The members of the Media Team volunteer to assist press, filmmakers, photographers and other members of the media in the endeavor to document the cultural story of Black Rock City and Burning Man.
Our motley band of reporters, marketers, sociologists, technical writers, artists, anthropologists, clowns, film geeks, and rock stars help prepare journalists for the Burning Man experience, and uphold registration and acculturation processes designed to make media-makers’ impact on Black Rock City and its citizens a positive one.
WHAT WE DO
We stay busy year-round, as well as at the event — providing education on the history, culture and general information about Burning Man, and introducing these storytellers at the event to the people and the stories that they’re after. Often we spend our time explaining the nuances of Burning Man’s unique cultural prohibitions regarding the commodification of the event, and the expectations for the utmost respect for our participants’ self-expression and privacy.
Pre-playa, the Media Team educates and registers media outlets, even turning some projects away, in order to limit the number of cameras in Black Rock City, something which negatively affects the experience of Burning Man participants. On playa, the Team runs Media Mecca, Black Rock City’s home for storytellers, photographers, and moviemakers – a space which serves to connect media and press with artists, organizers and participants.
At Mecca, registered Media can plug into story leads, find out what’s going on around town, charge up camera batteries, have a cool drink, ask questions, and connect with organizers and fellow filmmakers, shooters, and writers also covering Burning Man. Our friendly Media Team volunteers can point you in the direction of participants who might be from your region, for example, or connect you with artists whose profile fits your story’s angle. Sometimes, we can even verify whether that playa rumor you heard is actually true.
WHAT WE DON’T DO
The Burning Man culture grows by word-of-mouth, and by nurturing the interests of individuals who find themselves drawn to the event, rather than by outward-facing efforts to attract publicity.
Other things we don’t do: baby you, coddle you, pitch you canned story ideas, or drive you around Black Rock City on a golf cart. We don’t have a place for you to camp and, no, we do not have WIFI.
HOURS OF OPERATION AND LOCATION
Media Mecca is open daily from 10AM (ish) to 5PM (ish), beginning on the Sunday prior to the event. Though we occasionally host some casual hours in the evening for those who need a little help or a spot to chill after the sun’s gone down, there are no guarantees. We only process registrations/contracts during the daytime, so please, don’t arrive after 5PM expecting to check your camera in.
When you arrive at Black Rock City’s Greeter’s Station, which is just past the Gate, tell your Greeters you’re a member of the media. They’ll give you directions to Media Mecca. Remember, you MUST have your cameras tagged BEFORE you begin filming any portion of your project at the event.
Media Mecca is conveniently located in Center Camp, on the 9 o’clock side of the Center Camp Ring. Once at Media Mecca, we’ll gladly give you an orientation about life in Black Rock City, a cold beverage to cool you down and a shaded place to chill out when the temperature tops 100 degrees.