Press Badge Rules and Application for Anime Central 2013

Welcome to another exciting year at Anime Central Press!!!

Basic Facts about Anime Central

Anime Central 2013 – May 17th-19th 2013

This is the 16th year of Anime Central and we are very proud to be the Midwest’s largest anime convention as proven year after year! Last year we had over 24,000 attendees join us for the fun and mayhem that is ACen. We are a 3-day convention that runs all day and night; from opening ceremonies to closing, the fun never stops. We have something for everyone, and for every age group & this year we plan to be the best yet with more & new panels, and even better events to attend than ever as we celebrate our “Sweet 16”!

An Anime Central Press Pass is a powerful tool, so in order to prevent Press Passes from accidentally falling into the wrong hands, Anime Central limits the amount of Press Passes any one publication can have, unless a prior agreement was made with the Press Department.

Press Rules and Regulations for Anime Central 2013

At-Convention press registration will be permitted this year at Anime Central, however we do encourage you to pre-register. All registering Press must provide the documentation below upon arrival on-site when obtaining their Press Access Badge. We reserve the right to turn away any person(s) who do not follow our requirements.

Press Application Guidelines
All Press Applicants must provide the following credentials to validate themselves as a legitimate member of the press:

1. Business card
2. Letter of introduction / intent
3. Official request printed on your publication’s letterhead.
4. At least one of the below specified media type requirements:
• Print Media: Please provide two samples of your publication.
• Freelance Press: If you are a freelance writer, journalist, or photographer, please provide copies of your work.
• Student Press: If you are a student covering Anime Central for your school or university, please provide us copies of your publication. Also, submit a letter from your supervising teacher or editor on school/university letterhead, stating that you are covering Anime Central on assignment.
• Web-based Press & Bloggers/Podcasters: Provide an URL for your publication & provide a live link to your statistics page or clearly legible & recent screenshots of your statistics page.
• Broadcast (Radio/ Television) Media: Provide a letter from a producer/editor on company letterhead stating that you are covering Anime Central on assignment. Please see the requirements below if you plan to film.
• Film / Video & Photography*: Submit a demo reel, a list of completed projects or portfolio, & make sure to state the purpose of the filming in your official ‘Letter of Intent’. You MUST have prior approval and additional signed agreements with Anime Central if you are filming or taking video for any other reason than broadcasting, you MUST submit a copy of ALL gathered footage within two (2) weeks of the end of the convention as well as sign a waiver agreeing that your submitted footage can be used in any Anime Central Promotional Materials.
  • If you are intending on shooting documentary work or any non-circulative, non-promotional media (both video & photo), we require you to pay regular attendee badge rates at the time of your registration of your Press Badge.
    Please bring the above items, with you when picking up your Press Pass. Failure to do so may result in denial of your press access. Only one of each of the required credentials is required per group attending however, each individual press member should submit a business card, validating their affiliation with their publication.

Upon Check-In, each registered member will be required to sign up for a minimum of two (2) press sessions with selected guests. A list of guests & times will be made available for you at the time of check-in. You are welcome to sign up for more than what is required. These sessions are made exclusively for members of the Press. Violation of this arrangement may disqualify your request for covering Anime Central in future years. This will be tracked and enforced.

Anime Central prides itself on making guests available to partake in press-only panel sessions, and we hope that you take advantage of these arrangements beyond the required sessions.

We are REQUIRING all final products that are published to be submitted upon their release for archiving, marketing, and quality control assessments (see below). All submissions must be made by July 1st, 2013.

Quality Control Check-ups: Staff will be performing post-convention follow ups with all attending press. Staff will be reviewing all final products to see what services were provided and assess whether or not appropriate coverage was performed in equal to the cost of a convention badge to Anime Central. Number of badges per publication will be a factor in the assessment. Those who are determined as insufficient will have to meet additional criteria in following years to receive a press badge. We are requesting all raw photos & videos for archiving and marketing purposes, in the event that materials are used from your publication, said publication will be appropriately accredited.

