Press
Thank you for your interest in covering the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). The following policies and guidelines have been prepared for news media covering the meeting. If you have any questions regarding policies, press room operations, or available resources, please contact the AACR press room staff. We look forward to working with you.
AACR provides complimentary registration to professional journalists representing media organizations for the express purpose of gathering news and information to produce editorial coverage of the meeting.
The AACR Annual Meeting is open to representatives of print, broadcast and Internet general interest media and healthcare trade media. To register as press, journalists must present media identification or a business card issued by a recognized news organization or publication. Freelance journalists must present a letter of assignment on letterhead from a recognized news organization or publication, and a business card.
Journalists working for medical publishing companies must have appropriate press credentials (i.e., proof of an editorial assignment) in order to register and the publication must meet the following criteria:
- The publication must have a regular editorial news section
- Must have multiple sponsors (no single-sponsor publications)
- Must have complete editorial freedom from their sponsors
- Exhibitors will not be allowed to register as press unless they can provide proof of an editorial assignment
Journalists reporting for online media outlets who wish to register as press must work for news-making organizations that meet the following criteria:
- The website must provide original, editorial news coverage
- Editorial content must be independent of advertising and sponsorship
- Advertising on the website must be clearly identifiable as such
- Any sponsors of the website should be clearly identified as such and should be multiple in number (i.e., no single-sponsored websites)
Journalists who are pre-registered and journalists who plan to register on-site should proceed to the AACR Information Booth on the main floor of the Convention Center. Advise the booth attendant who will arrange for an escort to take you to the press room to register and receive press credentials. Photo identification required.
Press Room location: Room 1A.
Registered journalists must wear press badges when attending the meeting and/or when covering AACR-sponsored events.
All of the scientific sessions of the AACR Annual Meeting are open to registered press as are receptions noted in the program.
Camera crews filming in meeting areas other than the press room or news briefing room must be accompanied at all times by an AACR press room staff member.
In some cases, a scientist presenting data that are soon to be published by a scientific journal may be unable to provide additional information to the news media because of pre-publication constraints imposed by the journal. In these instances, AACR press room staff members can provide assistance in identifying and setting up interviews with independent experts who are able to provide comment on the subject.
AACR reserves the right to bar from this and future meetings any journalist who deliberately promotes the viewpoint of one company or institution, or who attempts to solicit manuscripts, advertising, or subscriptions from registrants or exhibitors.
Other Attendees
Public information officers of educational institutions and government agencies are welcome to register as press. A completed press registration form and a business card must be presented to obtain a badge.
Representatives of marketing, advertising, public relations and medical education companies or companies producing print or electronic materials for these purposes are not permitted to register as press and are not permitted in the press room. Advertising sales representatives, marketing professionals, publishers and others must register through the AACR meetings office and pay the required registration fee regardless of affiliation with a journalism organization.
Researchers presenting data at an AACR press briefing are permitted to invite two company and/or institution representatives to attend the briefing. Those representatives must contact the AACR press room staff in advance of the briefing to obtain proper credentials. Guests of press briefing participants may not engage in promotional discussions during briefings or inside the briefing room. Only accredited media may ask questions. Guests of presenters may not approach media in the press conference. Company representatives may not pass out literature, statements or news releases in adjacent hallways and areas around the news conference room.
Photographers or camera crews hired by the aforementioned representatives or exhibitors must obtain permission from AACR to conduct any on-site photo or video shoots during the Annual Meeting.
Press Materials and Embargoes
Press kits are available only for members of the press; others are advised to visit the AACR website, www.aacr.org.
An area in the press room will be designated for non-AACR news releases (e.g., those provided by institutions, exhibitors, or industry).
Only press materials - not promotional materials - will be allowed in the press room.
These press materials must specifically pertain to scientific research presented at the AACR meeting. Each release will be reviewed by AACR press room staff to ensure they include the required information. These releases will not be endorsed by the AACR and will be so designated.
Correct usage of "AACR" abbreviation or full name, American Association for Cancer Research, is required in all non-AACR issued press releases.
Press releases about data released during the meeting should state that the data "was presented during the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research."
All news releases regarding presentations made at the AACR Annual Meeting must indicate that they are embargoed for release at the time the data are presented at the AACR meeting.
Reporters, producers and editors agree to the embargoes and release times stated on the news releases, the news conference schedule and other materials. Failure to abide by the embargoes will result in suspension of credentials, which will affect attendance at the current and future conferences and ability to receive advance press materials. All data presented at the AACR meeting is embargoed for the beginning of its presentation time or an official AACR press conference, whichever occurs first.
The AACR permits companies and individuals presenting data at the Annual Meeting or other designated meetings to conduct unofficial press events during the course of the meeting provided they meet all of the following criteria:
- All unofficial media events must be registered through the AACR Office of Communications & Public Relations. Prior to scheduling a press event, organizers must present to the AACR a statement of purpose, a proposed agenda and an anticipated attendee list.
- Media events may not be held on-site at the meeting location.
- Media events may not be held during official AACR meeting hours.
- Media events promoting data to be presented at an AACR meeting must occur post-embargo. Embargoes lift at date/time of scientific presentation or AACR press briefing, whichever comes first.
- Organizers of unofficial press briefings must make clear in their press materials that the media activity is not an official press briefing of the AACR Annual Meeting or other scientific meeting. Press materials about data released during the meeting must state that the data "were presented during the Annual Meeting (or other meeting) of the American Association for Cancer Research."
- All existing policies regarding press materials and embargoes apply.
- Pursuant to Board policy, the AACR does not permit any competing educational programming or satellite symposia during the Annual Meeting.
AACR does not make available press registration lists.
Violation of AACR Policies
The AACR reserves the right to bar, from this and future annual meetings, any registered media who attempt to obtain advertising or subscription from any exhibitor or registrant, who deliberately promote the marketing objectives of a single company or institution, or who misuse media privileges to engage in activities other than journalistic pursuits.
If a company violates any of the above polices, AACR reserves the right to prevent the company from participating as an exhibitor in future years.
For information prior to and after the AACR Annual Meeting, contact:
Emma O'Brien
Communications Department Staff Assistant
615 Chestnut Street, 17th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19106-3483
Telephone: (215) 440-9300
Fax: (215) 440-9319
E-mail:
emma.obrien@aacr.org
*Please note that smoking is not permitted in meeting areas, including the AACR press room, or at other AACR events.