Frequently asked questions from the media

The following information represents the most current information Washington University has received. All information below is subject to change without notice. Media should check back frequently for the most accurate and current information.

How can media stay informed about last minute schedule changes, media advisories and breaking news related to the debate at Washington University?

The Office of Public Affairs has created the Washington University Debate LISTSERV to distribute important debate news updates and story ideas. Interested members of the media can subscribe to a debate LISTSERV to receive debate-related press releases and tip sheets from Washington University via e-mail. To subscribe, send an e-mail to listserv@wuvmd.wustl.edu. The text of the e-mail should read: sub debate firstname lastname. A confirmation e-mail will be sent with instructions to finalize the subscription.

Do media need permission to cover the debate from locations on the Washington University campus?

Yes. Washington University is a private institution and its policies mandate that all news media obtain advance permission from the Office of Public Affairs before conducting any interviews or filming on campus grounds. Access for the entire Hilltop Campus will be restricted on Oct. 17. For further information and assistance, please contact Public Affairs at (314) 935-5230.

Will special media credentials be required to cover the debate from within the Athletic Complex?

Yes. Media credentials will be required to access media work areas in the Athletic Complex beginning Oct. 12. The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), working in conjunction with the U.S. Senate Press Gallery, is responsible for the issuing of all media credentials.

The CPD will issue two forms of media credentials for the Washington University debate:

Pre-debate credentials - for the debate preparation period, Oct. 14-15.
Debate credentials - for access to secure work areas Oct. 16-17.

Questions regarding debate credentials should be directed to:
Mr. Robert E. Petersen
Senate Press Gallery
U.S. Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20510
Fax (202) 228-1142

Questions concerning pre-debate media credentials should be sent via e-mail to Nancy Henrietta of the CPD at nancy@debates.org.

How, where and when can media pick up the official debate credentials?

Debate credentials, required to access all media work areas Oct. 16 and 17, may be picked up at the credentialing tent, located at the north entrance to the Athletic Complex, from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, and from 10 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17. Debate credentials must have been requested through the U.S. Senate Press Gallery by the Sept. 22 deadline. Media will need to show a valid media identification card to claim their credentials. A pre-debate credentialing system will be in place Oct. 14-15 at the main (eastern) entrance to the Athletic Complex.

Will special media credentials be required for pre-debate coverage?

Yes. Beginning Oct. 14, any media wishing to cover the debate from the Washington University Athletic Complex and its immediate campus surroundings must obtain press credentials from the CPD.

When and where can I obtain pre-debate media credentials?

The CPD will issue pre-debate media credentials from a registration table located in the main lobby of the Athletic Complex beginning at 10 a.m., Oct. 14. Media seeking pre-debate credentials will be asked to provide official press identification cards or a letter of introduction signed by a news director within their media organization. News organizations seeking pre-debate credentials should be able to show valid media identification cards and/or provide written requests on letterhead indicating the names of news personnel, title (i.e., reporter, photographer, etc.), date of birth, and Social Security numbers of those personnel. Only full time employees of media organizations will be accredited: no stringers, freelancers, interns, or family members.

Will local affiliates have access to the debate hall on Oct. 16 and/or Oct. 17?

All media will be granted access to the debate hall throughout most of the day of Oct. 16 for live shots and stand-ups. Access will also be granted Oct. 17 between 5:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The debate hall will be completely shut down between 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. for candidate walk-throughs, but local affiliates will be allowed access on an escort basis between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Following the debate, general media access will resume once the candidates have left the debate hall, probably around 10 p.m., and lights will remain on until approximately 11:30 p.m. Finally, on Oct. 18, media can access the debate hall beginning at 6:30 a.m.

Are debate credentials required to access the protest area?

No. Debate credentials are only required to access areas within the secure perimeter established by the Secret Service. The protest area, located at the southeast corner of Forsyth and Big Bend boulevards on the university's intramural athletic field, is not within the secure perimeter.

Will there be designated parking for media covering the debate?

Yes. Washington University has arranged for the use of a 650-car parking lot just minutes from the debate site in Forest Park, the crown jewel of the St. Louis public park system and home to the world famous St. Louis Zoo. A special media-only shuttle bus system will be available for the transportation of media to and from the debate site.

