Media relations: Global Affairs Canada

On this page

• Submitting a media request
• Guidelines for engagement with GAC officials
• After-hours requests
• Members of the media
• Media accreditation for events hosted by the Government of Canada
• Consular case inquiries
• Written media responses
• Interviews
• Definitions
• Questions and answers about GAC’s media accreditation

Submitting a media request

Members of the media can contact the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) media relations team at media@international.gc.ca. The inbox is monitored during regular business hours: 9 am to 5 pm ET from Monday to Friday.

In your email, please include:

• the subject of your inquiry and any specific questions for GAC
• the name of the media organization for which you are working (or the intended outlet of publication, if you are a freelance journalist)
• your deadline and/or the date and time of publication or broadcast

If you are not a member of the media and looking for information about GAC initiatives or services, you can get information via the department’s:

• social media accounts
  • These provide timely and reliable information about GAC’s activities, programs and services
• website
  • This has more information about GAC’s programs, services and policies
• Email: info@international.gc.ca

Guidelines for engagement with GAC officials

The GAC media relations team welcomes inquiries from members of the media and is committed to providing timely and accurate information. We ask that all interactions be conducted in a respectful and professional tone.

After-hours requests

Urgent requests

In the event of international emergencies, such as natural disasters, accidents or other major incidents affecting the safety of Canadian citizens abroad, all urgent requests will be addressed as soon as possible

Non-urgent requests

Requests sent outside of regular business hours will be acknowledged on the next business day.

Members of the media

The media relations team responds to requests for media services and provides media accreditation for members of the media who meet the criteria similar to the qualified journalism organization designation in the Income Tax Act.

Global Affairs Canada receives a significant number of media requests from Canadian and international media outlets, public relations firms, independent journalists and opinion leaders.

The media relations team must be satisfied that members of the media making a request are professionals who represent media organizations that produce original news content and adhere to journalistic processes and principles.

The media relations team responds to media requests and provides accreditation for:

• students enrolled in a full-time accredited journalism program (Canadian or international) and
• members of the media representing an organization that:
  • has a current designation by the Minister of Finance as a qualified Canadian journalism organization as defined under the Income Tax Act; or
  • meets the following criteria:
    • is engaged in the production of original news content, which:
      • must be primarily focused on matters of general interest and reports of current events, including coverage of democratic institutions and processes and
      • must not be primarily focused on a particular topic such as industry-specific news, sports, recreation, arts, lifestyle or entertainment and
      • is produced based on journalistic process, ethics and principles
    • regularly employs two or more journalists who deal at arm’s length with the organization in the production of its content and
    • is not significantly engaged in the production of content:
      • to promote the interests, or report on the activities, of an organization, an association or its members, or
      • for a government, Crown corporation or government agency

Media accreditation for events hosted by the Government of Canada

Members of the media are accredited in a consistent and fair way, with a view to ensuring a well-managed event. Journalists who want to attend events hosted by the Government of Canada can apply for media accreditation.

Revocation of accreditation

Activities of accredited members of the media must not disturb the safety, security and order of an event. Accreditation and access to an event, and any related facilities, are granted on the condition that members of the media will operate in accordance with the policies established by GAC to ensure the proper functioning of the event, the media centre and any related facilities. GAC reserves the right to revoke the accreditation if an accredited member of the media fails to comply with any of these policies.

If, for any reason, there is a breach of the representations made in the application provided or if an individual misrepresents themself, GAC reserves the right to revoke the accreditation.

Consular case inquiries

GAC is committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of Canadians and is subject to restrictions on the disclosure of personal information under the Privacy Act and other applicable legislation. As such, GAC is limited in the information it can share publicly about consular cases.

If you are seeking general information about consular services or your own case, contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre for 24/7 consular assistance.

Canadian citizens can also submit a request under the Access to Information Act.

Use the Open Government Portal to find statistical data.

Written media responses

When a response is provided by the media relations team, it can be attributed to the official by name and title.

Interviews

Interview parameters must be agreed upon beforehand with a GAC official. Once all parties are clear on how the information may be used or attributed, the interview can begin.

Definitions

On the record

Information may be quoted directly and attributed to the official by name and title.

On background

The official’s remarks may be quoted directly or paraphrased. Attribution can be made to a “Global Affairs Canada (GAC) official” or “senior official,” as determined by GAC.

Off the record

Nothing of what the journalist is told may be used in the story. The information is meant only for awareness.

Questions and answers about GAC’s media accreditation

Global Affairs Canada’s criteria for members of the media - Question and answers