Embargo Policy

The National Academies' Office of News and Public Information has established an embargo policy to provide advance access to news releases and reports published by the National Academies, which comprise the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council. Distribution and use of advance materials from the news office is controlled by this policy. It is designed to allow journalists more time to read reports ahead of public release in order to foster accuracy in reporting. Through consistent implementation of our embargo policy, we work to maintain a fair and level playing field that gives no one reporter or news organization an advantage over others.

ELIGIBILITY for Access to Embargoed Materials

Credentialed members of the news media are eligible to receive advance, embargoed material from the Office of News and Public Information. Eligible persons must agree to abide by the conditions of the news office embargo policy.

CONDITIONS of the Embargo Policy

1) Precise embargo dates and times accompany all advance material. Embargoed information is not to be made public in any format, including print, television, radio, or via the Internet, before the embargo lifts.

2) Advance material is for background research only. Journalists may not redistribute the information outside their news organization. Journalists are responsible for ensuring that others within their organization honor the terms of the embargo.

3) Supporting materials provided by the news office, such as graphics, audio and video clips, must be credited to the appropriate source. These materials may not be used to illustrate stories unrelated to the associated National Academies report without express permission from the news office.

4) Failure to adhere to this policy may result in revocation of access to all embargoed material from the National Academies Office of News and Public Information.

REVOCATION of Access to Embargoed Materials

A reporter who breaks an embargo will be put on probation for six months. During this time, he or she cannot receive advance materials although other colleagues can. If the embargo is broken a second time, the media outlet itself will be barred from receiving advance materials for one year.

A change in a journalist's affiliation or employment may result in a change in level of access to embargoed material.

Although it is not our practice to arbitrarily revoke access to embargoed material, the Office of News and Public Information reserves the right to revoke the embargo access of any journalist or media outlet at any time for any reason.

ACCEPTANCE of the Terms of this Embargo Policy

Acceptance of this agreement is required to receive access to all embargoed material.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about this policy, contact the news office at 202-334-2138 or news@nas.edu.