Press Information

Welcome to the Virtual Press Room for the 58th Annual Meeting of The American Society of Human Genetics, and thank you for your interest in covering this year’s meeting! The 2008 ASHG Annual Meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 to Saturday, November 15, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Philadelphia Convention Center.

The 2008 ASHG meeting will feature scientific sessions and press briefings on a diverse range of topics related to human genetics and genomics, and it is expected to be one of the Society’s most highly attended annual meetings to date (with an average of 5,000+ attendees each year). At this year’s annual meeting, the world’s top genetics experts will present information about the latest scientific advances in basic, translational, and clinical human genetics research and technology, as well as address the important educational and social issues related to the field.

Please see the links below for our press guidelines and policies, 2008 meeting events schedule, scientific program and press briefing topics, media materials, and other information related to press coverage at the 2008 Annual Meeting:
 

ASHG Web site Newsroom

The ASHG 2008 Annual Meeting is open to print, online and broadcast news media, science/health trade media, and freelance writers on a verifiable assignment from an established news source. Complimentary meeting registration will be available to members of the media who provide appropriate identification.

Members of the press are advised to register early for the 2008 meeting, however, we will continue to offer onsite press registration as well. By registering early, your press badge and other materials will be mailed to you prior to the meeting. Please note that all onsite press registrants will still be required to provide proper media identification/credentials to ASHG Press Office staff before receiving a press badge to access meeting events.
 

ASHG Press Room Location & Hours*:

Philadelphia Convention Center Floor Plan/Map (PDF)

*Hours subject to change
 

Press Room Amenities

• ASHG press kit materials, 2008 conference programs and meeting schedules

• Workspace for reporters (with wireless internet access and phones)

• Complimentary muffins, lunch, coffee and soft drinks daily

• Exhibitor literature and press materials

How to Pre-Register

The ASHG 2008 Annual Meeting is open to print, online and broadcast news media, all health, medical and science reporters, and freelance writers on a verifiable assignment from an established news source. Complimentary meeting registration will be available to qualified members of the media who provide appropriate press credentials and identification. We encourage all press who are interested in attending the ASHG 2008 Annual Meeting to register in advance by completing the online press registration application form.

All approved, credentialed members of the media who have pre-registered for the 2008 meeting must check-in at the ASHG Press Office and pick up their official press badge and media materials immediately upon arrival at the Philadelphia Convention Center (Note: The ASHG Press Office is located on the third floor of the Convention Center in Room #304). Please note that 2008 press badges will NOT be mailed to you ahead of time, however, media attendees will still receive electronic copies of all embargoed press releases via e-mail in early November, before the week of the ASHG 2008 meeting. All other media kit materials can be found on the Annual Meeting Web site at: http://www.ashg.org/2008meeting/pages/press.shtml.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR PRESS CREDENTIALS (e.g., a business card) AND SOME FORM OF PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION (e.g., a passport or driver’s license) WITH YOU TO THE ASHG 2008 ANNUAL MEETING SITE! You must provide these items to the ASHG Press Office staff to obtain your official 2008 press badge, which you will need in order to attend all sessions and be granted access the Philadelphia Convention Center during the dates of the meeting.

The ASHG 2008 meeting online press registration application form must be completed no later than November 5, 2008. After this date, journalists who wish to attend this year’s meeting must register onsite (for details, see section below).
 

Registering Onsite

Journalists who wish to register on-site should proceed to the ASHG Press Office (Room #304) in the Philadelphia Convention Center. Upon displaying proper identification (see below), members of the press will be issued a badge and receive all relevant media materials.
 

Exhibit Hall Information

Publications, electronics, laboratory equipment and accessories, computer software and other products and services of interest to human genetics professionals will be on display in Exhibit Hall C of the Pennsylvania Convention Center at the following dates/times:

Refreshments will be served in the Exhibit Hall during scheduled poster sessions each day. If you are interested in exhibiting at the meeting, please visit the 2008 Exhibitor Prospectus Web site.

Opportunity for 2008 Exhibitors to Host Onsite Press Events

ATTENTION ALL 2008 MEETING EXHIBITORS:

If you are interested in hosting a press briefing for your organization in ASHG’s new “sponsored” Press Room (located next to the official ASHG Press Office in the Philadelphia Convention Center), please contact Kristen Long at klong@ashg.org.

Any other outside press events (i.e., media-related events that have not been arranged or approved by the ASHG Press Office) will NOT be permitted onsite at the Convention Center during the Annual Meeting.

Exhibitor Requests to Utilize Press Room

Exhibitors may leave press materials on a table at the entrance of the ASHG Press Room that will be designated for non-ASHG news releases (such as those provided by institutions, federal agencies or exhibiting companies). These press materials must pertain to scientific research presented at the ASHG meeting.

Please note that ASHG does not approve or endorse individual exhibitors' promotional activities or the information that they intend to disseminate or present onsite at the ASHG 2008 Annual Meeting.

About ASHG

Founded in 1948, The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) is the primary professional membership organization for human genetics specialists worldwide. The nearly 8,000 members of ASHG include researchers, academicians, clinicians, laboratory practice professionals, genetic counselors, nurses and others involved in or with a special interest in human genetics.

The Society’s mission is to serve research scientists, health professionals and the public by providing forums to: (1) share research results through the Annual Meeting and in The American Journal of Human Genetics; (2) advance genetic research by advocating for research support; (3) educate future professionals, health care providers, politicians, educators, students and the general public about all aspects of human genetics; and (4) promote genetic services and support responsible social and scientific policies.

Contact Information

Please contact Kristen Long, ASHG Communications Manager, with all press registration and general media relations inquiries, or to schedule and interview with speakers at the 2008 ASHG Annual Meeting.

Kristen H. Long, M.A.
ASHG Communications Manager
E-mail: klong@ashg.org
Work: 301-634-7346
Cell: 240-281-2386

*Please note: ASHG does not release its current or past press registration lists.