Traduction de l'article de François Pelletier-Bourbonnais 2001-04-15.

The CMAQ headquarters ready to welcome journalists from the Americas!

François Pelletier-Bourbonnais

The Québec Centre for Alternative Media (CMAQ) has fulfilled the first phase in its preparation for the Summit of the Americas. The CMAQ headquarters (620, côte d’Abraham) has seen its offices transformed into a real welcoming centre for journalists, a workplace for the dispatch team as well as a centre for anyone who wants to be more informed.

The headquarters infrastructure has thus been completed. The organisation of the press room will take place today April 16th at the same time as the People’s Summit will start with the Women’s Forum. Once this press room is completed, it will comprise 20 computers which will be kept watch on by two security guards hired by the CMAQ, 8 hours a day starting April 18th (from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.).

Latest news concerning the different CMAQ teams

Photo

A photo lab will be available for those in need of one, here at the Complexe Meduse (620, côte d’Abraham). This team is at the moment looking for extra funding in order to pay for the “chemistries” and other necessary equipment like changing bags. Depending on the availability of the computers, it will be possible to use negative digitizers connected to a computer in the laboratory.

Press

At the moment, the plan is to publish a trilingual newspaper at the beginning of the week and on Saturday. This will be supported by the publication of a daily newsletter. If the press team receives more funds, they will aim either for the publication of another newspaper or either a larger run for Saturday’s newspaper edition. The project concerning the publication of a quarter-page format bulletin has been put aside for the moment but can be revived should the budget be increased. But the press team is hesitant concerning this project because of the useless waste of paper and the pollution that could be generated.

The press team will work closely with the photo and audio teams since journalists will be able to phone the internet distribution centre and do live reports directly from the scene. A phone number will be available shortly.

Audio

This team has started working on an large-scale project which consists in making available one or two audio streaming channels on the CMAQ website (www.cmaq.net). One of these streamings will be used as a continuous information channel and the other (which will be put in place if necessary) will be for various independent productions.

This project brings together many alternative and community stations from the four corners of the Americas. These station as well as “web suffers” will be able to download various reports and the most recent newsletters available in three or four languages.

Video

Many independent producers will be here starting today. The most important project is the production of a documentary at the end of the Summit. As well, “movie nights” will possibly be held.

Technical

As already mentioned, all is in place at the CMAQ headquarters, and the press room will be in activity starting today. Otherwise, they are in need of funds, technicians and material.

Dispatch

This team will collect all the information for the coverage of the events and will ensure contact with and between the dispatch working groups. They will publish a calendar of events which will be available to all journalists.

Security

This team will ensure the production of work schedules and gather the details of those in charge of security. This team will mostly be responsible for security.

Accommodation, lodging

Everything is going well at the moment, but this team fears an increase in demand in the following days. Those looking for a place to stay can always reach Jonathan or Simon at the CMAQ headquarters at 418-523-6282. Those who can offer a place to stay can use the same phone number.

This article has been written by an exhausted journalist that is hoping to see loads of people relieve him in the coming days …

François Pelletier-Bourbonnais
Coordimator of the CMAQ written press team

Translation by Jacques Paquet