Media Advisory 1: 2007 Joint Assembly in Acapulco, Mexico
News Media registration opens
Contents of this message:
- General information
- Passports and visas
- News Media registration information
- News Media Registration Form
1. General information
Reporters, editors, and public information officers are invited to register for 2007 Joint Assembly, which takes place at the Acapulco Convention Center in Acapulco, Mexico, 22–25 May. The American Geophysical Union is joining with 11 other scientific societies in Mexico, elsewhere in Latin America, and the United States for this meeting, which will cover the same broad range of Earth and space science as other AGU meetings. The meeting sessions will be in English.
The URL for general information about Joint Assembly, including links to sponsoring organizations, is:
A list of planned sessions may be seen at: http://www.agu.org/meetings/ja07/… or by going to the meeting home page (link in previous paragraph) and clicking on “Program & Abstracts.” The actual sessions will be determined after all abstracts have been submitted and reviewed by the meeting’s Program Committee. They will be viewable online, and an advisory will be issued when that occurs, with instructions for searching by authors, subject matter, and other parameters.
AGU will operate a Press Room at Joint Assembly. It will develop a series of press conferences, highlighting some of the newsworthy sessions at the meeting, which will be described in subsequent advisories.
Accommodations in a variety of hotels will be available at special meeting rates, approximately one-half the cost of comparable rooms in major U.S. cities and resorts. AGU will issue a media advisory when booking opens, later this month.
2. Passports and visas
American citizens and anyone else returning to the United States following Joint Assembly must have a valid passport to enter the U.S., if traveling by air. Those without current passports are urged to apply for them immediately. Information for U.S. citizens may be found at: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html.
Reporters may require visas to cover scientific meetings in Mexico. For American citizens, the Mexican Consulate-General in New York has posted relevant regulations, which includes contact information: http://www.consulmexny.org/eng/visas_journalists.htm
Citizens of other countries should contact the Mexican Embassy in their capital city or the nearest Mexican consulate regarding visa regulations for journalists.
3. News Media registration information
News Media registrants receive a badge that provides access to any of the scientific sessions of the meeting, as well as to the Press Room and Briefing Room.
Eligibility for press registration is limited to the following persons:
- Working press employed by bona fide news media: must present a press card, business card, or letter of introduction from an editor of a recognized publication.
- Freelance science writers: must present a current membership card from NASW, a regional affiliate of NASW, CSWA, ISWA, or SEJ; or evidence of by-lined work pertaining to science intended for the general public and published in 2005 or 2006; or a letter from the editor of a recognized publication assigning you to cover Joint Assembly.
- Public information officers of scientific societies, educational institutions, and government agencies: must present a business card.
Note 1: Representatives of publishing houses, for-profit corporations, and the business side of news media must register at the main registration desk at the meeting and pay the appropriate fees, regardless of possession of any of the above documents. They are not accredited as News Media at the meeting.
Note 2: Scientists who are also reporters and who are presenting at this meeting (oral or poster session) may receive News Media credentials if they qualify (see above), but must also register for the meeting and pay the appropriate fee as a presenter.
4. News Media Registration Form
The News Media Registration Form is set up for online submission. Go to: http://www.agu.org/meetings/ja07/?content=media&show=pressReg_online.
The last day for advance News Media registration, assuring that your badge will be waiting for you when you arrive, is Friday, 11 May 2007. You may also register onsite in the Press Room.
