Press Membership Expectations
As a Press Member, you represent yourself, your outlet, and Anime Central. All Press Members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional, respectful manner while attending the convention.
Your Press Membership Badge does not qualify you for preferential treatment at any event over the course of the convention, and Press Members are subject to all stated convention policies. This includes autograph/sketch sessions, live events, etc.
Your Rights & Privacy
An Anime Central Press Membership Badge grants you all rights and privileges given to General Attendees.
Anime Central does not sell or make public our Press Members’ private information. This private information is used internally only to process your application and Press Registration.
Anime Central reserves the right to list your outlet’s name on digital & print material as a member of Press.
Anime Central reserves the right to release your outlet name and point-of-contact information to an Industry or Talent partner on a need-to-know basis, if required for a Press Interview.
For further questions, contact the Press Department Manager at eric.leitzen@acen.org
Badge Pickup & Requirements
Press Membership Badges are not eligible to be mailed and must be picked up in the Registration Hall during the convention. Press Membership badge pickup will begin Thursday evening of the convention and runs through Sunday at noon. Each approved outlet member will be required to pick up their own badge and provide valid government-issued ID at point of pickup.
Your Membership Badge is non-transferrable and non-resellable.
Press Membership Badges must be carried at all times in non-public/badge-access areas of the convention. Without your Press Membership badge, you will not have access to the convention, access early seating where applicable, or the ability to request interviews with Guests.
Press Interviews
Anime Central is proud to facilitate interviews between our Press Members and Guests of Honor, either as individual 1-on-1 interviews, or as larger Press Sessions/moderated interviews. These interviews are exclusive for approved Press and are not open to the public or non-Press attendees of Anime Central.
Interviews are scheduled by prior approval only and require pre-submission of interview questions through our Interview Request form. Approved Press Members will receive a link to the form in their approval email and may submit requests until the form closes (generally 1 week prior to the convention).
Anime Central reserves the right to approve/deny requests and/or questions submitted.
Press Interviews with Guests of Honor may also be subject to specific requirements, such as:
- Moderated interviews (host asks pre-submitted questions)
- Audio recording only
- Video recording for transcription purposes only
- Approved photos only
- Approval of content prior to publishing/posting
Live Event Recording
Rights to record live events such as concerts, performances, panels, or exclusive Previews held at Anime Central are governed by the agents & Labels that represent the Guest(s) of Honor, and Anime Central honors their requirements. (Please be advised that these conditions are subject to change without prior notice.)
A Press Membership Badge does not grant any Press Member or Outlet additional rights to record at a live event, and listed requirements for General Attendees apply to Press as well.
Any requirements for recording at a live event will be made available at the time of Press Membership Badge pick-up, or as information becomes available. Violations of any arrangements in regards to our live event Guests are responded to with disciplinary action up to and including legal action, depending on the infringement.
Publishing & Posting Rights
Video or audio recordings made in public areas around the convention are subject to local laws and building policies.
Video or audio recordings of any Anime Central-sponsored events such as the Masquerade, fashion shows, concerts, etc. may not be made available to the public in their entirety. This includes release to a private or subscriber-based channel like Twitch, Patreon, OnlyFans, etc or live-streaming of an event. Your coverage may use “highlight” or “quote” clips, but any use otherwise is in violation of the Rights held by Anime Central.
Any recording containing audio of third-party content (such as a song, audio track, movie/show clip, etc.) must have audio removed prior to posting, as its usage is governed by copyright rules of the artist, production company, or label.
Any coverage involving content from Press Interviews is subject to the requirements set at those interviews.
NO 18+ EVENT AT ANIME CENTRAL MAY BE RECORDED IN ANY CAPACITY.
Reserved Seating & Access Policy
Certain Anime Central events are highly attended and as a result, space is limited. Reserved Press seating, if available at an event, is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed at any event.
Press Members are required to follow the guidelines set by Anime Central Programming Staff for each event. These guidelines may include pre-registration of Press for an event, additional coverage requirements, etc. In the case of additional requirements for Press attendance at an event, Press members will be notified as information is available.
- The Masquerade will have limited seating which will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. For outlets with a Press membership, access to Main Programming may be made available prior to the start of attendee load-in for the event.
- If room space is available for a given event, it will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis, and may include a specific Press area for tripods and cameras. Press access to the event room is typically made available prior to attendee access, for this purpose. If you have questions about seating or space for a given event, please ask the Press Department Manager or Assistant Manager.
- In any event that does not have dedicated Press seating or space, space is given solely at the discretion of the Anime Central staffer in charge of the room.
Content Submission & Quality Control
All Press Outlets are required to submit coverage to the Press Department Manager by email no later than 90 days following the convention. This submitted coverage is reviewed for quality control and to verify that requirements were met.
The Press Department also performs quality control “spot checks” for additional mentions or posts that may have been missed for submission.
Any Press Outlet who does not submit or post/publish coverage of the convention may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including Press Membership disqualification or ban.
Violation of Rules & Policies
Anime Central takes the behavior of approved Press Members very seriously, and will review carefully any reports of abuse of Press privileges. Violation of convention policies or Press rules by any Press Member or Outlet may be grounds for disciplinary action, such as:
- revocation of badges
- expulsion from the convention
- disqualification from future requests
- Press or convention ban
If an outlet feels that their membership is revoked unjustly or that they were unfairly disciplined, they may discuss it with the Press Department Manager. 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.
Press Members may discuss any questions/disputes regarding these policies with the Press Department Manager and/or Assistant Department Manager.
Please note: Anime Central reserves the right to modify rules & regulations at any time without prior notice, and may deny you a Press Membership for any reason. Submitting the Press Membership Registration Form does not guarantee you a Press Membership for Anime Central.