Festival Committee explains new media coverage guidelines

Following the release of an advisory indicating a number of heavy media restrictions relating to coverage of this year’s emancipation festivities, the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIFFC) has seemingly softened its position.

In an eight-page document issued to the media, the VIFFC said it, among other things, prohibits any form of live streaming or video recording by the media for several of the events taking place during this year’s festivities, including the Miss British Virgin Islands Pageant.

However, the VIFFC said in a subsequent statement today that the document was presented to its “friends in the media” prematurely and without the proper context. It also said the guidelines in question were “designed to provide close access, support and in some cases, compensation” to the media.

The festival committee will meet with members of the press today to have a “fruitful discussion” on the matter.

Below is the VIFFC’s full statement:

The Virgin Islands Festival & Fairs Committee is excited to share the Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival with the world. Our ability to share our emancipation story and celebration has always be aided by the gracious coverage of our press members. To aid the press in having a comfortable environment to cover the events, a set of rule and guidelines designed to provide close access, support and in some cases, compensation, have been created.

The guidelines were presented to the media ahead of a scheduled meeting at 2PM, Monday, 31st July at the BVI Finance Conference Room, 3rd Floor, Cutlass Tower.

We look forward to meeting with our friends in the media and having a fruitful discussion resulting in the adaptation of standards that are comfortable for us all to abide with.

Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival 2023 is set to be good, but will be great with the partnership of our sponsors and friends in the media.