Festival Committee bans live streaming, restricts photography
The Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIFFC) has issued an advisory which prohibits any form of live streaming or video recording by the media for several of the events taking place during this year’s Emancipation festivities, including the Miss British Virgin Islands Pageant.
Festival events began last week with the Prince & Princess Show which created an uproar after one media entity was restricted from live-streaming the event, even as another entity was allowed to continue exclusively. The media entity was later issued an apology for being removed from live coverage of the event and was advised that there were no agreements in place for live coverage of any VIFFC events.
In an eight-page document issued to the media, all interested entities were asked to indicate, in writing, whether they wish to photograph, record, transmit or provide coverage — whether this is live, live-to-tape or post-produced; to write or record pieces for news purposes, and also to create documentaries.
Media entities were also asked to indicate in writing ahead of the time, which events they intend to cover.
No payment for photos used
Among the guidelines strenuously objected to by some members of the media were that professional photographers will not be paid for the use of their photos and that they will be required to furnish the VIFFC with copies before posting any copies of their work. The guidelines also stated that photographs will not contain the branding of the photographer.
The missive further advised that the VIFFC will not pay for the usage of photographs used to promote the Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival.
“In the event of the creation of merchandise for sale, the VIFFC shall enter into a contractual agreement where the photographer is compensated for images used,” the guidelines noted. Photographers were also warned that they could not sell their images without the “expressed written consent of the VIFFC”.
The guidelines further suggested that, while any member of the press shall be able to take photographs or record sounds for any portion of a festival event for use in a printed news article, this can only be done within parameters.
Journalists were also warned that they will be responsible for submitting a copy of the publication in which the news generated from the recordings appeared. It added that a link will be accepted for online publications.
In relation to recordings for news purposes, the VIFFC said it will receive a full copy of all recordings and noted that any link provided must be made available for download for no less than 90 days. The recorded footage will not contain the branding of the recording entity.
Meanwhile, the VIFFC said it reserves the right to refuse entry to any party, whether previously agreed upon if there is a breach of activation requirements.
“Any person/s found operating outside the expressed agreements between the Virgin Islands Festival & Fairs Committee and the entity will be banned from covering future events in the same calendar year,” the document stated.
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So, a celebration paid for by the people, to specifically celebrate their freedom, are then told that their most basic freedoms are banned by those they freely voted in?
ARE W RUNNING A DICTATORSHIP?
Nahhh .. Time to boycott these things.. Wtf is wrong with the committee this year?
Them man want all the cheese
Tax money is being used to put on festival for the ppl not for the gov to monetize and charge the same ppl tax money u taking. This is utterly ridiculous and should be looked into further.
Look what emancipation freedom has come to. Then, you want to talk about colonialism and bandage. Most of those events will not be free. Now, no photography or live stream. What next?
GETTING WOBBLY SO THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE EXPECTED / THE YOUTHS TAKING OVER
This place is slowly turning into a little dictatorship country….I guess next will be censorship over whether we think the Festival was good or bad.
Our tax dollars are paying for the festival, yet we have to turn around and pay to attend? Please make this make sense. The self-proclaimed no. 1 champion for our rights (the Premier) is the same person now signing off on this nonsense. Time for serious changes in the BVI. Enough of this crap!
Them put some Jack ××× on that board………
Still have your own people in slavery with a modern twist…..
BVI is a thug city now. This is ridiculous
Well, the obvious answer is to boycott the festivals, the last thing they represent is freedom.
Ya’ll got what ya’ll wanted so “USH”.
.. $5 per ride for the kids. Who is making all this money from what is supposed to be an emancipation celebration. Complete rip off!
Not the freedom for the people and the media emancipation festival then!
Exactly why I am not supporting, from the cost of entry, to cost of food, still gotta buy drinks, still gotta give ur kids money to run around, to god knows what other stipulations they put in place, to now telling ppl what to do with their OWN DEVICES, lmaooo well well wow, Im good love, yal enjoy tho! FETE IS FETE
Obviously from the comments I’m guessing none of you read the article or comprehended what the article states .
This does not apply to the regulars persons with phones and such. This applies to media, journalists covering the festivities which is a common practice all around the world. What they want to do is properly compensate and give credit to the same journalists and photographers for the use of their photos and/or video’s or am I the only person who read that part.
Rubbish
it says “professional photographers will not be paid for the use of their photos and that they will be required to furnish the VIFFC”
A ban on vulgarity and extreme skimpy clothing in Emancipation Festival parade would be awesome. Let’s not bring shame to our ancestors…may we remember and celebrate them with dignity.
A native Virgin Islander to the Nth generation
A ban on vulgarity and skimpy clothing in Emancipation Festival parade would be awesome. Let our ancestors be celebrated with dignity.
A native Virgin Islander to the Nth generation