The SHOT Show is more than five months away, but it’s not too early for media representatives to be thinking about what they have to do to attend the 2015 show, January 20-23, at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas.
This first SHOT Show Media Blast newsletter will bring you up to date on when registration will open and about changes to the Media Day at the Range session on Monday, January 19, among other need-to-know topics.

Register Early for Media Credentials
SHOT Show media registration will open in about a month-in early September. Media credentialed for recent shows and for whom we have a correct email address will receive an email invitation to register. Any media person who does not receive this email invitation must register at SHOTShow.org. All new applicants-and even some who have attended past shows-will be asked to provide credentials proving they are working media covering the show for a bona fide news outlet. Review these “proof of eligibility” requirements carefully; failure to provide the appropriate documents, such as a press identification card or membership card from an outdoor communicators organization, can delay or prevent approval of your media credentials. We urge you to register/apply EARLY for media credentials because once media registration numbers reach capacity, which historically has been in late November/early December, registration will close. There will be no onsite media registration at SHOT Show.

Industry Day at the Range-By Invitation ONLY
Industry Day at the Range will combine Media Day and Buyer Day and take place Monday, January 19, the day before SHOT Show opens. The day will be split into two sessions. The first, beginning at 8:30 a.m, will be open to up to 1,000 invited media who are welcome to stay the entire day. The afternoon session, running from 12:00 to 4:30 p.m, is open to invited buyers, dealers, distributors and retailers. All invites are submitted by exhibitors. Invitations to attend Industry Day at the Range will be emailed in September. Registration for Industry Day is separate from SHOT Show registration. There is no at-large media session at the Industry Day 2015. For information, see the Industry Day at the Range website.

Changes to Media Badges
The Press and Internet media badges have been eliminated. New badge designations will be Media-Editorial and Media-Broadcast. The Exhibitor-Media badge has been retained for persons with exhibiting media companies who require press privileges (to take photographs, etc.). The new Media-Editorial badge carries photography and video privileges and is for all media except Exhibitor-Media and persons covered by the Media-Broadcast badge-that is, those with cable TV, radio and Internet-based video/audio shows.

Change to Spouse/Guest Policy
With more than 2,400 media expected to attend the SHOT Show, we will again be at capacity. To ensure Press Room amenities and services are fully available to working media, the media spouse/guest privilege will no longer be offered. If in past years a spouse or guest served as an assistant to a credentialed media person (as a photographer, for example), that individual should apply separately for media credentials for the 2015 show.

$25 NSSF Media Membership
Through the year and particularly at SHOT Show, being a NSSF Media Member provides benefits, including an ID card with the word “Press” on it that comes in handy at SHOT, and access to the NSSF Members Lounge, where lunch is available, and also the Business Center, where there is free wi-fi service. In addition to other benefits, such as receiving NSSF publications and discounted research, media members can take satisfaction in knowing they are contributing to NSSF’s mission to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. An application is available at nssf.org/join, or you can contact the Membership Department at membership@nssf.org or 203-426-1320 ext. 209 to learn more.

Keep Up with SHOT Show News

There are many ways to keep up with SHOT Show news and announcements, including at SHOTShow.org, the SHOT Show Blog, on Twitter @nssfshotshow and at #shotshow, on Facebook and at the SHOT Show Online Newsroom. We’ll also be providing you on a regular basis with these SHOT Show Media Blast newsletters. They’ll be archived in the SHOT Show Online Newsroom in case you miss one.