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Conference Media Credentials

The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is pleased to welcome you as a member of the media to any of its conferences held throughout the year.

Conferences: These conferences include the Annual HIMSS Conference & Exhibition, usually held in February, and the HIMSS Summer Conference, usually held in June. Locations of each conference vary. In addition, HIMSS holds audio conferences during the year on a variety of topics and media meeting the criteria outlined here may register for these at no charge.

Registration for journalists: Registration for these conferences is complimentary for professional journalists who may provide editorial coverage and who meet the eligibility criteria described below.

Media qualifications: You must be currently employed by a news publication OR you must be currently employed with a recognized (network, cable, independent) news organization. Television and radio stations must maintain a regular news department. You also may be required to submit credential information to support your qualifications. If so, HIMSS will contact you upon receipt of your media registration form.

Media credentials are given to members of the working media whose attendance at any of the HIMSS conferences may result in coverage, whether print or broadcast, of the efforts of HIMSS and its members.

Individuals who do not qualify for media credentials: Individuals representing companies or organizations listed below do not qualify for media registration.

  • Book authors
  • Freelance writers who are employed by non-news organizations
  • Publishers, associate/assistant publishers, advertising, marketing, or sales staff members of a news organization, print, broadcast or online
  • Publishers, editors or reporters from manufacturers
  • Companies/organizations producing publications, videos, and/or other items solely for the purpose of marketing, advertising, financial analysis, or public relations
  • Public relations staff and/or representatives from communications, print, and on-line promotion organizations
  • Financial analysts and consultants
  • Other representatives who are not reporting on the annual conference itself

Exhibitors: Media credentials are not available to exhibitors at the HIMSS Annual Conference that also want to register as a media representative. HIMSS will provide media credentials to a working journalist from a news organization that is also a member of HIMSS. However, advertising, financial analysis, marketing, public relations, publishing or sales staff members are not eligible to receive media credentials.

Number of Media Who May Register for Each Organization: Registration is limited to three individuals per media outlet; newsletters and college publications are limited to one representative per outlet. Organizations that wish to send more than three representatives to the conference, should contact jlofstrom@himss.org or 312-915-9237.

Broadcast Media Guidelines: At either the annual or summer conference, photographers, television and video crews must obtain media credentials per the guidelines that follow. When covering the conference, photographers and broadcast media must check in at the media room (or with a HIMSS staff person at the summer conference) before going on the exhibit floor or to an education session. A HIMSS media relations staff member must accompany the photographer/broadcast crew when shooting any of the conference’s activities.

Media Advance Registration: Deadlines for media registration will appear on annual or summer conference Web site. Check that site for the registration form and deadlines for advance registration.

Upon receipt of your registration for any HIMSS conference, you may be contacted by HIMSS and asked to provide supporting documentation to receive your media credentials. All media registering in advance will receive an e-mail confirmation of their registration. Media registering on-site for either the annual or summer conference must bring all documentation and qualifying materials (as outlined below) to receive media credentials.

See the Media Eligibility Criteria below before registering.

 

Media Eligibility Criteria

Journalists must be required to submit supporting documentation as part of the registration process. Please review the criteria for your appropriate media category.

Business/Trade Publications and News Wire Services

  1. Current masthead with your name
  2. Two bylined articles published during 2004
  3. Contributing editors and reporters must supply an original letter of assignment, on the organization’s letterhead, stating they have been retained to cover the HIMSS Annual or Summer Conference.

Broadcast Media – Television and Radio

  1. An original letter of assignment on the organization’s letterhead

Freelance Writers

  1. One bylined article on the topic of healthcare and/or healthcare information technology published from September 2004 – February 2005
  2. An original letter of assignment on the organization’s letterhead stating they have been retained to cover the HIMSS Annual or Summer Conference

On-line Publications

  1. The Web site must provide original, editorial news coverage
  2. Editorial content must be independent of advertising/sponsorship
  3. An editorial board must oversee the site and its contents
  4. Advertising must be identified as such
  5. If the Web site is sponsored, the site must have multiple sponsors. All sponsors must be identified as such
  6. Personal Web sites do not qualify for media registration
  7. If the above criteria are met, on-line media representatives must supply two bylined articles written and published in 2004 from the Web site

University/College Publications

  1. Two bylined articles published from September 2004 – February 2005. An original letter of assignment on the organization’s letterhead from the university/college stating they have been retained to cover the HIMSS Annual or Summer Conference

If you have questions or need more information, contact:
Joyce Lofstrom, HIMSS, 312-915-9237 or jlofstrom@himss.org

 

To access the conference Web sites visit:

www.himss.org/annualconference

www.himss.org/summerconference

To see the schedule for HIMSS Audio Conferences, visit:

www.himss.org/audioconferences

To register for a HIMSS Audio Conference as a member of the media, contact:

Joyce Lofstrom at jlofstrom@himss.org