Press Membership

Thank you for your interest in becoming press at Kumoricon! With this year already shaping up to be another amazing year, we are pleased to open applications for professional and amateur press to join us for 2025.

We strive to attract a wide variety of press outlets to receive the best coverage for our event; to facilitate this, we feature the following tiered press categories:

Emerging Press

If you are an amateur journalist, a journalism student, part of a school news team, represent an organization founded after September 1, 2024, and/or do not meet the listed Standard Press requirements, you are considered Emerging Press. There is a limit of two badges per organization for Emerging Press.

Emerging Press membership features:

Complimentary weekend membership to Kumoricon
Ability to sign up for early entry into events for setup if space is available:
- Advance sign-up required
- First-come, first-served
- Generally 1 spot per Emerging Press outlet, per panel; up to 2 spots in Main Events

Standard Press

Standard Press is defined as an established news outlet. Your organization or outlet must have been active for at least two (2) years; "active" to be determined based on your press type (see below). Traditional Print will be considered "active" if they are visibly published at least once every three months.

Standard Press organizations are generally granted up to four badges per team, but larger teams may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.

Standard Press membership features:

Complimentary weekend membership to Kumoricon
The chance to request private interviews with our Guests of Honor
Ability to sign up for early entry into events for setup if space is available:
- Advance sign-up required
- First-come, first-served
- Generally 1–2 spots per outlet, per panel; and 2–3 spots in Main Events
Early admittance to pass-required events, if space is available:
- Advance sign-up required
- Does not include participation in events with an additional charge unless you have paid that extra charge already
- Generally 1 spot per outlet, per event; up to 2 spots with prior arrangement

Types and qualifications for Standard press

While Kumoricon welcomes a wide variety of press outlets, we do have a set of qualifications for what makes an outlet eligible for our press membership. If your type of press is not listed, you can still apply. We will determine your eligibility based on the information you provide. We may respond to your application asking for additional information to determine eligibility. Please note that meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee that your application will be accepted.

Local/national news, television, and radio outlets (broadcast media)

At the time you apply, your news outlet must have been in production for at least 2 years. This can be an online, newspaper, radio, or television news outlet. You must be able to show proof that your news outlet is currently active.

Traditional print

At the time you apply, your print publication or organization must have been in production for at least 2 years. There must be visible updates at least once every three months.

News blogs

At the time you apply, your blog must have been in production for at least 2 years. It must be updated at least twice a month with new content and be on a public forum. If seeing your publication requires an account or payment, a trial account may be required for us to evaluate whether to approve your outlet.

Video bloggers/podcasters

To qualify for press membership based on video blogs or a podcast, your content must have been active for more than 2 years at the time of applying. You must have posted an average of at least three video or podcast episodes a month for the last 6 months to be considered active.

Social Media Coverage

To qualify for a press membership based on social media coverage, you must be a content creator that has been active for more than three years, at the time of applying. You must consistently post at least 2–3 times a week on a single platform to be considered active and must have covered 2–4 other events in the last 18 months of a similar size or style to Kumoricon.

Photography/photojournalism

At this time, Kumoricon is not accepting press outlets that are exclusively focused on photography. However, Kumoricon will grant press membership to photographers that are covering our event as part of an approved press outlet.

Journalism students

At the time of the event, you must be enrolled in a Journalism track at a school of higher education (community college, university, etc.) and have a letter of acknowledgment or proof of required coursework/assignment from your professor. Proof of enrollment (unofficial transcript) is required at badge pick-up. High school students who are part of a high school news outlet may be accepted on a case-by-case basis, even if they are underage; please email press@kumoricon.org for details.

Other (please explain)

If your press type is not listed here, but you still think you would work well with our event, don't hesitate to apply. There will be a space in the application for your outlet to explain what your medium is, as well as to show examples of your work. To qualify for this, we require that you be an active outlet for at least three years at the time of applying. You must have at least six robust examples of your work to be considered.

Policies and guidelines

All press will be held to the same code of conduct that applies to all Kumoricon members. Please review the Convention Code of Conduct before applying.

Each member of a press outlet who will be attending must complete their own press application.
Any person applying for a press membership must be 18 or older to qualify unless they are a high school student with prior approval from the Press Manager for an Emerging Press membership.
All press members must identify themselves to staff by having a Kumoricon press badge visible at all times in convention space.
Photography of specific merchandise in KumoriMarket requires express approval from the exhibitor or artist.
Use of flash photography is discouraged and must be approved at each event individually.
Press must follow any and all photography restrictions that apply to regular attendees, which may include restrictions at particular panels or events.
Offering or soliciting paid photographs or photoshoots is not allowed in convention space (either with a regular membership or press membership).

Press Memberships are limited and not all applications will be approved. The number of memberships issued to an outlet is at the discretion of the Director of Publicity and the Press Manager. Each press application will receive individual consideration based on their qualifications. A press outlet may be approved for press membership at a different tier than the one for which they applied. If it is found that a press membership has been requested under false pretenses, the membership for the applicant will be revoked and anyone else that is a part of the organization they are applying with may not be approved and/or may have their memberships revoked.

To ensure the enjoyment and safety of all Kumoricon attendees, Guests of Honor, staff, and other credentialed Press, Kumoricon reserves the right to revoke any press membership at any time, for any reason. A press member who has had their membership revoked may be restricted from returning to future Kumoricon events, as press or a general attendee.

