Press and Media

To support accurate coverage of neuromuscular and electrodiagnostic medicine, protect the integrity of scientific research, and respect the privacy of presenters, AANEM maintains clear standards for media credentialing, venue access, embargoes, and commercial activity at the meeting. Whether you are a professional journalist, an industry partner, or a scientific attendee, please review the policies below to understand access options, reporting guidelines, and expectations while onsite.

1. Press credentialing

Media credentialing standards
AANEM issues media passes to professional journalists whose primary role is news reporting rather than general influence or promotional activity. To obtain complimentary press registration, applicants must provide documentation demonstrating their status as professional journalists, such as:

• Print/online journalists: A recognized press card, an assignment letter from an editor on official letterhead, and recent bylined articles (past 6 months) related to medical or scientific topics.
• Broadcast media: Official press credentials issued by a government or media organization, along with a formal letter from a producer.
• Freelancers: Evidence of an active portfolio with relevant scientific articles/news coverage within the last year.

Media may submit credentials and/or proof of professional status by emailing them to communications@aanem.org.

Communications, PR, and marketing professionals from commercial companies, pharmaceutical firms, or medical device corporations are not eligible for complimentary media registration and should register as Industry Partners or Exhibitor Representatives.

2. Access and restricted zones

A media pass provides access to designated areas and activities within the meeting; it does not provide unrestricted access to all rooms and events ..

• Press Room / Media Center: A dedicated workspace reserved for badged media members, with workspace, high‑speed Wi‑Fi, and interview areas where journalists can meet with presenters or association leadership.
• Scientific sessions: Media may attend open scientific sessions and oral abstract presentations to listen and take notes; video and/or audio recording requires prior written approval.
• Poster Sessions: Photography or video recording of poster presentations is generally not permitted unless explicit written permission is granted by the presenting author to help protect unpublished data and intellectual property.
• Workshops: Photography or video recording of workshops is generally not permitted unless explicit written permission is granted by AANEM

3. Interview requests

• Media may request interviews with specific presenters, speakers, or AANEM members. Requests should be submitted in writing to <communications@aanem.org> and include the name of the intended interviewee, along with brief context on how the interview will be used in the news story. If you do not have a specific individual in mind but know the type of expert you need, please describe this in detail in your request.
• Submitting a request does not guarantee interview availability, and participation is at the discretion of the attendee and AANEM.

4. Photo and video access

Media may request access to specific presentations or sessions to capture photos and/or video. Requests should be submitted in writing to <communications@aanem.org> and include the session name, the type of media you are seeking (for example, photos only or short video clips), and how it will be incorporated into your reporting.

AANEM’s priority is to support scientific communication while protecting attendees’ intellectual property, so photo or video requests may be approved, modified, or declined based on these considerations.

5. AANEM suitcasing policy

Definition

“Suitcasing” refers to companies or individuals who are not official exhibitors or sponsors using the AANEM Annual Meeting for commercial purposes such as marketing, promotion, or business solicitation. This includes activities like distributing promotional materials, conducting sales conversations, or marketing products and services in public spaces such as aisles, session rooms, hallways, meeting areas, exhibit and poster halls, or hotel facilities associated with the meeting. It also includes soliciting business within another company’s exhibit space or using the meeting to gain commercial or competitive advantage without being an approved exhibitor or sponsor.

Prohibited attendance and activities

To support a scientific, educational focus and honor commitments made to exhibitors and sponsors, AANEM generally does not allow the following individuals to attend the meeting in any capacity (including as regular scientific attendees):

• Pharmaceutical or device company competitor investigators whose primary purpose is competitive intelligence gathering.
• Third‑party or in‑house competitive intelligence professionals attending on behalf of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, device, or related healthcare companies.
• Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, device, or healthcare marketing strategists, branding, or commercialization personnel whose primary purpose is to observe, analyze, or leverage the meeting for marketing, product positioning, or competitive assessment.

If an individual’s primary objective in attending the AANEM Annual Meeting is to collect competitive intelligence, assess competitors, monitor product positioning, or otherwise gather information for commercial advantage rather than for clinical, scientific, or educational purposes, their attendance is not permitted under this policy in any registration category.

Individuals who are not official exhibitors or sponsors and who are observed engaging in promotional, marketing, or solicitation activities, or acting in a competitive‑intelligence or marketing capacity, may:

• Be declined registration or badge pickup.
• Be asked to leave the meeting and related venues.
• Be restricted from attending future AANEM events.

Enforcement decisions are made at AANEM’s discretion to protect the meeting environment and its participants.

6. Embargo policies

To help coordinate fair and accurate news coverage, AANEM may share press releases and abstract details with registered journalists in advance under embargo. Embargoed information may not be published until the specified date and time.

• Standard abstracts: Embargoes are lifted when the abstract is published online or when the annual meeting begins.
• Violations: Material breaches of embargo terms may result in revocation of media credentials for current and future meetings and removal from AANEM’s press list

7. Digital and social media

AANEM’s guidelines distinguish between professional journalism and scientific communication by attending physicians, researchers, advanced practice providers, technicians, and other allied health care providers who share insights online.

• “Attendee Scientific Communication: AANEM encourages attending physicians, researchers, and other allied health care professionals to use official meeting hashtags to live‑tweet or share high‑level insights, which is viewed as public scientific communication rather than professional journalism.
• Slides/data capture: Registered attendees are not permitted to take direct photos of presentation slides, proprietary graphics, or raw clinical data tables unless the presenter clearly indicates “Open Access / Sharing Welcome” on their slides or the poster presenter approves it.

8. On-site and on-call media contacts:

Ian Roth – Marketing and Communications Manager, AANEM – 507-258-6575

Kati Poterucha – Marketing and Communications Director, AANEM – 507-258-6571

View the latest AANEM Achievement Award winners, the American Neuromuscular Foundation (ANF) Abstract Award winners, and the latest AANEM news articles on News Express.