Press Registration

Otakon 2023 Press Access Registration Process

Welcome to the Otakon Press Information page. Before beginning, review our policies. Please note that approved members of the Press will NOT need to register for an Otakon membership.

Application Procedure

Press interested in covering Otakon should apply in advance. 

Please read the requirements for Press applications carefully. If your application is missing anything, it may be denied or delayed.

To Get a Press Pass:

Qualifications for press may include (but are not limited to):

1. Organization as a news/press outlet must have existed for at least two years.
2. Be able to provide link to traffic stats page if requested.
3. Individual personal blogs and/or photo galleries (cosplay photographers etc) will not be considered except in special cases.
4. Students from High School or College are encouraged to apply. However, we do request a letter on an official school letterhead from your editor or school supervisor/advisor to outline the intent of the application. This request will come through email.
5. If you received a Press badge in a previous year and provided no coverage of Otakon, you will automatically be denied. All returning individuals must reapply to be considered for press access this year, using the form linked below.

Each person that will be attending must fill out the form, even if someone from the same organization has already done so. Submitting a request for Press access does not guarantee that you will receive Press access. The total number of Press access tags is limited; as such, it's possible that not every name submitted for your organization will receive Press access.

What Happens Next?

After you complete your application, you and your editor will receive an email. Your Editor/Supervisor must respond to confirm that you are applying to represent the organization.

Once the application has been reviewed, editor confirmation received, and application is accepted, you will be sent a confirmation email.

Picking up Your Press Badge at Otakon

You will receive instructions on where to pick up your Press badge in your confirmation email. Press badge pickup will begin on Thursday afternoon, at the same time member pre-registration opens. Bring your government-issued ID.

The Press badge must be carried at all times. Without your Press badge, you will not have access to the convention, which includes Press seating at selected Otakon events, and the ability to request interviews with Guests.

Thanks for your interest, and we hope to see you at Otakon this year!

Please Note:

After the convention, we will request a courtesy copy of your coverage for our records and to make future assessments on press access.

Failure to comply with the Press Policies as well as Otakon policies may result in revocation of your Press badge.

Please check the Press and Publicity RSS News Feed on the Otakon website regularly for updates.