Thank you for your interest in becoming press for Kumoricon! We aim to attract a wide variety of outlets to receive the best coverage for our event. Please take a look at our policies before applying to make sure your press outlet fits what we are looking for.

Kumoricon 2015 Press Application (Important: Badges and membership are subject to guidelines and policies below.)

Press Privileges

If approved for a press badge, you and your outlet will be provided the following:

• Complimentary weekend membership to Kumoricon. (Number per outlet may vary.)
• Guaranteed seating in select panels.
• Notification and entry into any qualifying press conferences.
• Early admittance to qualifying events. (Check with Press Office for details.)
• Access to private interview and photography areas, if available.
• Access to press seating areas, if available.

Guidelines

• Press members must identify themselves to staff by making their badge visible when entering event spaces.
• Any member of press must be age 18 or over to qualify for a press badge. Exceptions can be made with proper documentation.
• Photos of specific merchandise requires explicit approval from the exhibitor or artist.
• Use of flash photography must be approved at each event individually.
• Must abide by the attendee code of conduct, except as contradicted by press policies.

Types of Press

While Kumoricon welcomes a wide variety of press outlets, we do have some requirements that must be met in order to qualify for a press badge. If your type of press is not listed, you may still apply, and we will determine your eligibility based on the information you provide. Also note that meeting these minimum qualifications does not guarantee approval of your application.

Local/National News, Television, Radio Outlets, and Traditional Print

At the time you apply, your news outlet must have been in production for at least a year. This can be online, newspaper, magazines, radio, or television news outlets. You must be able to show us that your news outlet is currently active.

Photographer/Photojournalist

To qualify as a credentialed photographer we require additional qualifications and post-convention coverage. Please contact us for more information.

Freelance Audio/Print

If you are applying for a press badge as a freelance writer, please give us examples of your work. This can be published and unpublished works; please identify which. If you have a presence on the web, that must be linked as well.

News Blogs/Web-Zines

At the time you apply, your blog or web-zine must have been in production for at least a year. This must be updated at least weekly with new content, must be on its own domain name or have a demonstrable high readership, and must be viewable to the general public.

Video Blogger

To qualify for a press badge based on video blogs, you must be an active blogger that has been active for more than a year at the time of applying. You must have at least three video posts a month to be considered active.

Other (Please Explain)

If your press type is not listed here, but you still think you would work well with our event, don't hesitate to apply. There will be a space for your outlet to explain what your medium is, as well as show examples of your work. To qualify for this, we require that you be an active outlet for at least a year and a half at the time of applying. you must have at least six robust examples of your work to be considered. Less may be accepted in special cases.

Registration and Badge Pick-Up

When you arrive at the convention, if you have pre-registered as press, you may pick up your press badge in the Press Room. If you are applying for press at the event, please apply/pick up your pass in the Press Room. We are located in the Hilton, room 331. Without your press badge, you will not have access to the convention. Please wear your badge in a visible location at all times while in convention space or conducting press business.

Please note: A valid photo ID is required for press badge pickup. For identification purposes, each press member can only pick up their own personal badge. Please report lost or missing badges to the Press Room as soon as possible.

The Press Room will be staffed throughout the convention to assist you with any questions you may have. Daily schedules are provided when you pick up your badge, and electronic schedules will be available on the website and in the Guidebook app.

Policies

All press will be held to the same code of conduct that is applied to general attendees (with the exception of photography, access privileges, etc., as listed above). Please review the policies in full at https://www.kumoricon.org/code-of-conduct.

Badges are limited and not all applications will be approved. The number of badges issued to an outlet is at the discretion of the Publicity Director and the Press Room Manager.

Members of a press outlet will receive individual consideration and qualification. If it is found that a badge has been requested under false pretenses, badges for that entire organization will not be approved and/or will be revoked.

To ensure the enjoyment and safety of Kumoricon attendees, Guests of Honor, staff, and other credentialed Press, the Kumoricon Press Room reserves the right to revoke any press badge at any time, for any reason. A press member who has their badge revoked may also, in our sole discretion, be barred from returning to Kumoricon in the future, as press or a general attendee. Examples of behavior that may result in badge revocation include but are not limited to:

• Violation of the Code of Conduct
• Harassing a Guest of Honor
• Bringing non-press into press-only areas without prior permission from Kumoricon.
• Engaging in unprofessional and/or inappropriate behavior, as determined by Kumoricon or venue staff.
• Requesting autographs or sketches outside the normal autograph sessions and/or disobeying the directions of staff manning autograph lines.
• Interfering with attendees' enjoyment of the convention.
• Violation of venue rules or illegal actions not otherwise listed.
• Entering a Press-Free Zone without the permission or accompaniment of a staff member.