A lock-in for Budget 2020 will be held for media representatives on Wednesday, September 30, in the Conference Centre, West Block, Confederation Building.

The agenda for the lock-in is as follows:

Due to public health capacity restrictions, only those media outlets who participated in the Budget 2019 lock-in will be permitted to participate this year. Efforts have been made to contact all such outlets in recent weeks, but any outlet not contacted should connect with Marc Budgell at 709-689-0430 or marcbudgell@gov.nl.ca.

This year, as the province remains in Alert Level 2 of the NL Life with COVID-19 plan, there will be a number of changes implemented to how media covers the budget. These include:

• Normal mask requirements for public buildings will be in effect. Once reporters are seated in their designated spots in the lock-in they can remove their masks, but must always wear a mask when moving about the room.
• The media lock-in will occur in three separate but adjacent rooms in the Conference Centre, in order to maintain physical distancing.
• Each registered outlet will be guaranteed one spot in the main conference room where the news conference will take place (plus one camera operator for broadcast media).
• Budget materials will be at each assigned space when media arrive.
• Reporters in the adjacent rooms will be able to follow the news conference on an internal live stream from their areas. These reporters will have the opportunity to provide written questions to their representatives in the main room prior to the news conference.
• Food service will be individual rather than buffet style. While some snacks and water will be provided, attendees are encouraged to bring their own coffee if required.
• Any registered media who come down with COVID-19 symptoms on or before Budget Day are not permitted to attend the lock-in, but can send another representative in their place.

Lobby process changes
Media who wish to conduct interviews or live coverage of budget proceedings from the Confederation Building lobby must pre-register, and must provide a list of no more than eight stakeholders they wish to interview to Jillian Hood (709-729-4266 or jillianhood@gov.nl.ca) by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 25. Only those media who register and the stakeholders they’ve identified will be permitted into the lobby, in order to maintain acceptable numbers under public health guidelines. Process changes this year include:

• Broadcast media will be permitted to set up in the centre of the lobby provided physical distancing can be maintained.
• Reporters from print or online publications who wish to conduct interviews will be given space on the third-floor mezzanine.
• All stakeholders will start at one media station at 2:00 p.m., and after seven minutes all stakeholders will move in the same direction to the next media station. This process is designed to minimize foot traffic and maintain physical distancing. Staff will be on hand to direct stakeholders between locations.
• Media will be permitted to conduct interviews or coverage between 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
• Broadcast media will be permitted to return for live coverage during the 6:00 p.m. newscasts in their assigned spots.

Accreditation forms
Accreditation forms must be completed and signed prior to entering the lock-in. Forms are available from Jillian Hood. Completed forms must be returned no later than 12:00 p.m. on Friday, September 25.

Entering the lock-in
Members of the media may enter the lock-in at any time after 9:15 a.m. Upon entering, however, a person must remain in the lock-in until 1:45 p.m.

Embargo procedures
During the lock-in, media representatives will be provided with advance copies of the budget documents. Anyone entering the lock-in is required to sign an undertaking to respect the release arrangements to not remove, release or communicate documents, materials, information or other records of any nature whatsoever provided in the lock-in to anyone in any manner until the embargo is lifted.

Devices allowed in the media lock-in
Laptops, notebooks, tablets and other portable computers. Media will be responsible, upon entering, for switching these devices to “airplane mode” with all radio (receiving or transmitting) and internal built-in wireless functionalities disabled. Those who fail to do so will be requested to turn in their computer/tablet until the embargo is lifted.

Devices not allowed in the media lock-in
Wireless communications devices, such as mobile phones, wireless keyboards and printers, two-way radios and/or any other removable wireless communication devices are not allowed in the lock-in area. Lock-in staff will hold such devices in a secure area until the embargo is lifted.

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Media contacts
Jillian Hood
Executive Council
709-729-4266
jillianhood@gov.nl.ca

Marc Budgell
Finance
709-729-2477, 689-0430
marcbudgell@gov.nl.ca