Eligibility Guidelines for Embargoed Reporter/Freelancer Access on EurekAlert!

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EurekAlert! facilitates embargoed access of pre-publication scientific research information in an effort to ensure fair and equitable access among reporters worldwide and to offer working journalists additional lead time to prepare in-depth and accurate original reporting.

Access to pre-publication research papers and embargoed news releases via EurekAlert! is reserved for those whose primary occupation is journalism at accredited news media outlets,* and who work on a daily, weekly, or monthly deadline with a demonstrated need for early access.

In compliance with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regulations,** applicants with conflicting dual affiliations,** including, but not limited to, financial analyst, lobbyist, public information officer (PIO), scientist, or other conflicting roles are not eligible for embargoed access to EurekAlert!.

EurekAlert! reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to decline registration to applicants who have, or appear to have, conflicts of interests, or who work for entities that have, or appear to have, conflicting industry or business-related affiliations, or a substantial commercial purpose other than the public dissemination of news.

Journalists may be eligible for embargoed access if they meet the following criteria:

Staff reporters, editors, producers:

  • must demonstrate a journalistic need for early access
  • must be on staff as a journalist, editor, graphic artist, or producer at an eligible news media outlet*
  • interns and fellows working at eligible outlets may apply with a confirmation letter from an editor stating the internship/fellowship end date
  • students and staff members of student publications are eligible pending professor/supervisor approval and completion of a monthly webinar on embargoes in science reporting. Please see this link for further details.

 

Journalism students, interns and student publications:

  • must demonstrate a journalistic need for early access
  • interns and fellows working at eligible outlets may apply with a confirmation letter from an editor stating the internship/fellowship end date
  • students and staff members of student publications are eligible pending professor/supervisor approval and completion of a monthly webinar on embargoes in science reporting. Please see this link for further details.


Freelancers:

  • must demonstrate a journalistic need for early access by providing three (3) recently published news stories and/or a letter from an editor
  • clips and letters must be associated with an eligible news media outlet*
  • clips must be no more than six (6) months old and show the applicant's byline, the date of publication, and the news outlet's name (an editor's letter is required if no byline is listed)
  • applicants without recently published clips must provide letters from editors confirming current or ongoing freelance assignments
  • applicants who hold ineligible affiliations (PIOs, scientists) who may also occasionally write journalistic articles are not eligible

* Media outlets are considered eligible if:

  • they are editorially independent and have an established and recognized editorial review process
  • their primary purpose is disseminating news to the public
  • they produce a substantial amount of original science-related reporting
  • they can demonstrate a journalistic need for early access on a continuous basis
  • they have at least three (3) months of published content

Media outlets are not eligible if:

  • they are primarily educational, rather than journalistic
  • they mainly repost, aggregate, or summarize information found on EurekAlert! or other news sources
  • they are corporate or personal newsletters
  • they are available only to a closed list of members determined by the publisher (e.g. Trade publications with an open subscription policy may be eligible, trade publications available only to persons holding a certain profession or certification are not eligible)

Blogs and New Media:

  • blogs and new media publications, including those that publish solely on social media***, are reviewed on a case-by-case basis
  • must demonstrate a journalistic need for early access
  • must have at least three (3) months of published content
  • content must primarily consist of original journalistic reporting of science-related topics
  • blogs or new media outlets that are chiefly opinion-based are not eligible
  • blogs or new media outlets affiliated with established news outlets may be eligible
  • anonymous blogs are not eligible
  • bloggers with ineligible dual affiliations** (PIOs, scientists, lobbyists) are not eligible

**Dual Affiliations and the Securities Exchange Act

The mishandling of embargoed (or "nonpublic") information can present legal issues as regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, among many provisions, prohibits the disclosure of nonpublic information in a way that improperly influences the trading of securities. In adherence to the interpretations of the Act by our advisors, EurekAlert! exercises due diligence to ensure access to embargoed information is made available only to professional journalists without ineligible affiliations, and who have a demonstrated need for such information. For more information, see Selective Disclosure and Insider Trading. (https://www.sec.gov/rules/final/33-7881.htm)

***Examples include: Substack, YouTube channels, podcasts, and “short-form” or vertical video content such as TikTok videos and Instagram Reels