More than 14,000 pediatricians and other health care professionals are expected to attend the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2012 National Conference and Exhibition (AAP Experience) at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, October 19-23.

Telephone Numbers

To reach a member of the Department of Communications staff before and after the conference, please call the AAP central office at 847/434-7877 between the hours of 8 am and 4:30 pm (CT). During the conference, you may reach staff in the NCE Press Room (Number TBA and available beginning October 19).

Admission

All media personnel are required to register at the AAP’s Press Room on-site before being admitted to meeting sessions. If you have registered in advance, you are still required to visit the Press Room to pick up your press badge. Press badges allow admission to all news briefings, plenary sessions and seminars and must be worn at all times. Video crews and photographers must be accompanied at all times by an AAP Press Room staff member when shooting inside the convention center or at one of the affiliate hotels.

Press Room

Located TBA, the Press Room includes interview space, modem lines, printers, telephone and fax services for media representatives. Breakfast and lunch will be served. Two computers will be available for limited use. The Press Room hours (ET) are:
Friday, Oct. 19 ......................................................... Noon – 5:00 pm
Saturday, Oct. 20 ...................................................... 7:45 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday, Oct. 21......................................................... 7:45 am – 5:00 pm
Monday, Oct. 22 ....................................................... 7:45 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday, Oct. 23....................................................... 7:45 am – 3:00 p.m.

Reporters can access the meeting program and other relevant meeting information through the AAP interactive meeting Web site at http://www.aapexperience.org/. Reporters who want access to embargoed scientific abstracts, news releases, a news briefing schedule and other media materials should contact the AAP Department of Communications.

Credentials

Registration fees for working press are waived. Department of Communications staff consider working press to be editorial staff of newspapers or magazines, medical or health care publications and broadcast or Web-based media. To receive a press badge, media representatives must provide identification such as a business card, letter of assignment and published samples of bylined work, preferably stories relating to pediatric health. All freelance journalists must provide a letter of assignment on company letterhead from an editor of a recognized news organization certifying you are covering the conference for the organization. Press badges are available only to working journalists who can show evidence that their attendance will result in coverage of the NCE.

Media Services

AAP Department of Communications staff can assist reporters by providing background information on child health issues and helping to set up interviews with meeting speakers or AAP officers and spokespersons.

News Briefings

View the 2012 AAP National Conference news briefing schedule.