Media Logistics
CHECK-IN AND CREDENTIALS PICK-UP
Media credentials will be required to gain access to The Compassion Forum Media Filing Center and Message Room. All members of the media planning to cover The Compassion Forum must credential using the online form. Upon arrival, all media attending the Forum must check in and pick up their credentials in the lobby of Sollenberger Sports Center (which is building #32 on our online map.) Journalists should be prepared to present photo ID, along with national or state accredited press credentials or a letter on official news organization letterhead.
It is important to note that media credentials do not provide access to Brubaker Auditorium, the location of The Compassion Forum.
Credentials will be distributed in the lobby of Sollenberger Sports Center on:
- Saturday, April 12, from 4-8 p.m. and
- Sunday, April 13 from 8 a.m. -8 p.m.
- Any media needing to check-in and pick up credentials after 8 p.m. will need to go to the Media Filing Center in Hitchcock Arena (located in Sollenberger Sports Center) and ask for Beth Lorow or Carla Gross from the Messiah College Office of Marketing and Public Relations.
- Note: The Media Filing Center and the Message Room will both open at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, and will close by midnight that evening.
PARKING
Media should be prepared to show their press identification to traffic personnel as they arrive on campus and they will be directed to the appropriate parking areas. It is important to have pre-registered any satellite trucks or other large production vehicles on the media credentialing form. If you have changes or additions to your parking needs as originally registered, please e-mail Beth Lorow at BLorow@messiah.edu as soon as possible. Driving directions to Messiah College and a campus map are available .
Trucks that need to hard run cable into the message center will be parked in the side lot of Sollenberger Sports Center. Cable run of 450 feet. Trucks that need to hard run cable for outdoor stand up on Eisenhower Campus Center Lawn will be parked either behind Sollenberger Sports Center or along Chapel Drive (the street that runs in front of Eisenhower Campus Center up to Boyer Hall). Maximum cable run from these locations is 800 feet.
MEDIA FACILITIES
Media Filing Center—Will be located in Hitchcock Arena, in the Sollenberger Sports Center. Media workstations and TV viewing monitors will be set up in this location, and we will make the event feed available to members of the media through mult-boxes in this location.
Message Room—Will be located in Hitchcock Arena, in the Sollenberger Sports Center. Representatives from the candidates’campaigns, Messiah College, Faith in Public Life, and The Compassion Forum Board will be available for interviews following the Forum.
Outdoor Stand-up Positions—Will be available along the Eisenhower Campus Center Lawn (on the campus green outside of the building where The Compassion Forum will take place).
MEDIA DINNER
Messiah College will host a buffet dinner (hot and cold menu; including vegetarian options) for credentialed media from 5-8:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, in the Media Filing Center. Messiah College President Kim Phipps will welcome members of the media at 5 p.m.
TRANSCRIPT
The Compassion Forum organizers will provide a transcript of the program to credentialed members of the media via e-mail. The transcript will come in two parts following the conclusion of the broadcast.
INTERNET ACCESS
Free wireless internet services for The Compassion Forum will be provided by Messiah College. The college has contracted with Soapbox SBX and representatives of Soapbox will be on site.
CELLULAR PHONE COVERAGE AND ADDITIONAL PHONE LINES
There is cellular coverage on the Messiah College campus. The deadline for media organizations that require hard telephone lines was Monday, April 7. Any post-deadline hard line phone and ethernet orders must be made directly through SoapboxSBX. Please e-mail requests to Logan Rio at logan@soapboxsbx.com or fax it to (717) 854-7839. Accommodations will be made after the deadline only as able.
ADDITIONAL NEEDS AND SPECIAL REQUESTS
Any additional needs or modifications requested by media will be handled individually as requests are received. Please note: media will be charged for work required to meet special requests. Please contact Beth Lorow at Messiah College to discuss special requests at (717) 497-8734 or blorow@messiah.edu.
LOCAL ACCOMODATIONS AND DINING
The Courtyard Marriot Harrisburg West/Mechanicsburg (717-766-9006) and Holiday Inn Harrisburg West (717-697-0321) have rooms held under The Compassion Forum block for members of the media. Please contact these hotels directly to make your reservations. A comprehensive listing of other area hotels, in addition to local restaurants is available online.