NEW for 2013!
Press Registration & badge pick-up will be in the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center near Registration. Registration and Badges will not be available at the Press Room in the hotel.

Press Center Location & Hours:
We are located in the Tech. Center in the lowest level of the Rosemont Hyatt just right of the escalators.
Our hours of operation for 2013:
Thursday: 6pm-8pm
Friday: 9am-8pm
Saturday: 9am-4pm (Closed Early due to Masquerade)
Sunday: 9am- noon

Please follow us on Twitter & our Facebook Group! We will be updating Guests & Events as well as using this to announce any changes or additions with the Press Department.
@PressACEN on Twitter
PressACen on Facebook

Also feel free to discuss releases and information about Press related activities by participating in the Press Forums here

Be sure to sign up (during Press registration) for the Press Release mailing list, so that you will be the first to know when something new is coming in for Anime Central!

Any press registration disputes or questions regarding the operation of the Press Department should be brought to the Department Head or their Assistant Department Head immediately.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Press membership does NOT qualify one for preferential treatment at autograph/sketch sessions.
• Press membership does not qualify a member of the press for preferential treatment at any event over the course of the convention.
• Reserved seating, IF available at various events (see Reserved Seating Policy below), is not guaranteed, and will be in a designated section when available.
• Press sessions will be made for various convention guests and a list will be made available at the convention, please check the Press Room for details. If you have an interest in sessions with specific guests, please make note of it on the form when you register.
• Press badges will only be available for pick up in the Press Room.

Reserved Seating Policy:
Certain Anime Central events are highly attended and space is limited. Depending on the event, locations will be available for the setup of tripods and cameras. Areas are subject to availability, and as such, space is given solely at the discretion of the Anime Central Staffed Room Supervisor. Reserved press seating is provided as a courtesy, and press members are required to follow the guidelines set by Anime Central Programming Staff per each event.

The Masquerade will have limited seating, and press members who do not register in advance for this event in the press office may forfeit the opportunity to have reserved seating.

Video & Audio Recording: ANY Video or Audio Recording for Anime Central Staff-organized events, (such as the Masquerade, fashion show, etc) are not to be uploaded to the internet, or made available to the public, in their entirety. If you wish to use recordings of such events, you must create a highlight clip instead. Any use otherwise is in violation of the Rights held by Anime Central.

Musical Guests: Rights to record Musical Entertainment held at Anime Central are governed by the Label that is representing that entertainer(s) and Anime Central honors their requirements. This information will be made available at the time of pick up of your Press Badges. Violations of any arrangements in regards to our Musical Entertainment Guests are responded to with severe action.

Your Rights & Information: Anime Central does not make public, sell, or distribute your or your companies contact information. Your information is for internal use by Anime Central Management Staff only. However, often times Coverage & Press Sessions by certain guests may request or require you to provide information. Such information can be acquired from you via a sign-in sheet which will be provided at the convention.

ABUSE OF PRESS PRIVILEGES
If abuse of press privileges is reported to the Press Department, such behavior is grounds for having press membership & Anime Central membership revoked. Please conduct yourself responsibly at all times. Violation of any of these arrangements may disqualify requests for covering or attending Anime Central in future years.

If a publication feels that their membership is revoked unjustly, they may discuss it with the Press Department Head. The revocation of a membership is a last resort, and the Press Department will do all they can to be certain that members of the press understand why such actions are necessary and how to avoid them. Please do not hesitate to ask if there is some part of these policies you do not understand.
Press Members may discuss any questions/disputes regarding these policies with the Press Department Head and/or their ADH. If, for some reason, a press member feels that they are not receiving a satisfactory response/solution to their concern, they may contact the Public Relations Section Chief.

Please note: Anime Central reserves the right to modify our rules & regulations at anytime without prior notice, and may deny you a Press Pass for any reason. Submitting the Press Registration Form does not guarantee you a Press Pass for Anime Central. Please be ready to identify yourself at the convention with valid Government Issued I.D.

For further questions, Contact the Press Department Head, at Press-DepartmentHead@ACEN.org

Thank you for reading our Rules and Regulations – you may now submit the Press Registration request form.