2007 Press Room Policies and Guidelines

Welcome to the 2007 ASHG meeting. The Society would like to thank you for your interest in covering the San Diego meeting and hopes it will be a positive experience for you. There will be pre-registration for members of the press but will still continue to have on-site registration as well. By registering early, your badge and other materials will be mailed to you prior to the meeting. However, you would still have to show proper identification once inside the press room. (See guidelines below).

How to pre-register
Contact Jane Nelson, at jnelson@ashg.org at the ASHG Administrative Office in Bethesda, Maryland. She will need to have your name, affiliation, address, telephone number and email address. Pre-registration is free of charge and would have to be requested no later than October 12. Otherwise, you may register on site.

Registering on-site
Journalists who are pre-registered and those who wish to register on site should proceed to the ASHG Press Office (room 24C) of the San Diego Convention Center. With proper identification, those who don’t have a badge will be issued one and will receive all available materials.

What is considered proper identification
Journalists must have a photo ID (driver’s license), media identification or a business card issued by a recognized news organization or publication. Free lance journalists must present a letter of assignment on letterhead from a recognized news organization or publication, and a business card unless prior arrangements have been made.

Who is considered a “member of the press”
The American Society of Human Genetics Annual Meeting is open to print, electronic and internet general interest media and healthcare trade media, freelance writers on a verifiable assignment from an established news source. Exhibitors will not be allowed to register as press unless they can provide proof of an editorial assignment.

Advertising sales representatives, marketing professionals, financial analysts, publishers and others must register through the ASHG meetings office and pay the required registration fee regardless of affiliation with a journalism organization.

Other policies and guidelines

• Registered journalists must wear press badges when attending the meeting.

• All of the scientific sessions of the ASHG Annual Meeting are open to registered press.

• Camera crews filming in meeting areas other than the press room or press interview room must make prior arrangements with the press room staff.

• Filming inside the scientific sessions is prohibited unless special permission has been granted prior to the meeting.

• Filming inside the exhibit area is prohibited unless prior arrangements have been made through the press office.

• Press kits are available only to members of the press.

• An area in the press room will be designated for non-ASHG news releases such as those provided by institutions, exhibitors, or industry. These press materials must pertain to scientific research presented at the ASHG meeting.

• Only press briefings arranged by the ASHG Press Office will be permitted. No other press briefings will be allowed at the Convention Center.

• Embargoes – All scientific information including abstracts, posters, presentations and symposia at the ASHG annual meeting are embargoed until the date and time of presentation. If an abstract is being discussed at an official ASHG press briefing scheduled before the time of presentation, the embargo is lifted at the time of the briefing.

The ASHG Press room will include workspace for reporters (with wireless access and phones), complimentary muffins, lunch, coffee and soft drinks daily.

Please note: ASHG does not make available its current or past press registration lists.