A '''media lock-up''' is a [[security]] procedure typically associated with politically sensitive disclosures and [[News conference|press conferences]]. During a media lock-up, accredited [[journalist]]s receive advance access to information and expert advisers in order to assist with the accuracy of their reporting on matters disclosed. A media lock-up ends when a timed [[News embargo|embargo]] on the release of information is lifted.
== Process == Journalists may be required to sign [[deed poll]]s or other agreements prior to receiving permission to attend media lock-ups. [[Mobile phone]]s may be required to be turned off and/or left with a security supervisor upon entry. [[Laptop]], [[wireless]] and mobile phone devices must generally be disconnected to prevent any other means of outbound communication until a scheduled embargo is lifted.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Diary of a media lock-up|url = http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/05/15/diary-media-lock|website = News|access-date = 2016-02-08|archive-date = 2016-08-17|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160817124245/http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/05/15/diary-media-lock|url-status = live}}</ref> During a media lock-up, attendees are not permitted to leave the room, and no-one is allowed to approach any internal communications infrastructure.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url = http://www.rba.gov.au/media/lockup-procedures.html|title = Media lock-up procedures|date = |access-date = |website = Reserve Bank of Australia|last = |first = |archive-date = 2020-03-08|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200308092029/https://www.rba.gov.au/media/lockup-procedures.html|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title = The Budget Lockup {{!}} AustralianPolitics.com|url = http://australianpolitics.com/2001/04/06/budget-lockup.html|website = australianpolitics.com|access-date = 2016-02-08|archive-date = 2016-02-13|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160213111204/http://australianpolitics.com/2001/04/06/budget-lockup.html|url-status = live}}</ref> In cases where mobile phones are not required to be surrendered, attendees may be subject to escorts when visiting the bathroom.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title = Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update Media Lock-Up — The Treasury - New Zealand|url = http://www.treasury.govt.nz/budget/forecasts/2015hyefu-lockup|website = www.treasury.govt.nz|access-date = 2016-02-08|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160214113209/http://www.treasury.govt.nz/budget/forecasts/2015hyefu-lockup|archive-date = 2016-02-14|url-status = dead}}</ref>
== Use == Institutions to impose media lock-ups include the [[Reserve Bank of Australia]],<ref name=":0" /> the [[Australian Government]],<ref>{{Cite web|title = IGR media lock-up invitation {{!}} Media {{!}} The Hon. Joe Hockey MP|url = http://www.joehockey.com/media/media-releases/details.aspx?r=449|website = www.joehockey.com|access-date = 2016-02-08|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160817222613/http://www.joehockey.com/media/media-releases/details.aspx?r=449|archive-date = 2016-08-17|url-status = dead}}</ref> the [[New Zealand Treasury]],<ref name=":3" /> the [[United States Department of Labor]],<ref>{{Cite web|title = News Media Lock-Up Notices {{!}} United States Department of Labor|url = http://www.dol.gov/newsroom/lockups|website = www.dol.gov|access-date = 2016-02-08|archive-date = 2020-05-14|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200514155426/https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/lockups|url-status = dead}}</ref> the [[Government of South Africa|South African Treasury]],<ref>{{Cite web|title = Treasury on Budget 2015 media lock-up {{!}} South African Government|url = http://www.gov.za/media-advisory-budget-2015|website = www.gov.za|access-date = 2016-02-08|archive-date = 2016-09-21|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160921010222/http://www.gov.za/media-advisory-budget-2015|url-status = live}}</ref> the [[Government of Canada]]<ref>{{Cite web|title = Canada News Centre - Archived - Media Lock-Up for Economic Action Plan 2015|url = http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=958659|website = news.gc.ca|date = 2015-04-07|access-date = 2016-02-08|first = Government of Canada, Finance|last = Canada|archive-date = 2015-07-10|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150710162021/http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=958659|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Media Advisory - CRTC Media Lock-Up - Decision on BCE/Astral's transaction -- OTTAWA-GATINEAU, Oct. 17, 2012|url = http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/media-advisory---crtc-media-lock-up---decision-on-bceastrals-transaction-510972431.html|website = www.newswire.ca|access-date = 2016-02-08|archive-date = 2016-08-21|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160821132848/http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/media-advisory---crtc-media-lock-up---decision-on-bceastrals-transaction-510972431.html|url-status = live}}</ref> and the [[Supreme Court of Canada]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title = Supreme Court of Canada - After the Hearing|url = http://www.scc-csc.ca/res/counsel-procureurs/after-apres-eng.aspx|website = www.scc-csc.ca|access-date = 2016-02-08|first = Supreme Court of|last = Canada|archive-date = 2017-07-25|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170725024136/http://www.scc-csc.ca/res/counsel-procureurs/after-apres-eng.aspx|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Supreme Court of Canada - Resources for Media - Procedure for Lock-ups|url = http://www.scc-csc.ca/news-nouv/media/lu-hc-eng.aspx|website = www.scc-csc.ca|access-date = 2016-02-08|first = Supreme Court of|last = Canada|archive-date = 2017-08-01|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170801171457/http://www.scc-csc.ca/news-nouv/media/lu-hc-eng.aspx|url-status = dead}}</ref> The Supreme Court of Canada has stated that it uses media lock-ups "to improve the accuracy of media reporting of Supreme Court of Canada decisions and to assist members of the media in reporting on cases that have attracted a high level of [[public interest]]."<ref name=":2" />
