HFPA invites all media to cover Globes

HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- The Hollywood Foreign Press Association said there will be no restrictions regarding what media outlets can cover Sunday's Golden Globes press conference.

HFPA President Jorge Camara said the organization will have "complete control" of its 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards announcement Sunday in the International Ballroom of The Beverly Hilton.

The foreign press association's announcement came after discussions with NBC, the network originally slated to broadcast the Globes ceremony.

"Under the new arrangement, there will be no restrictions placed on media outlets covering the press conference," said a statement posted on the HFPA Web site.

The HFPA, which hands out the awards, had been working with NBC to find a way to orchestrate and broadcast the event, so Hollywood stars could attend.

However, the Screen Actors Guild announced its members would not cross a Writers Guild of America picket line to get into the gala.

The WGA, which has been on strike since Nov. 5, threatened to picket the ceremony if it is televised by NBC, a struck network.

The HFPA scrapped the telecast and gala, and said it would announce the winners of its awards at a news conference open to all media.

"In light of this change to the program, the WGA gave the HFPA our assurances that there would be no picket of their press conference on Sunday," the WGA West said in a statement Friday.