Where is Forest Park?

Detailed driving directions to Forest Park and a park map showing the location of the 650-space media parking lot can be downloaded by clicking here.

When will the Forest Park media parking lot be open?

The 750-space media parking lot in Forest Park will be available for media parking beginning at 7 a.m. on Oct. 16. The lot will be served by a special shuttle service that will loop continuously between the parking lot and the Athletic Complex. Average travel time should be less than 10 minutes.

What are the scheduled hours of operation for the Forest Park Media Shuttle Service?

The shuttle service between the media parking lot and the Athletic Complex will operate continuously between 7 a.m. and midnight on Oct. 16 and between 4:30 a.m. and midnight on Oct. 17.

Where will satellite uplink vans be allowed to park?

Satellite truck parking, located just east of the Athletic Complex, will be allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis beginning at 6 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 15. Trucks must be left on-site to preserve a space allocation. Electrical power will be provided on a flat fee-for-use basis. Use of diesel generators will be discouraged for environmental reasons. Phone service hook-ups also will be available.

Will media who are staffing the network trucks and satellite vans be allowed to park personal vehicles near the Athletic Complex?

Generally no. On campus parking will be extremely limited, especially the day of the debate. The CPD has reserved a small number of parking spaces near the debate for its staff and a limited number of high-level media coordinators. For details, please contact Joani Komlos of the CPD at joani.komlos@nike.com.

Are media with large production and satellite trucks guaranteed parking spaces near the Athletic Complex?

Satellite truck parking, located just east of the Athletic Complex, will be allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis beginning at 6 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 15. Trucks must be left on-site to preserve a space allocation. Electrical power will be provided on a flat fee-for-use basis. Use of diesel generators will be discouraged for environmental reasons. Phone service hook-ups also will be available.

Will there be parking for satellite trucks at the protest area?

No. Due to road closings and space allocations, there is simply not room to accommodate satellite trucks within the protest area. However, reporters and camera crews are welcome to enter the protest area once they have signed in at the nearby checkpoint.

What about equipment drop-off?

Media equipment drop-off will be allowed Oct. 16-17 at the main press entrance, located on the northern side of the Athletic Complex by the credentialing tent. Equipment must remain attended at all times. Passes can be obtained from the CPD. Keep in mind that traffic throughout the area will be slowed Oct. 17 due to street closures. Big Bend Boulevard between Forsyth and Millbrook boulevards will be completely shut down after 8:30 a.m. and other major arteries will be blocked during the arrival and departure of the candidates' motorcades.

Will parking lots or streets be closed?

For the latest parking and traffic information, click here.

Where can media get help finding lodging in St. Louis?

Carolyn Eisele
St. Louis Convention and Visitors Bureau
Phone: (314) 992-0624
Fax: (314) 621-7729
E-mail: ceisele@explorestlouis.com
Web site: http://www.explorestlouis.com

What workspaces within the Athletic Complex will be available for credentialed media?

THE MEDIA FILING CENTER: Located in the Recreational Gymnasium on the lower "green" level of the Athletic Complex, the media filing center will provide workspace for more than 1,000 credentialed media. Television monitors will be placed throughout the filing center so that media working there can observe the debate via the live pool feed. Workspace will be available to any credentialed media on a first-come, first-served basis. Media who have arranged for phone service will be guaranteed a reserved workspace. To arrange phone service, contact:

Georgia Miller
Southwestern Bell
Phone: (314) 505-0075 or (877) 873-8799 toll free
Fax: (314) 505-0537
Visit the SBC Presidential Debate web site for more information

SPIN ALLEY: Located within the media filing center, this area will be available for informal post-debate reaction interviews with campaign staffers and politicians. It is open to all credentialed media covering the debate.

THE AFFILIATE WORKSPACE: Located in the historic Francis Gymnasium on the south side of the Athletic Complex, the affiliate workspace will be divided into individual 20x20-foot work areas for network affiliates and related operations. To reserve work space, contact Joani Komlos of the CPD at joani.komlos@nike.com.

NETWORK OPERATIONS: Major television networks, including ABC, CBS, CNN, C-Span, NBC and FOX, will establish individual operations centers at various locations in and around the Athletic Complex. For questions concerning the the network operations centers, please contact Joani Komlos of the CPD at joani.komlos@nike.com.

