Tuesday, July 26, 2016

ATA Announces New Policies for Press Attendees

Solicitors, posing as members of the press, have long been a source of frustration for companies doing business at the ATA Trade Show. In order to address this issue, the ATA Board of Directors has adopted new guidelines for press badges. Beginning with the 2017 ATA Trade Show, press members planning to attend must register in advance and pay a badge fee under the new guidelines.

Attendees requesting a press badge for the Show must register between Oct. 25 and Dec. 22 this fall. Onsite registration by press attendees and/or journalists will not be allowed. The ATA Board expects advance registration to reduce onsite demand for staff members whose primary obligation is helping exhibitors and retailers conduct business at the Show.

Press attendees will be charged $100 if their company/organization has an ATA Media Membership, and $150 for non-member verified press. All press badge applications will be subject to verification by ATA staff, and ATA reserves the right to reject press badge applications that cannot be verified.

The two changes were proposed by the ATA Board of Directors during its April meeting. "We've consistently received feedback from our retail and manufacturing members that advertising solicitors posing as journalists are a significant source of frustration at the Show," said Jay McAninch, ATA president/CEO. "These policies will give our staff time to vet applicants for press credentials and create a better ATA Trade Show experience for retailers, manufacturers and verified journalists."

Teresa Johnson, ATA's senior director of communications and administration, agreed. "The ATA welcomes and appreciates press coverage of the ATA Trade Show, and these changes will help outdoor journalists do their jobs," Johnson said. "Legitimate trade and industry press will enjoy better access to exhibitors, and be able to ply their trade without being hindered by solicitors posing as press attendees."

About the ATA
The Archery Trade Association (ATA) is the organization for manufacturers, retailers, distributors, sales representatives and others working in the archery and bowhunting industry. The ATA has served its members since 1953. It is dedicated to making the industry profitable by decreasing business overhead, reducing taxes and government regulation, and increasing participation in archery and bowhunting. The organization also owns and operates the ATA Trade Show, the archery and bowhunting industry's largest and longest-running trade show worldwide.