Press
Thank you for your interest in becoming press at Colorado Anime Fest! 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 this year.
See our Press Kit for more information about the convention.
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, a photographer/photojournalist, represent an organization founded less than a year before our event, 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 Passes feature:
Complimentary weekend pass to COAF
Access to press seating area/photo pits in Main Events if available (1-2 spots)
Entry into press conferences, if available (advance sign-up required)
Free Press Networking Breakfast on Sunday
The Emerging Press Pass offers exclusive access and seating for photographers, and allows new or amateur press to attend and get to know us as we get to know them.
Standard Press
Standard Press is defined as an established news outlet. Your organization or outlet must be “active” based on your press type (see below). Standard Press organizations are generally granted up to four badges per team, but larger teams may be accepted.
Standard Press Passes feature:
Complimentary weekend pass to COAF
Ability to sign up for early entry into events for setup if space is available:
Advance signup required
First-come first-served
Generally 1-2 spots per outlet per panel, up to 3 spots in Main Events (including press/photography pit where available)
Access to private interview and photography areas
The chance to request private interviews with our Guests of Honor
Entry into press conferences, if available (advance signup required)
Free Press Networking Breakfast on Sunday
Photographer / Photojournalist Press
Anyone can bring a camera to COAF. Earning a comped, credentialed Press pass requires a bit more. In order to receive a Press pass solely as a Photographer or Photojournalist, there are special equipment and portfolio requirements that must be met. These are listed below with the requirements for other press outlets. The benefits of this level of Press are the same as Emerging Press.
Please note: if you are accepted as Press, you may not charge for photo sessions unless you have also purchased a credentialed photographer ribbon. For more information, take a look at our policies surrounding photographers.
Press Types and Qualifications
While Colorado Anime Fest welcomes a wide variety of press outlets, we do have a set of qualifications for what makes an outlet eligible for our press Pass. 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. Where applicable, preference will be given to those that focus on news, local events, and/or at least one of the following: Asian culture (reviews, critiques, or discussions) or Asian entertainment (Asian cinema, music, or movies).
Keep in mind that returning press are asked to provide a copy or and/or a link to any and all previous coverage of COAF. This will serve as a deciding factor in approval for following years.
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 a year. This can be online, newspaper, radio, or television news outlets. You must be able to show us 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 a year. There must be visible updates at least once every three months.
News Blogs / Web-Zines
At the time you apply, your blog or web-zine must have been in production for at least a year. 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 Pass based on video blogs, you must be an active blogger/podcaster that has been active for more than a year at the time of applying. You must have at least three video/podcast episodes a month to be considered active.
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 that are part of a high school news outlet may be accepted on a case-by-case basis, even if they are underage; please e-mail press@coanimefest.com 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 a year and a half at the time of applying. You must have at least six robust examples of your work to be considered. Less may be accepted on a case-by-case basis. Applicants in this category may be required to apply as Emerging Press while we assess your first year covering our event.
Press Policies and Guidelines
All press will be held to the same code of conduct that applies to general attendees (with the exception of photography, access privileges, etc., as listed in the perks above). Please review the Convention Code of Conduct.
All press members must identify themselves to staff by having a Colorado Anime Fest press pass visible.
Any press pass holder must be age 18+ to qualify for press Pass unless they are a high school student with prior approval for Emerging Press.
Photos of specific merchandise requires express approval from the vendor.
Use of flash photography must be approved at each event individually.
Each member of a press outlet that will be attending must complete a press application.
Press must follow any 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 Pass or press Pass).
Passes are limited and not all applications will be approved. The number of passes issued to an outlet is at the discretion of the Head of the Press Department. Members of a press outlet will each receive individual consideration of their qualifications. If it is found that a Pass has been requested under false pretenses, passes for that entire organization will not be approved and/or will be revoked. A press outlet may be approved for press pass at a different tier than the one they applied for.
To ensure the enjoyment and safety of Colorado Anime Fest attendees, Guests of Honor, staff, and other credentialed press, Colorado Anime Fest reserves the right to revoke any press pass at any time, for any reason. A press member who has their pass revoked may be restricted from returning to one of our events in the future, as press or a general attendee. Examples of behavior that may result in pass revocation include but are not limited to:
Violation of the Code of Conduct
Harassing a 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 Colorado Anime Fest
Engaging in unprofessional and/or inappropriate behavior during the event, as determined by Colorado Anime Fest staff
Requesting autographs or sketches outside the normal autograph sessions and/or disobeying the directions of Colorado Anime Fest staff manning autograph lines
Interfering with attendees’ enjoyment of the convention
Violating any Colorado Anime Fest policy, facility policy, or law not otherwise listed
Arriving at the Convention
When you arrive at the convention, you may pick up your press badge at the Press Office. If you are applying for press at the event, you will be asked to complete a form for approval. Without your press pass, you will not have access to the convention. Please wear your pass in a visible location at all times when you are in the convention space.
Please note: Valid, government-issued photo ID is required for press pass pickup. For identification purposes, each press passholder may only pick up their own personal pass. Please report lost or missing passes to the Press Office as soon as possible.
The Press Office will be staffed throughout the convention to assist you with any questions you may have.
Post-Con Coverage
Coverage for this year should be posted no later than one month after the convention ends, providing us a copy as proof of coverage. If you need longer, communicate with us, and we can work with you.
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 copy provided to the Press Department Head. This can be a PDF or link to the publication.
Press Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a Press badge?
Please review the press Pass qualifications and submit a press application. We will receive applications online before our event as well as at the event. We will review the applications that have come in and send out acceptance or denial e-mails. If you have applied after March 8th, 2024, please contact the Colorado Anime Fest Press Department Head by e-mailing press@coanimefest.com. After this time, applications submitted may not receive e-mail confirmation, and can be approved on-site if needed.
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 Pass after their first year.
What’s the difference between press pass approval and having a physical press pass?
A confirmation e-mail will not get you into the convention. You must pick up a physical pass at the Press Office. All members of the press must wear their passes at all times during the event when 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 or other form of press credentials
How do I obtain preferred or assigned seating for panels, or special events like the cosplay competition?
Both press pass levels will be permitted into the reserved spots for all public functions in Main Events if they are available. Standard Press may reserve spots for all applicable events. The same sign-up and time rules apply. Notify the Press Office Staff of the panels you would like to attend, and they will reserve a spot for you if they are available. When space is not available, they will let you know immediately.
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 Office Staff 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 be available for private press conferences and/or interviews. Press are encouraged to ask questions, but also share the time with other press and fans. 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 Colorado Anime Fest Press Department Head for consideration. As we get closer to the event, an e-mail will go out verifying interview requests before schedules are made. This is to accommodate outlets that apply and are approved before the rest of our guests are announced. Any remaining interview openings will be assigned in the Press Office at the event. Standard Press are granted priority in scheduling and additional openings may be offered to Emerging Press outlets on a case-by-case basis.
Why might my Press badge be revoked?
Examples of behavior that may result in pass revocation include but are not limited to:
Violation of the Code of Conduct
Harassing a 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 Colorado Anime Fest
Engaging in unprofessional and/or inappropriate behavior during the event, as determined by Colorado Anime Fest staff
Requesting autographs or sketches outside the normal autograph sessions and/or disobeying the directions of Colorado Anime Fest staff manning autograph lines
Interfering with attendees’ enjoyment of the convention
Violating any Colorado Anime Fest policy, facility policy, or law not otherwise listed
Note: Colorado Anime Fest retains the right to revoke any Pass at any time for any reason whatsoever.