The Foreign Press Centre (CAPE) : an international centre for journalists based in Paris

The Foreign Press Centre (CAPE), created in 2001, is a centre with meeting and orientation facilities for French and foreign journalists working in France, a place where they can meet one another.
As an international press centre, its purpose is to welcome and guide foreign journalists in France and to facilitate their work by placing a fully equipped professional infrastructure at their disposal. It organises communication and information activities focused on national, European and international news topics, either on its own initiative or jointly with partners. It also serves as a meeting place for foreign and French journalists, where they can exchange information.

Located at the Maison de Radio France until September 2008, CAPE now has premises in the South Wing of the Grand Palais, along the Cours la Reine, opposite Pont Alexandre III. Spread over an area of 500 square metres on two levels, journalists have at their disposal a press room equipped with 24 computers, at garden level, and a vast area, with a friendly atmosphere, consisting of a room for press conferences, accommodating 60 people, and a bar serving light snacks, on the ground floor.
CAPE operates as a public interest group, this type of structure being conducive to partnerships with professional associations of journalists, the media and public authorities.
Ruggero de Pas, the Chairperson, and Michel Polacco, the Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Directors, are well known personalities from journalistic circles.

The Director, François Descoueyte, and the Secretary General, Christian Habonneau, have been seconded to CAPE by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Ministry of the Economy, Industry and Employment respectively.

To receive journalists and organise press conferences and events

1. The first mission of CAPE is to receive foreign correspondents who have recently been assigned to Paris and foreign journalists who come to “cover” a special event or investigate a particular aspect of national life. It also welcomes French journalists with an interest in the national, European and international issues presented and discussed during the press conferences at CAPE. The Centre is at their disposal to give them any advice they may need and inform them about the various sources of information offered by government services and public authorities, as well as the main economic, social, cultural and tourist institutions.

CAPE receives every day around 40 journalists of all nationalities and specialised in different fields, who come to the Centre to work. Whether they meet at a press conference, one of the working areas or at the bar, CAPE is the ideal place for exchanges between information professionals.

2. The second mission of the Centre is to organise press conferences given by French or foreign personalities on all current national or international issues. The Centre also hosts occasional meetings or assemblies of foreign press associations based in France or players in the information sector, and provides an informal and friendly setting for meetings and discussions between journalists.

Since its creation, CAPE has organised over 2,000 press conferences and debates on major national and international affairs, including international tensions and conflicts, the future of Europe, French politics, defence and strategy issues, economic and social questions, globalisation, protection of the environment, activities of NGOs, reports of international organisations, sustainable development, major cultural and sporting events, etc.
Speakers are frequently decision-makers from the political and economic world, personalities from civil society, heads of NGOs, designers, sports champions and writers, as well as leading analysts, observers and experts.

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS: WHAT CAPE CAN OFFER THEM

On presentation of a press card from a foreign media, journalists can make use of a press room from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays*.
Available equipment and facilities :
24 computers with access to Internet
Wi-Fi access
Special work posts for journalists working in Arabic, Russian, Spanish or English
Agence France Presse link
A documentation area for consulting the national and international press

* Opening hours may change during the month of August or on the eve of certain public holidays

A COMMUNICATION CENTRE FOR THE FRENCH AND FOREIGN PRESS

CAPE is ideally located as a meeting place for French and foreign journalists, and offers a full range of services and equipment to organise your meetings with the national and international media.
Our premises are equipped with high-performance professional material to optimise the comfort and efficiency of your participation during your private meetings or encounters with the press.
CAPE is easy to reach thanks to the location of its premises in the Grand Palais at the Champs Elysées, (M° Champs-Elysées-Clémenceau).

CAPE can organise your meetings with the press and place at your disposal:
A press officer
An up-to-date list of the French and foreign press
Distribution of invitations to the press by electronic mail to more than 5,000 contacts
An announcement of your event on our site, www.capefrance.com
A reception service for participants
Audio and video recording of your event
Publication of photos or video excerpts on the site www.capefrance.com as soon as the press conference is over

Press officers
Lucile Marbeau	Tel: +33 (0)1 53 76 90 73	lucile.marbeau@capefrance.com
Marie-Christine de Lavergne	Tel: +33 (0)1 53 76 90 74	marie-christine.delavergne@capefrance.com

PREMISES FOR PRIVATE EVENTS

CAPE can also host events of a private nature or your internal meetings. The person responsible for Special Events at the Centre is at your disposal to organise various aspects of your event (welcome of participants, audio and/or video recording, technical requirements, cocktail party or light meal, etc).

Head of special events
Cyril Bourdelin	Tél: 01 53 76 90 75	cyril.bourdelin@capefrance.com

FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT

Conference room with a seating capacity for 70 participants
a prestigious auditorium of 100 places
a bar / reception area
a press room equipped with 24 computers with Internet access at the disposal of journalists
MP3 recording
rostrum equipped with standing microphones
2 HF microphones
2 plasma screens
projections
DV recording