This policy is aimed at regulating the participation of media representatives at ESMO events.
ESMO welcomes media interested in reporting from the ESMO events and on cancer issues. Media representatives are required to observe and abide by the ESMO Media Policy, which applies to all ESMO events and communications activities.
1. Embargo Policy
Embargo times vary for each ESMO event; specific embargo details will be published ahead of the event on the related event’s web page (Press & Media page). Individual press releases and any related document will include the embargo details.
IMPORTANT: Data and information beyond what is included in the accepted abstract (including the abstracts selected for the official ESMO PR Activities), i.e. full data sets and corresponding full manuscript, is embargoed until and can be made public at the start of the official programme session during which the study is presented.
Journalists are required to observe and respect embargoes as indicated in each communication shared by ESMO. This applies to all kind of channels (online and printed outlets, newsrooms, social media, etc.). If publishing ESMO press releases, ESMO should be indicated as the source.
ESMO reserves the right to exclude any entity that fails to adhere to this policy from the current event, at its own complete cost, and from any future event.
2. Media registration
Media representatives must register for ESMO events through an online form, available for each meeting at the specific press page. You can also request the form through press@esmo.org. Media registration in advance is strongly recommended.
The ESMO Press Office reserves the right to withhold approval of press registration if the applicant and/or the outlet does not satisfy the criteria for press registration or if the media registration form is sent without the requested supporting documents.
The ESMO Press Office reserves the right to ban from a current or future meeting any person who provides false information about their affiliation or credentials.
The decision of the ESMO Press Office is final regarding all press registration requests.
Media representatives who have pre-registered and are unable to attend the event they registered for, are kindly requested to inform the ESMO Press Office as soon as possible.
3. Eligibility criteria, access and facilities
A copy of a valid press card, some examples of previously written articles and an official letter of assignment on outlet’s letterhead, issued and signed by the Editor (including full name, email address, and phone number) of the assigning publication must be uploaded on to the registration system or printed and carried if the registration is performed onsite in coincidence with an ESMO event held in person. Company, media outlet business cards and membership cards are not accepted as credentials.
Any type of issued registration and consequent badge, is property of ESMO and is non-transferable. During events held in person the badge must be worn all times in the event venue.
ESMO will only accept letters of assignment by recognised trade and mainstream:
- Magazines, newspapers
- Peer-reviewed journals publishing original manuscripts and having a regularly updated editorial news section or a supplemental conference news section
- News agencies and newswire services
- Broadcast media (radio or TV)
- Web sites consistently publishing editorial news coverage, provided they are widely accessible with complete editorial independence and freedom from sponsors/advertisers.
Companies or organisations producing publications, videos and other products intended for educational purposes (without a commercial component) can request one Press accreditation for the actual reporter/freelance journalist/editor/writer only.
The Press accreditation entitles the holder to:
- Attend the official ESMO press conferences and press briefings, if relevant
- Attend all sessions in the official event programme
- Access the event webcasts
- Access the ESMO Press Centre, including the ESMO Press Working Room and the ESMO Press Conference room (both available at selected events held in person).
- Access the Filming Area (a dedicated space equipped with electrical sockets, internet access and other facilities), the Meeting Point (a specific and comfortable waiting space located within the Filming Area) and the Interview Rooms (At selected events, private interview rooms will be available upon request, on a first-come, first-served basis. A booking system will only be available onsite in the ESMO Press Centre - pre-booking not permitted: use of interview rooms is regulated in half-hour increments. These services are only available for selected events held in person).
Public affairs officers of academic institutions, scientific societies, registered medical research charities or patient advocacy groups can request one Public Affairs Representative registration provided they declare they plan to prepare and publish an official report and/or news from the ESMO event. A copy of the report from previous meetings should be forwarded together with the media registration request. A copy of the report from the meeting they are requesting accreditation for, must also be shared within 3 months after the event dates. Public Affairs Representatives will not have access to embargoed material
The Public Affairs Representative registration entitles the holder to:
- Attend all sessions in the official event programme
- Access the event webcasts
- Access the Filming Area (a dedicated space equipped with electrical sockets, internet access and other facilities), the Meeting Point (a specific and comfortable waiting space located within the Filming Area) and the Interview Rooms (At selected events, private interview rooms will be available upon request, on a first-come, first-served basis. A booking system will only be available onsite in the ESMO Press Centre - pre-booking not permitted: use of interview rooms is regulated in half-hour increments. These services are only available for selected events held in person).
Photographers or camera crew members accompanying approved media representatives can obtain a Filming Crew badge upon completion of the media registration form. Photographers and camera crew members will not have access to embargoed material.
The Filming Crew registration entitles the holder to:
- Access the Filming Area (a dedicated space equipped with electrical sockets, internet access and other facilities), the Meeting Point (a specific and comfortable waiting space located within the Filming Area) and the Interview Rooms (At selected events, private interview rooms will be available upon request, on a first-come, first-served basis. A booking system will only be available onsite in the ESMO Press Centre - pre-booking not permitted: use of interview rooms is regulated in half-hour increments. These services are only available for selected events held in person).
Attend all sessions in the official Congress programme and ESMO press conferences/briefings only accompanying an accredited reporter/correspondent/freelance journalist/editor/writer
Representatives engaged in the following are NOT entitled to register as media, even if they have a valid press card, but are welcome to register as regular participants:
- Public relations
- Advertising, communications and media agencies
- Sales and marketing
- Financial analysis
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Foundations, charities, philanthropic organisations
- Personal website (expressing personal opinions or not regularly writing about oncology)
- Sponsored journalists (providing a letter of assignment/invitation issued by a company) as well as Publishers.
In addition, representatives from the above listed categories, are not entitled to participate press briefings, press conferences or any PR activities initiated by ESMO.
Media activities organised by these entities must abide by the ESMO Policy on Media Activities Organised by Third Parties.
4. Filming, audio recording and photography policy for accredited media representatives
Video and/or audio recording of Congress sessions requires written authorisation from the ESMO Communications Department, the session chair and the speaker being recorded, and is only possible for few minutes for news coverage purposes (commercial or educational use of recordings is strictly forbidden).
Any type of content captured during sessions is only allowed for news coverage purposes (commercial or educational use of photos is strictly forbidden).
For events held in person: Only camera crews duly accredited (see above) can attend press conferences and press briefings.
An official Filming Area is available for accredited filming crews (see above). Filming outside of the ESMO Filming Area is subject to authorisation by the ESMO Communications Department. A written request must be sent two weeks in advance to media@esmo.org. Requests will be approved on a case-by-case basis. Filming crews will have to be accompanied by an ESMO Communications Department representative.
5. Use of logos
The “ESMO” logo is the property of ESMO and is protected by trademark. It must not be used, reproduced or associated with any event, article, website or press release without the prior written approval of ESMO.
To learn about ESMO event logo adoption in third party activities, please check the ESMO Logo Policy or send your inquiry to marketing@esmo.org AND media@esmo.org, clearly explaining your purpose.
The presence of the ESMO event logo on any third party activity/material, doesn't imply any endorsement from ESMO.
6. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
All matters arising from or connected with the compliance to the ESMO Media and Embargo Policy will be governed by Swiss Law, without reference to the conflict of laws principles. Any dispute arising out of this commitment shall be brought before the Court of Lugano, Switzerland
The present version of the ESMO Media Policy was last updated on 13 April 2022. ESMO reserves the right to modify this policy at any time without prior notice.
Contact
All inquiries must be submitted in writing
ESMO Press Office
E-mail: press@esmo.org
Tel: +41 (0)91 973 55 71