Media Policies

The Press List

Please note that DEMO does not release the registered media list before the event. This policy actually helps us to bring high-level business and technology press to the conference. As a long-time member of the media, Chris Shipley objects to the PR onslaught that occurs in the weeks leading up to a conference. DEMO asks that demonstrator PR firms refrain from calling press to schedule appointments. The DEMO goal is to have media fully explore the Pavilion and attend the general sessions rather than have them running from one 20-minute appointment to another. Information regarding the registered press list will be provided during the onsite mandatory demonstrator meeting on Monday, September 21. DEMO’s PR team will be on-hand throughout the conference to facilitate introductions between press and demonstrators.

Get a sense of the types of stories that come out of DEMO and the types of journalists that write about DEMO.

If there is a particular journalist whom you would like to see at DEMO, DEMO’s PR team encourages demonstrator companies to submit a Media Wish List by August 12 with the names of up to five key reporters or publications that would be appropriate for DEMO.

Note that reporters from niche publications that would only be interested in one or two demonstrators are unlikely to attend. Also note that analysts are welcome to attend DEMO at a steeply discounted rate but are not given complementary passes to attend.

Embargoed Press Briefings

Per your contract with DEMO, you cannot pre-launch or publicly disclose information about your product prior to the opening day of DEMOfall 09. Under the following conditions, you are encouraged to pre-brief your company’s niche media contacts and industry analysts about your DEMO product launch:

All press briefings held before DEMO must be conducted under embargo. The reporter must agree to the embargo – in writing (email is fine) – before you disclose any details about the product you are launching at the conference.
All information provided to the media in advance of the conference must be embargoed until 7 a.m. Eastern on Tuesday, September 22. This embargo holds for print publications, online news sites, bloggers, broadcast, podcasters, analysts and any other media outlet.

The embargo rule extends to any type of external communications, including Web site content, press release content, tradeshow and event attendance as well as press briefings/media coverage.

If you have any questions about embargoed press briefings, or the process of obtaining an agreement to hold an interview under embargo, please do not hesitate to contact Lisa Peterson.

Remember that niche outlets (CRM Magazine, Building Magazine, etc.) are unlikely to send reporters to DEMO events. DEMO attracts journalists from publications that cover a broad swath of technology innovation (PC Magazine, Computerworld, Wired, etc.).

Press Releases

DEMO demonstrators typically issue a news release in connection with their DEMO participation. This release covers the problem, solution, and market potential of the technology product.

Your DEMO contract requires that you hold your product release until Tuesday, September 22 at 7 a.m. Eastern. You may issue your product release on September 22 or 23, but DEMO recommends you issue the release on September 22, so that reporters researching DEMO news onsite and from afar will have access to your news release on the opening day of the conference.

If you would like to include an endorsement quote from Chris Shipley and/or Matt Marshall in your press release, they must approve it. The deadline for the product announcement quote approval is Friday, September 11. Forward your release (in Word format ONLY), complete with your "ideal Shipley or Marshall quote," to Caroline Traylor at caroline.traylor@porternovelli.com. Title the subject line of the e-mail "[insert company name] DEMO Press Release for Review" and include the following DEMO information in your release:

Please note: It is up to you to issue your press release; DEMO does not do this for you. For more information on issuing press releases, visit the PR Newswire section of this handbook. Though you are free to choose amongst the various newswire distributors available in the U.S., only the demonstrator releases that are issued via PR Newswire will be automatically updated to the DEMO Media Room. This is a service that PR Newswire offers to demonstrators via its DEMO partner status.

About DEMO

Produced by Network World Events and Executive Forums, the semi-annual DEMO conferences focus on emerging technologies and new products, which are hand-selected from across the spectrum of the technology marketplace. The DEMO conferences have earned their reputation for consistently identifying tomorrow's cutting-edge technologies, and have served as launch pad events for companies such as Palm, E*Trade, Handspring, and U.S. Robotics, helping them to secure venture funding, establish critical business relationships, and influence early adopters. Each DEMO conference features approximately 70 new companies, products and technologies. For more information, visit www.demo.com.

Press Conferences, Media Dinners and other Non-DEMO Events Onsite

The conference schedule is packed full of opportunities for networking with the press: the DEMO Pavilion sessions, receptions, meals and more. For this reason, and to retain the relaxed atmosphere press have come to expect of DEMO conferences, hosting private parties, press conferences, or other events for the media and/or attendees during conference hours is strictly prohibited. Per your agreement with Network World Events and Executive Forums, holding such an event without prior approval may result in removal from the conference without a refund.