Eligibility for Press Credentials at AAS & Division Meetings

Complimentary registration for AAS & Division meetings (except where published Division policies differ from the following) is available to working press, as defined below. A press badge provides priority access to news briefings, access to all sessions and activities open to paid registrants, quiet space in the interview room, and working space in the press room. Complimentary press registration is not available for pre-meeting workshops with separate registration fees.

Who is eligible for complimentary press registration?

  • Journalists who are employed by bona fide media organizations.

    Required credentials: press card or business card clearly showing your media affiliation and position; letter of introduction from an editor of a recognized publication in any print, broadcast, or electronic medium; OR sample of relevant bylined work published within the last three years.

  • Freelance science writers/editors/producers, including documentary filmmakers, internet science communicators, and content producers for museum or planetarium news services.

    Required credentials: current membership card from NASW or one of its regional affiliates, SWCC, or ISWA; letter from an editor of a recognized publication assigning you to attend the meeting; OR sample of relevant bylined work published within the last three years.

  • Public-information officers (PIOs) of recognized scientific societies, educational institutions, government agencies, and ground- or space-based observatories.

    Required credentials: business card clearly showing your position, such as science writer or editor, public-affairs officer, or public-information specialist; letter of introduction from a cognizant supervisor; OR recent sample of relevant material distributed to the press, such as a news release or media advisory, on which you are listed as a media contact.

  • Journalism students and interns.

    Required credentials: letter of introduction from a college or university professor or an editor of a recognized publication assigning you to attend the meeting.

  • Publishers and literary agents who are not exhibiting but are sponsoring receptions or other activities exclusively for press registrants.

    Required credentials: prior arrangement of your reception or other activity with the AAS Press Officer.

Which paid registrants are eligible for press privileges?

  • Meeting attendees who communicate with the public but whose primary occupation is scientific research and/or education, not science journalism, may be granted press privileges if they meet the above qualifications but will not receive complimentary registration.
  • Public-information officers, publishers, and literary agents who are attending the meeting as exhibitors and whose exhibitor fee has already covered either full or exhibit-hall-only registration may be granted press privileges if they meet the above qualifications.

Who is not eligible for complimentary AAS press registration?

  • Except as noted above, scientists, educators, students, editors of scientific journals and astronomy-club newsletters, advertising or marketing professionals, and representatives of for-profit corporations, special-interest or political-advocacy groups, and the management or business side of scientific societies, educational institutions, government agencies, or media organizations must pay to register, regardless of possession of any of the credentials listed above.
  • As noted in the AAS abstract instructions, first authors of oral or poster presentations must pay to register for the meeting. In most cases this applies even if the presenting author would otherwise be eligible for complimentary press registration as noted above.

Granting of press registration or press privileges for a meeting of the AAS or one of its Divisions, either in advance or on site, is at the discretion of AAS Press Officer, Dr. Susanna Kohler (+1 202-328-2010 x127), or the appropriate Division press officer. Contact Kohler to request press credentials for the next AAS meeting or to request clarification of any of the above policies.