Some SVP members have expressed concern about presenting their unpublished research at SVP meetings because they worry that press reports may affect their chances of publication in certain journals, in particular the weekly science magazines Science and Nature. In order to clarify this matter, we would like to pass along the following suggestions for dealing with the media.
Reporters attend our meetings to bring their audiences up to date with important developments.
This is true of reporters from the prominent science weeklies and of those from newspapers and magazines. Because we invite and admit them, they are free to report on what is presented. Editors of scientific journals to which authors may later decide to submit their research do not regard such popular reporting as problematic for the primary publication of research reports. Authors are, however, permitted to present their data at open meetings but should not overtly seek media attention. Specifically, authors should decline participation in news briefings or coverage in press releases and should refrain from giving interviews or copies of the figures or data from their presentation or from the manuscript to any reporter unless the reporter agrees to abide by Science's press embargo.