To apply and qualify for an Anime USA Press Pass, applicants must first pass a brief screening process based on planned coverage and previous work. Application for press pass does not guarantee that you will be granted press passes. Press pass approval will only grant two press passes per outlet.
Qualifications for a Press Pass are as follows:
Student
- You must provide evidence that you are currently enrolled in some sort of Journalism school or curriculum with an accredited institution
Apprentices
- You must supply evidence that you are part of an apprentice program (or other introductory position) with an established media outlet, and that position must be of a nature that is directly contributing to the reporting actions of that outlet.
Bloggers / Private Media Outlets
- You must have a social media presence, as well as an established separate blog/website location.
- Your content must show that you have experience covering fandom based events, extra notice will be taken to those who have experience covering “Anime/Manga Specific events”.
Established / Major Media Outlets
- You must provide evidence of your work with a media outlet, as well as the name of the outlet, a website for the outlet and examples of your work published by said outlet.
Further restrictions may apply – once your application has been approved, you will receive additional information.
The application period has not yet been determined for 2025. The application deadline for Anime USA 2024 was September 15, 2024.
You are definitely eligible to apply. Some of us started out as journalism students, too! Approval for Students is case-by-case.
Active blogs will be considered. Make sure to include a link to your blog on your Press Pass application. A social media profile is not considered an active blog. If you do not have a website/blog in addition to a social media site you may not qualify for press credentials.
Yes, Press Passes are available for every medium of journalism. We encourage photographers, filmmakers, and podcasters to apply.
A Press Pass grants a member of the press access to the Anime USA convention. Unfortunately, interviews with Guests are not guaranteed. As a courtesy to our Guests, we keep their interviews limited. Also, though members of the press receive a free pass to the convention, they must still arrange their own rooms, food, and travel.
After you are approved for a Press Pass, you will receive a follow-up message via e-mail detailing which guests are available for interviews. You can request an interview with one or more of the Guests. The interview schedule will be announced a few weeks before the convention. There will be a designated interview area for specific guests, which will be communicated via email as well.
While this can be specific to the guest – you should apply early and respond as quickly to the follow up email as you can, the longer you wait, the less chance of being approved for guest interviews.
Our Guests dept, in conjunction with our press Liason will coordinate all guest interview scheduling and activities. If approved for a guest interview, you will be included on emails with our guests dept CCd.
Some Guests will require a list of interview questions to review before the convention. For example, some of our Japanese Guests may need assistance from a translator to be interviewed. You will be notified via e-mail if a Guest that you wish to interview requires a list of interview questions. If this is the case, please submit any questions for the Guest 14 days before the start of the convention This process ensures proper translation of interview questions.
Press Passes may be picked up, starting at 12:00pm on the Friday of the convention. The location for pick up will be emailed to accepted Press Attendees. If you need assistance finding the location at the show, please ask an Anime USA staff member on-site.
For individual spaces (panel rooms, event rooms, dealers hall, etc…) you must coordinate with the person running that room as to what you can and cant do, and where you should set up. For public spaces in the hotel, you will want to coordinate with the hotel itself. For convention spaces that are not “rooms” – we ask that each outlet identify themselves (display of the press pass is adequate) and gain permission for focused content on individuals/groups. If you are doing photos or shots that are meant as a background of your content, or in general as a capturing of large spaces – such as main event coverage, or convention floor coverage, you may cover at your leisure. Anime USA does not provide storage or “holding” of equipment or assets that you have – please prepare in advance to arrange any such storage you may need.