What interview spaces will be available outside the Athletic Complex for credentialed media?

FLATBED MEDIA RISERS: Current plans call for the installation of a raised platform to be used for still photography and as interview and stand-up positions for broadcast media. The media risers are to be constructed on top of two flatbed tractor trailers situated at the far western edge of the parking lot, adjacent to the university tennis courts and immediately in front of the main east entrance to the Athletic Complex. Reserved media workspace on the risers will be allocated via a CPD lottery system. To be included in the lottery, media must send a written request via e-mail by Oct. 14 to Joani Komlos of the CPD at joani.komlos@nike.com. Lottery results will be posted when the CPD arrives in St. Louis.

LAWN LEVEL STAND-UP POSITIONS: Current plans call for the establishment of a ground-level media interview and stand-up area just outside the Athletic Complex's main public entrance on the eastern edge of the building. The area will be taped off and reserved for use as informal stand-up and interview positions for broadcast media. The ground-level location will provide a backdrop of the main public entrance to the Athletic Complex. Reserved stand-up locations on the lawn area will be allocated via a CPD lottery system. To be included in the lottery, media must send a written request via e-mail by Oct. 14 to Joani Komlos of the CPD at joani.komlos@nike.com. Lottery results will be posted when the CPD arrives in St. Louis.

OTHER REMOTE LOCATIONS ON CAMPUS: The media is encourged to contact Washington University's Office of Public Affairs for information about debate-related events being planned around campus before, during and after the debate. The debate also will be simulcast to a number of remote viewing locations on campus for viewing by Washington University students and other members of the campus community. Where appropriate, the media may be allowed to conduct interviews and/or broadcast from these events. Access to the Hilltop Campus will be restricted on Oct. 17. For information, contact Washington University Public Affairs at (314) 935-5230.

Where is the media filing center?

The media filing center is located in the Recreational Gym, which is on the lower "green" level of the Athletic Complex. Access is possible through the main media entrance on the north side of the Athletic Complex.

When will the media filing center be open?

The media filing center will generally be open to credentialed media from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Oct. 16, and from 10 a.m. on Oct. 17 until all media have completed filing their stories, most likely early in the morning of Oct. 18. Dot-com media or others who require use of the filing center at other hours may contact the Washington University Office of Public Affairs at (314) 935-6375 to discuss special arrangements.

Will local and national media be allowed to do live pieces from the media filing center before, during and after the debate?

Yes. Media who have arranged to have access to the filing center will be allowed to do live shots from the filing center throughout the event. Only credentialed media will have access to the filing center.

Will credentialed media be allowed to move in and out of the media filing center before, during and after the debate?

Yes. Although the Secret Service may opt to restrict access at any time, current plans would generally allow credentialed media to enter or leave the media filing center at any time via the main media entrance on the north side of the Athletic Complex, near the Anheuser-Busch hospitality tent. At this point, it seems likely that media also would be allowed to use prescribed routes between other media workspaces within the Athletic Complex, including the affiliate workspaces in Francis Gym and the various network workstations. On Oct. 17, these routes may be restricted or limited at various times.

Who can answer questions about phone services for the media?

Georgia Miller
Southwestern Bell
Phone: (314) 505-0075 or (877) 873-8799 toll free
Fax: (314) 505-0537
Visit the SBC Presidential Debate web site for more information

Will the media be able to interview other members of the debate audience who are not members of the on-camera town hall forum group?

Probably so. The CPD generally makes a limited number of debate audience tickets available to the candidates and other key groups involved in the process. The CPD confirms that the media will be allowed to pursue interviews with members of the general non-forum audience as they exit the debate venue. A system to facilitate media access to these audience members is under development. For more information, call the Washington University Office of Public Affairs at (314) 935-5230.

Will the media have the opportunity to interview Washington University students who get into the debate or those who have worked extensively on its planning and execution?

Yes. The university's Office of Public Affairs is developing plans to facilitate media access to Washington University students who have first-hand stories to offer about the debate. Visit the student media contacts page for further information.

Is there a deadline for leaving the filing center after the debate?

No. Media representatives are free to stay until they have filed their stories.

Frequently asked DebateWatch questions