telstra, Vodafone NZ and Tahiti.  

 

  1. Contact Persons
Mr. Alfred Soakai – Senior Communications Counsel, Prime Minister’s OfficeMs. Rosamond Bing – Principal Assistant Secretary, Palace OfficeMrs. Vake Blake – Senior Assistant Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office 
 
  1. Press Releases
 Official press releases (written and oral) will be made by the Media Coordination Sub-Committee (Prime Minister’s Office and Palace Office - Office of the Lord Chamberlain and Tonga Traditions Committee), and released through the Media Centre. Press conferences will be held twice a day to provide updates on the funeral program and to answer queries. The official spokespersons are the members of the Committee who are: 
Royal Household                   Hon. Albert Tu’ivanuavou Vaea
Logistics                              Mr. Alfred Soakai, Mrs. Vake Blake
Political                               Mrs. ‘Eseta Fusitu’a, Mr. Lopeti Senituli 
 
5.    Interviews Interviews with the official spokespersons may be arranged through the media centre – a written request and written set of questions are to be provided prior to the interview. Interviews are to cover funeral matters only and limited to 30 minutes. The Royal Family is not granting any interviews at this time.  

  2. Media Locations
Accredited media (personnel, equipment and vehicles) will be granted conditional access to the official locations for the funeral program.  Please note that not all media personnel will be granted full access to all funeral venues. Access will depend on the category approved by the Prime Minister’s Office.  The official locations for the funeral program:  
    • Fua’amotu Airport – media observation area will be cordoned off for media persons
 
    • Royal Palace Grounds – Royal Rota
 
    • Mala’e Kula Royal Tombs – Royal Rota
 Site maps and media positions will be provided, in coordination with security measures set-up by Ministry of Police and Tonga Defence Services.  

  2. Protocol
 
    • Culture and tradition – His Majesty’s funeral will be marked by strict observance of traditional and customary ceremonials. Military and other official ceremonials will also be observed. It is expected that media persons give serious consideration to this aspect of the funeral program and pay the utmost respect due to and maintaining the dignity of the event.
 
    • Security and safety – crowd control will a major issue and the presence of a large contingent of overseas dignitaries and VIPs requires consideration of security and safety. To make yourself known to security personnel please ensure that media passes are worn and made visible at all times.
 Security is the responsibility of the Police.  They make recommendations concerning media arrangements if they consider security is affected.  However, ultimate responsibility for media arrangements lies with the media sub-committee.
It may be that on occasions the Police media liaison officer can help in a supportive capacity but primary responsibility for the engagement remains in the hands of the Palace.
 
The prime concern of the police officers is the security of that member of the Royal Family and visiting dignataries; the control of the press is the responsibility of the media sub-committee.


 
    • Funeral program (Details will be provided in due course)
 
    • Dress – black attire is to be worn at all times. Men are to wear long pants and black shirts. Women are to wear ankle-length skirts or dresses or elbow-length blouses. Tongan media are expected to wear the appropriate Tongan mourning dress at all times.
 
  1. Accreditation
    • All media persons and technicians are to seek accreditation approval from the Prime Minister’s Office (information centre).
 
    • The application form and application requirements are available at the media centre or at www.pmo.gov.to
 
    • Categorised accredited media passes for personnel and vehicles:
§         Category A – Royal Rota (Television Tonga, Tonfon, Radio Tonga, Chronicle): RED
§         Category B – Committee members and media centre personnel : BLUE
§         Category C – Accredited media personnel : GREEN 

  2. Ceremonial and Traditional Rituals
A ceremonial media sub-committee has primary responsibility for ceremonial and traditional media issues pertaining to the funeral. Enquiries relating to these issues are to be directed to members of this sub-committee.
 
Credits
The company will acknowledge the Lord Chamberlain/Prime Minister Office with a screeen credit.  The following words are recommended "Produced with the assistance of the Lord Chamberlain/Prime Minister Office."

 
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