by Bruce Urquhart

PIC Press was denied accreditation for the recent Summit of the Americas in Quebec City because it was not a "recognized news agency."

In a form letter received on April 12, PIC Press was informed that "After examining your application, we must inform you that we are unable to proceed with your request for access to the media centre is limited to recognized news agencies only."

Karl Flecker, a local freelance journalist, was also denied accreditation by Summit organizers.

"I don't see any reason why I would be denied," said Flecker. "All I can go by is what they wrote in their badly worded letter."

Flecker also suggested that the Summit organizers' preference for "news agencies" came at the expense of alternative and community-based media.

"This causes me to question the sincerity of the Government of Canada in having community-based concerns report on and witness what's going on at the Summit."

Because of the Quebec Summit's unprecedented security measures in the wake of protests in Seattle and Nice, only accredited media had access beyond the site's chain-link security barrier. As of April 16, more than 1,800 journalists had already registered at the Summit of the America's media centre. Neither the accreditation form nor any attendant materials offered a definition of a "recognized news agency" though the Summit of the Americas website reiterated that "Accreditation to the Summit sites will be granted to representatives of bona fide newsgathering agencies."

While an immense amount of biographical information was required from the applicant, the form itself requested very little information on the journalist's publication. Except for the name and type of organization, the accreditation form only required a signature from the publisher.

Despite more than a dozen phone calls, the media accreditation manager for the Summit could not be reached for comment.

Matthew Gventer, a PIC Press board member, faxed a copy of the letter to the office of local Member of Parliament Peter Milliken, asking him to intervene on PIC's behalf.

"We want [him] to give support and try and find out why we have been rejected because we are legitimate media," said Gventer.

Mary Little, a spokesperson for Milliken's office, said that they had not yet decided if they would intervene.

The Third Summit of the Americas was held in Quebec City from April 20 to April 22. While, ostensibly, the 34 democratic heads of state invited to the Summit were discussing issues affecting the three Americas, the main item on the Summit agenda was an extension of the North American Free Trade Act to include all of the Americas except Cuba. Although organizers arranged a series of cultural events for the local population, the Summit itself was not open to members of the public. Access to the 10 square-kilometre Summit site was restricted, meaning only people with accreditation badges or passes were allowed to enter the security perimeter.

During the three days of the Summit of the Americas, The Reseau quebecois sur l'integration continentale (RQIC) and Common Frontiers held a parallel conference called the People's Summit of the Americas. According to its overview statement, this Summit was organized to discuss "key issues and advance towards the construction of alternative integration proposals in many different areas including human rights, labour rights, social rights, the rights of women, native people, black communities, and peasants, agrarian reform, environment, education, etc." These discussions centred around the impact of globalization and the potential impact of the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas.

Bruce Urquhart is a regular contributor to PIC Press.