== Budget lock-up == A specific variety of media lock-up, especially found in [[responsible government]] jurisdictions, budget lock-ups are designed to expedite coverage of [[Government budget|government budgets.]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Capel |first=Angus |date=2020-10-07 |title=What it was like inside this year's Federal Budget Lockup |url=https://blog.xero.com/accountants-bookkeepers/inside-au-federal-budget-lockup/ |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=Xero Blog |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-02-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221022751/https://blog.xero.com/accountants-bookkeepers/inside-au-federal-budget-lockup/ |url-status=live }}</ref> They usually involve the surrender of [[Mobile phone|cellular devices]], and receiving documents in a location without internet access. While documents may historically only have been distributed in [[hard copy]], it is now sometimes practice to distribute pre-loaded [[USB flash drive|USB memory drives]], which saves paper and affords attendees the ability to pre-draft articles using a [[word processor]] on a non-cellular device.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Department of Finance |date=2023-03-15 |title=Media Lock-Up for Budget 2023 |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2023/03/media-lock-up-for-budget-2023.html |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=www.canada.ca |archive-date=2024-02-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221022751/https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2023/03/media-lock-up-for-budget-2023.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The level of detail in the budget documents may differ by jurisdiction, for example, in Australia, documents may mainly consist of financial tables, while in Canada the documents may be more narratively driven.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Department of Finance |date=2023-03-28 |title=Budget 2023 |url=https://budget.canada.ca/2023/home-accueil-en.html |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=budget.canada.ca |archive-date=2024-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119164653/https://www.budget.canada.ca/2023/home-accueil-en.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Remeikis">{{Cite news |last=Remeikis |first=Amy |date=2023-05-08 |title=Inside the Canberra bubble: what happens in the federal budget media lock-up? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/may/09/inside-the-canberra-bubble-what-happens-in-the-federal-budget-media-lock-up |access-date=2024-02-21 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=2024-02-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221022751/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/may/09/inside-the-canberra-bubble-what-happens-in-the-federal-budget-media-lock-up |url-status=live }}</ref> Lock-ups may be held centrally by a [[Ministry of finance|Ministry of Finance]], or by multiple [[Ministry (government department)|government departments]] at once.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rollmann |first=Rhea |date=2020-11-13 |title=How Budget Day Changed When Media Picked the Attendees |url=https://theindependent.ca/news/how-budget-day-changed-when-media-picked-the-attendees/ |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=The Independent |language=en-CA |archive-date=2024-02-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221022751/https://theindependent.ca/news/how-budget-day-changed-when-media-picked-the-attendees/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Unlike usual media lock-ups, attendees may not be limited to media, and may include representatives from stakeholder groups who may have interest in putting out press releases with relation to the budget, and over a thousand people may be present at a lock-up, including government officials.<ref>{{Cite news |last=The Canadian Press |date=7 February 2014 |title=Budget lockup includes free lunches for bureaucrats, experts |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/budget-lockup-includes-free-lunches-for-bureaucrats-experts-1.2527080 |url-status=live |work=CBC News |access-date=21 February 2024 |archive-date=21 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221022751/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/budget-lockup-includes-free-lunches-for-bureaucrats-experts-1.2527080 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Digital |first=Rocket |date=2018-03-06 |title=POV – The Lockup |url=https://sciencepolicy.ca/posts/pov-the-lockup/ |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=CSPC |language=en-CA |archive-date=2024-02-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221022751/https://sciencepolicy.ca/posts/pov-the-lockup/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Budget lock-ups may include access to a variety of [[civil service]] technical experts on items in the budget, to facilitate more accurate coverage of details which may only be mentioned briefly in the budget document or budget speech.<ref name="Remeikis"/> In certain jurisdictions, questions may also be posed during a time at which the finance minister attends the lockup.<ref>Byron Plant & Jennifer Bancroft. 2009. Budget Day Traditions. Legislative Library of the Province of British Columbia.
