Alain Leiblang, the Frenchman overseeing media operations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, revealed at the AIPS Congress in Baku that journalists covering the tournament would need to budget between $10,000 and $15,000 to do so effectively. This cost—5 to 7 million CFA francs—covers essentials such as accommodation, catering, and transportation, despite free internet (Wi-Fi) being provided at venues.
Leiblang also emphasized the responsibility of accredited journalists to attend, warning that absenteeism could result in reduced accreditation quotas or total exclusion for future tournaments. This concern follows the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where 20 to 30% of accredited journalists failed to show up, representing a significant investment loss.
In total, 16,000 individuals are expected to be accredited for Brazil 2014, including:
3,500 from the written press
900 photojournalists
Approximately 12,000 technicians and other media professionals
