Press Pass / Press Credentials Policy

Renovation will actively cooperate with members of the press (regardless of the medium the reporter represents) who are covering the convention before, during and after the event. Such cooperation is intended to enhance the image of this convention specifically and of Worldcon, science fiction conventions, and the genre of SF and fantasy in general.

This cooperation may extend to issuing Press Passes to selected persons and to issuing Press Credentials to appropriate members of the convention.

Distinction between Press Passes and Press Credentials

A Press Pass is a complimentary admission to the convention that includes the right to attend the convention (typically for a limited time) with an endorsement to the person's badge indicating that the person is a member of the press covering the convention. A Press Pass does not include any WSFS membership rights. Anyone qualifying for a Press Pass automatically gets Press Credentials.

Press Credentials are a badge endorsement which indicates that the person is a member of the press covering the convention. Individuals will be able to qualify for Press Credentials without qualifying for a Press Pass.

Distinction between Working Press and Genre Press and Fandom

Working Press includes those people employed by recognized media outlets such as television and radio stations, newspapers, and other forms of news coverage, who are on assignment from those outlets and who would not otherwise be attending the convention if their jobs did not require it. Working Press may include reporters and editors for non-fannish news web sites, but they do not include technical staff or others who are not journalists. Members of the Working Press are eligible to request appropriate press passes and credentials. Verification of status may be required.

Genre Press and fannish news sources such as fanzines and web sites are not Working Press for the purposes of this policy and are expected to purchase a membership; they may qualify for Press Credentials.

Renovation will not issue Press Passes to persons who are attending in their personal capacity. Worldcon has a long tradition that all members of our community - fans, pros, staff, and program participants (save only our Guests of Honor) - pay for their memberships. Someone who is a member of the convention staff or who has accepted an invitation to be a program participant is presumed to be attending the convention primarily in their personal capacity, not as a member of the Working Press.

Renovation reserves the right to deny Press Passes to individuals or media organizations as it sees fit. For more information, contact the Press Office at press@renovationsf.org.