Press Policy for the AHA Annual Meeting
Note: If you are looking for past AHA press releases, please visit this page.
Press Credentials
Representatives of local or national newspapers (including local student newspapers); reporters for wire services; TV and radio reporters, producers, and crews; and representatives of news-oriented web sites are eligible for gratis press registration. When signing in, members of the press should present an official press badge, a business card with their name and title and the name of their employer, or an original copy of a masthead with their name on it. Freelance journalists are welcome, but should provide a letter from an assignment editor or evidence that they have written two recent articles on a related topic.
Policy for Filming or Recording Sessions
As a general rule the AHA does not allow audio or video recording of sessions or events without advance written permission from each participant on a session or event. Permission must be obtained prior to recording, not after the fact.
Journalists should contact the chair of the session or moderator of the event, either via e-mail or through the onsite messaging center, and ask the chair to assist in contacting participants for permission. The AHA does not have a sample release form to grant permission; a written e-mail exchange would suffice. Evidence of permission must be supplied to the AHA upon request.
AHA staff cannot release room numbers, hotel information, and/or cell phone numbers for participants in the meeting or officers of the American Historical Association. Journalists should therefore leave ample time to contact participants before the scheduled start of the session.
Official meetings of the Association, such as the General Meeting and open forums, are open to attendance by the press. Advance, written permission is required to audio and/or video record these events. Press should contact the executive director in writing (e-mail is acceptable) prior to the start of the annual meeting (Thursday, 12 noon). Onsite requests will not be granted.
In order to encourage open debate and allow members to speak as freely as possible, the AHA does not permit audio and/or video recording of its Business Meeting.
Sound and Electric
Journalists requiring electrical access, lighting, or use of the sound system are responsible for their own audio-visual costs and must order directly from the in-house vendor. Vendors may require a credit card to secure the order.
The AHA does not order microphones for all sessions. Journalists may not be able to patch in to house sound in certain meeting rooms. Journalists with further questions should contact the venue directly.
Last Updated: June 18, 2007 2:08 PM