Chicon 8 will actively support members of the press and writers for online media who are covering our activities before, during, and after the convention. We aim to provide information about this convention specifically and about our Guests of Honor, Worldcon, and the Hugo Awards.
Please note, all interviews that we arrange for members of the press with our Guests of Honor or any other program participants will be held on site at the convention and must be booked in advance. We regret that we are not able to arrange unscheduled interviews during the convention.
Press Credentials and Passes
Press Credentials identify attendees as members of the press. Press credentials are available to paid members who are covering the convention for the press or online media as part of their attendance. All members of the press are welcome to make use of the press services offered by the convention.
A Press Pass is a complimentary admission to the convention that includes the right to attend the convention (or specific events at the convention) for a limited time. Press Passes will be given to “Out of Community” mainstream media to allow them to access and move around the convention site. Press Passes do not include any World Science Fiction Society (WSFS) membership rights. Anyone qualifying for a Press Pass automatically gets Press Credentials. See below for more information on eligibility.
Press Pass Eligibility
Press Passes are available solely for working press staff—defined as individuals employed by recognized professional “Out of Community” media outlets such as television and radio stations, newspapers, and other news outlets, who are on assignment from those outlets and who would not be attending the convention if their jobs did not require it. This includes immediate support and technical staff.
Press Passes are not issued to persons who are attending the convention in a personal capacity as well as professionally. Worldcon has a long tradition that all members of our community—fans, professionals, staff, and program participants (save only our Guests of Honor)—pay for their memberships. Convention Staff and Program Participants are presumed to be attending the convention primarily in their personal capacity, not as a member of the press.
Staff from genre press publications and fannish news sources such as fanzines, semiprozines, and websites are not considered “Out of Community” press for the purposes of this policy and are expected to purchase a membership.
Privacy and Consent
During the convention (in-person and in virtual aspects), holders of press passes and credentials will be asked not to screenshot or publicly share any images or videos of people or conversations without their prior consent. Photographs of our Art Show may only be taken with express permission from the Art Show Director and the relevant artists. Photographs of our other exhibits may only be taken with express permission from our Press Office.
We ask all attending press to appreciate that our members are at the convention to socialize and enjoy themselves; this includes our professional attendees. Our press team will provide escorts to Press Pass holders to help you tour the convention and to answer questions about the event.