Examples of behavior that may result in membership revocation include but are not limited to:

Violation of the Code of Conduct
Harassing anyone in or around Kumoricon Convention Space
Harassing a Kumoricon Guest of Honor
Bringing non-press, general attendees to interviews with Guests of Honor
Bringing non-press, general attendees into press-only areas without prior permission from Kumoricon
Engaging in unprofessional and/or inappropriate behavior during the event, as determined by Kumoricon staff
Requesting autographs or sketches outside the normal autograph sessions and/or disobeying the directions of Kumoricon staff managing autograph lines
Interfering with attendees' enjoyment of the convention
Violating any Kumoricon policy, facility policy, or law not otherwise listed

Registration and badge pick-up

If your Press Membership is approved, you will receive an email with a link and code to register. You must register for your Press membership by October 30, 2025. Registrations after this time, even if previously accepted, will be denied.

When you arrive at the convention, if you have pre-registered as press, you may pick up your press badge at the Specialty Registration Booth. Without your press badge, you will not be able to access convention space. Please make sure to wear your badge in a visible location at all times when you are in the convention space.

Please note: Valid, government-issued photo ID is required for check-in. Each press member may only pick up their own press badge. Please report lost or missing badges to the Press Manager as soon as possible.

While the Press Team will be available throughout the convention weekend to provide daily schedules, general updates, and to assist you with any questions you may have, the Press Office itself will not be available to the public and interview locations will be emailed to the interviewer by the end of the day on Thursday, October 30, 2025. Live updates to the schedule will be available on our website and through the Guidebook app. Any major changes to possible interview time slots or availability will be emailed by the Press team.

Post-con coverage

Coverage for the convention should be posted no later than three weeks after the convention ends. Press members are required to provide Kumoricon with a link to, or a copy of, the coverage that has been posted. If posted coverage is not shared with Kumoricon in a timely manner, access to Press Membership in future years may be denied.

Your outlet will be evaluated year-to-year on the following requirements:

Standard Press and Emerging Press

Any publication pertaining to our event should have a digital copy or a link to it provided to the Press Manager. This can be a paper copy (if you are a print-only publication), PDF, or link to the publication. We track these on our site for future references.
If photos are published, they should follow the Photographers' guidelines below.

Photographers and other photography

All photos you publish of Kumoricon must include written captions or be part of a larger written article. These captions should include, at a minimum, the subject's personal name, nickname, stage name, and/or character name when applicable (only with the subject's consent) or details on the event or location the photo portrays.

We do require that photos be up within one month of the event's completion. We reserve the right to utilize any and all photos submitted directly to Kumoricon for promotional purposes, with full credit to the photographers who have taken them.

Did you sell or publish photos to other media outlets? Let us know, and we'd love a copy for our records!

Press Q&A

How do I apply for press membership?

Please review the press membership qualifications and submit a press application via the form linked below. Applications will be open through Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 11:59pm, Pacific Time. We will begin reviewing applications no later than September 24, 2025, and send out acceptance or denial emails after that date. You may receive an email prior to the review date depending upon review of your application. If you applied before September 24, and have not received an email about your status by October 8, please follow up with the Kumoricon Press Team at press@kumoricon.org. After September 24, we will accept or deny applications as they come in, within two weeks of receipt.

What's the difference between Emerging Press and Standard Press?

Our press guidelines allow new or amateur press to attend and get to know us as we get to know them, while still continuing our relations with established press outlets. Emerging Press registrants are welcome to request Standard Press membership after their first year.

What's the difference between press membership approval and having a press badge?

A confirmation email will not get you into the convention. You must pick up a physical badge at the Specialty Registration booth. All members of the press must wear their badge at all times during the event in convention space.

What do I need when I pick up my badge?

To pick up your badge, if you have pre-registered, you will need to present all of the following items:

A valid, government-issued photo ID
A business card if you have one
Press approval email

How do I obtain preferred or assigned seating for panels, or special events like the cosplay competition?

Both press membership levels will be permitted into the reserved spots for all public functions in Main Events if they are available. The same sign-up and time rules apply. Once your application is approved, notify the Press Team via email with the panels you would like to attend, and they will work with our Programming team to reserve a spot for you if available. If space is not available, you will be notified prior to the convention.

Reserving a spot is not reserving a physical seat, but rather a spot on a digital list. Once you have reserved this space successfully, the Press Team will explain how to take advantage of this benefit, as it may change based on location or event type.

Please note that Standard Press will have priority access if there is a shortage of space, and 2 spots (Standard) and 1 spot (Emerging) remains the general rule per outlet. If you arrive after the panel has been seated, you will forfeit your reserved spots.

How do I interview a Guest of Honor?

While press will be able to attend guest panels, some panels may not have press entry available. Some guests may only be available for private interviews. Press members are encouraged to ask questions during panels but please remember the time is shared with other press and convention attendees.

Members of the press are absolutely not allowed to bring personal guests into the convention or into guest interviews.

If you would like to conduct a one-on-one interview with a guest, please contact the Kumoricon Press Manager for consideration. As we get closer to the convention, an email will go out verifying interview requests before schedules are made. This is to accommodate outlets that apply and are approved before all our guests are announced.

Why might my press membership be revoked?

Reasons for revocation include but are not limited to:

Violation of the Code of Conduct
Harassing anyone in or around Kumoricon Convention Space
Harassing a Kumoricon Guest of Honor
Bringing non-press, general attendees to interviews with Guests of Honor
Bringing non-press, general attendees into press-only areas without prior permission from Kumoricon
Engaging in unprofessional and/or inappropriate behavior during the event, as determined by Kumoricon staff
Requesting autographs or sketches outside the normal autograph sessions and/or disobeying the directions of Kumoricon staff manning autograph lines
Interfering with attendees' enjoyment of the convention
Violating any Kumoricon policy, facility policy, or law not otherwise listed

Note: Kumoricon retains the right to revoke any press membership at any time for any reason whatsoever.