2022 Media Policy and Credentials

Media Policy

• Press credentials are reserved for working media from accredited organizations attending the SfN event for the purpose of editorial coverage. To expedite registration, review the required credentials at the bottom of this page. Press credentials are provided at SfN’s discretion and do not indicate SfN endorsement. All decisions are final.
• Public dissemination of information and data included in abstracts submitted for the SfN event is embargoed until the beginning of the virtual, live, or press conference presentation, whichever comes first. All embargoes lift at the conclusion of the event’s in-person programming. Advance promotion of general topics, speakers, or presentation times is permitted and encouraged.
• Photography, video, and audio recording by credentialed media are permitted during press conferences or in the Press Interview Room (in-person events only). All other recordings during the event, including virtual poster and exhibit content, must adhere to the SfN Photography & Recording Policy. 
• Credentialed media must introduce themselves to event attendees as a member of the press before requesting an interview or recording research data. Event attendees must explicitly approve the recording of their data, limited to uses described under a Creative Commons Attribution + Noncommercial + ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. All requests by event attendees to not record and/or publish data must be honored. 
• (In-person events only) In order for non-SfN press releases to be distributed in the SfN Press Room, they must be directly related to science being presented at the meeting and are under embargo for release until the start of the presentation. Press releases and related materials may be accepted at SfN's discretion and do not indicate SfN endorsement. All decisions are final. 
• SfN does not share, rent, or distribute media registration information. 
• Credentialed media who violate the Media Policy will have their media privileges revoked. 
  
   

Credentials

Press credentials are reserved for working media engaged in reporting and distributing information directly to the general public. Event exhibitors, scientists, non-news journal staff, and representatives of sales, advertising, public relations, or marketing firms are ineligible for press credentials. 

Submit credential requests and accompanying verification documents to mediareg@sfn.org. All credentialed attendees for in-person events must provide a valid photo ID on site.

Freelance Writers

Freelance writers must provide:

• A letter of assignment from a news outlet that engages in reporting and distributing information directly to the general public or two recent bylined articles from a news organization. 
• Documentation of active membership from a professional journalist organization (e.g., membership card, letter confirming active membership).

Journalism Professors and Students

Journalism professors must send a letter on official letterhead indicating their intention to accompany students as part of a class activity. Send the letter to mediareg@sfn.org at least two weeks before the event. For in-person events, professors must bring valid photo identification and a copy of the letter on site. 

Journalism students must send a letter on official letterhead from a professor indicating they will attend the event as part of a class activity. Send the letter to mediareg@sfn.org at least two weeks before the event. For in-person events, students must bring valid photo identification and a copy of the letter on site. 

Journal News Staff

Journal news staff must provide:

• A current publication masthead, editorial page, or business card listing applicant name and title of journal. 
• A recent bylined article indicating the applicant as a staff editor, writer, reporter, or regular contributor.

Media

Media must provide:

• A current publication masthead or editorial page listing applicant's name and editorial title (e.g., staff editor, writer, reporter, regular contributor), or a recent bylined article, or a business card listing applicant's name, title, and address of the media outlet.

Public Information Officers

Public information officers and writers must submit:

• Documentation of active membership from a professional journalist organization (e.g., membership card, letter confirming active membership), a current publication masthead showing applicant's name and title (i.e., public information officer, news director), a business card that notes applicant's name, title, and address, or a recent bylined article indicating the applicant is a staff editor or writer.

Bloggers/ Podcast owners and Youtubers

Bloggers/ Podcast owners and Youtubers must provide:

• A current publication masthead or editorial page listing applicant's name and editorial title (e.g., host, producer, writer, reporter, regular contributor), or a recent bylined piece of content (e.g. article, podcast, video), or a business card listing applicant's name, title, and address of the content outlet.