The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers embargoed news releases and articles from its journal, Pediatrics, to journalists in advance of publication to allow them to prepare well-researched stories on complex scientific topics. All print, broadcast and online journalists who receive the AAP media mailing agree to abide by the embargo and may not publish, post, broadcast or distribute embargoed news releases or details of the embargoed studies before the embargo date and time. To do so would constitute a breach of the embargo.

The AAP takes any breach of the embargo seriously and decides on a case-by-case basis if sanctions are necessary. Sanctions may include denying a news organization access to embargoed news releases and studies in the future. Any decision to lift an embargo early is at the sole discretion of the AAP. Journalists with questions about the date of an embargo, suspected embargo breaks or whether the embargo has been lifted for whatever reason should contact the AAP Department of Communications immediately.

The embargo system is based on trust, and the AAP appreciates that the vast majority of journalists respect the embargo. If you are an editor, please stress the terms of the embargo system with your reporters.