https://www.leg.bc.ca/content-peo/Learning-Resources/BC-Budget-Day-Traditions-BP200908-English.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005172842/https://www.leg.bc.ca/content-peo/Learning-Resources/BC-Budget-Day-Traditions-BP200908-English.pdf |date=2020-10-05 }}</ref><ref name="Remeikis"/> The attendees are typically released at the beginning of as Finance Minister's budget speech, at which time they will receive their cellular devices back.<ref name="Remeikis"/>
In Australia, budget lockups can be administered within the offices of media organizations, instead of a centralized government location.<ref name="Remeikis"/>
== Response == Lock-ups associated with the Australian budget have been controversial. In 2014, members of several trade unions claimed that they have been refused entry to a stakeholder lock-up.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Abbott government freezes unions out of budget lock-up|url = http://www.smh.com.au/business/federal-budget/abbott-government-freezes-unions-out-of-budget-lockup-20140506-zr5t6.html|website = The Sydney Morning Herald|date = 6 May 2014|access-date = 2016-02-08|archive-date = 2014-07-28|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140728081659/http://www.smh.com.au/business/federal-budget/abbott-government-freezes-unions-out-of-budget-lockup-20140506-zr5t6.html|url-status = live}}</ref> Some journalists consider the Australian budget media lock-up "pointless", noting that contentious matters are typically already known due to prior leaks to the press. In 2013, one unnamed attendee described the budget lock-up as "one way the Government can sell its message... They have a captive audience, quite literally."<ref>{{Cite news|title = What happens inside the budget lock-up?|url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-15/james-glenday-inside-the-budget-lockup/4689884|website = ABC News|date = 14 May 2013|access-date = 2016-02-08|language = en-AU|archive-date = 2016-10-31|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161031171052/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-15/james-glenday-inside-the-budget-lockup/4689884|url-status = live}}</ref>
A media lock-up held by the Government of Canada in January 2015 prior to the tabling of an [[Counter-terrorism|anti-terrorism]] bill was criticized by attendees, who were denied access to the bill ahead of the press conference.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Inside the Orwellian Launch of Tories' Anti-Terrorism Act {{!}} The Tyee|url = https://thetyee.ca/News/2015/01/31/Inside_Orwellian_Launch_Tories_Anti_Terrorism_Act/|website = The Tyee|date = 2015-01-31|access-date = 2016-02-08|language = English|first = Jeremy J.|last = Nuttall|archive-date = 2016-01-05|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160105100900/http://thetyee.ca/News/2015/01/31/Inside_Orwellian_Launch_Tories_Anti_Terrorism_Act/|url-status = live}}</ref>
In 2011 author Nicholas Russell wrote that media lock-ups "may do more good than harm" by providing journalists with "thinking time" on complex matters. He also wrote that "It can be argued that the lock-up system leads to wholesale homogenization of the news - everyone gets basically the same story."<ref>{{Cite book|title = Morals and the Media, 2nd edition: Ethics in Canadian Journalism|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=J0cLKDc7k8wC|publisher = UBC Press|date = 2011-11-01|isbn = 9780774840460|language = en|first = Nicholas|last = Russell}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
[[Category:Journalism]]