Media Credentials Policy

Media credentials to cover the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2024 will be granted to individuals who meet the appropriate criteria set forth by the College. This year, attendees have two registration options: attend onsite at the Clinical Congress in San Francisco, California, or attend remotely and view all available sessions online.

Media Credentials

1. Only representatives of the following media will be registered using their preferred attendance option:
   • General circulation news periodicals, including magazines
   • Medical or healthcare publications
   • Broadcast media or online news services
2. Media representatives must represent the editorial staff. Their media outlets must present editorial content that focuses on clinical, quality improvement, or socioeconomic issues in health care. Applicants must provide credentials that list their editorial title or a bylined article on the linked registration form. Advertising, marketing, or public relations representatives from publications or commercial manufacturing firms will not be registered as members of the media. ACS considers publishers to be part of the editorial staff.
3. Freelancers must produce a letter of assignment from a medium such as those listed above. Freelancers who wish to attend the meeting without a specific editorial assignment must present credentials indicating membership in a recognized professional communications association or submit published samples of their work along with appropriate identification. Freelancers who wish further interpretation of this policy are encouraged to contact the ACS Office of Public Information prior to the conference.

General Conditions

1. Media credentials to cover the conference will be granted to up to five individuals from any one publication, publication group, or electronic media outlet.
2. Media members who have been found to mispresent themselves (incorrect name, editorial title, or media outlet) will forfeit rights to media credentials to cover this conference and any other future ACS meeting.
3. Before posing questions to presenters during Q&A sessions onsite, or via online chats during the virtual conference, media members must:
   • First identify themselves as journalists
   • Provide their media affiliation