For The Media

Location and Admission

Press Desk Services

Spokespersons

Updates and Round Results

Requests for Interviews with Spellers

Broadcast Information

Coverage Rights and Video Cameras

Detailed Competition Schedule

Location and Admission

The 2010 Scripps National Spelling Bee takes place on the Independence Concourse (level 5-B) of the Grand Hyatt Washington, 1000 H Street (10th and H Streets), N.W., in downtown Washington, D.C. The event is not open to the general public.

Press Desk Services

Members of our staff will be stationed at our Press Desk immediately outside the Grand Hyatt Washington's Independence Ballroom during the hours of competition on June 3 and 4. The Press Desk phone number is 202-­­­239-4060.

Spokespersons

Paige P. Kimble is the director of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. She will be available to answer questions before and after Bee Week as well as during Bee Week when the competition is not in session. Paige is the 1981 national champion, and she has served the program in various capacities since 1984. Before June 1 and after June 5, Paige may be contacted by phone (513-977-3040), by fax (513-977-3803), and by e-mail (bee@scripps.com). Between June 1 and June 5, Paige may be reached by calling the Press Desk phone number (202-­­­239-4060).

Tim King, vice president of corporate communications and investor relations for the E.W. Scripps Company, will serve as the media liaison during Bee Week. He may be reached June 1 through June 5 by calling the Press Desk phone number (202-­­­239-4060).

Updates and Round Results

Round results will be posted to www.spellingbee.com in real time on June 3 and 4. Members of the media who are on site and need a report urgently should visit the Press Desk for a results printout from the Internet. Members of our Press Desk can also provide a phone update (202-239-4060).

Requests for Interviews with Spellers

Corrie E. Loeffler, project manager for the Bee, serves as interview coordinator for the champion. Corrie's e-mail address is corrie.loeffler@scripps.com. Her phone number before June 1 and after June 5 is 513-977-3040. Her phone number between June 1 and June 5 is 202-­­­239-4060.

During Bee Week—from May 31 to June 5—members of the media who desire an interview with a speller (not the champion) should call the Grand Hyatt Washington (202-582-1234) and ask to be connected to the speller's room. Also, spellers may be found in or near the Independence Ballroom during competition hours.

Broadcast Information

• The Preliminaries: Round Three airs live on ESPN3 from 1:15 to 5:15 p.m. EDT on Thursday, June 3.
• The Semifinals air live on ESPN from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, June 4.
• The Championship Finals air live on ABC from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, June 4.

Coverage Rights and Video Cameras

ESPN and ABC hold exclusive live-coverage rights for all competition hours on Friday, June 4. Absolutely no personal video cameras and no television video cameras—other than ESPN's and ABC's—will be allowed in the Independence Ballroom for the ABC live broadcast. Click here to access a copy of ESPN's Advance Notice of Potential Infringement.

Detailed Competition Schedule