Press and Media
Embargoes
Embargo policy
We do not discuss a manuscript with anyone other than the corresponding author before the manuscript has been accepted for publication and assigned a publication date.
Unless otherwise noted, all information provided by PLOS ONE is subject to a press embargo whose date and time will be clearly stated.
PLOS believes that this embargo policy serves scientists, journalists, and the public by ensuring that the article is available to everyone at the same time that it is reported in the media.
Read more about the PLOS embargo policy.
Social media embargoes
We recognize that blogging, Twitter, Facebook, and many other social media sites are powerful tools in information dissemination. If you choose to blog or promote your manuscript via social media, please wait until the embargo lifts and include a link to your article.
Talking about research under embargo
We do not wish to hinder communication between scientists. For that reason, authors may communicate research for scientific purposes prior to publication. This includes talking about your research at conferences and on preprint servers.
Please do not discuss your research with the press until after your manuscript has been accepted and assigned a publication date.
Press Releases
Every week, our media relations team identifies accepted manuscripts that we want to highlight in a press release. Our press releases are written in a straightforward manner by the PLOS ONE press team and aim to accurately report the research presented in the manuscript.
Information for authors
If we choose to press release your manuscript, a member of our media relations team will contact you for contact information, quotes, and supplementary images or video, if applicable.
Before we send a press release to our embargoed press list and EurekAlert, we will give you 24 to 48 hours to review the press release for accuracy and approve it. If we do not receive approval within this time frame, your press release will not be sent to our press list or posted on EurekAlert.
We only have space for a limited number of press releases every week. If we choose not to press release your article, you may choose to work with your institution to promote the research. If so, we recommend that you contact your institution as soon as your manuscript has been accepted. You must also notify our media relations team so that we can assist your press office with embargoed press materials.
Information for press officers
If your institution is planning to promote research publishing in PLOS ONE please contact our media relations team as soon as possible. We will be able to provide your office with embargoed press materials.
We are happy to correspond with press officers, but the corresponding author must be copied into any communication with the institution’s press office, and in any press-related correspondence.
In your press release, we request the following:
- Journal name. Refer to us as PLOS ONE.
- Organization name. The organization's name is written as PLOS and pronounced to rhyme with “boss”.
- Article URL. Include a link to the article in the press release.
The world’s first multidisciplinary Open Access journal, PLOS ONE accepts scientifically rigorous research, regardless of novelty. PLOS ONE’s broad scope provides a platform to publish primary research including interdisciplinary and replication studies as well as negative results. The journal’s publication criteria are based on high ethical standards and the rigor of the methodology and conclusions reported.
Press lists and embargoes
We understand that sometimes press offices like to send trusted journalists press releases before the article’s publication date; this is acceptable provided that these journalists agree to abide by the embargo.
Press releases may not be distributed publicly prior to the embargo lifting. Releases that are sent to private press lists and sent to press release services like EurekAlert must clearly be labeled with the embargo time and date.
Information for Journalists and Bloggers
All articles that are press released via PLOS ONE are sent to our private press list and posted to EurekAlert. The releases will be clearly labeled with the embargo date and time, contact information, a link to the location of the article once the embargo lifts, and a press preview PDF.
In your article, please include the following information:
- Journal name. Refer to us as PLOS ONE.
- Organization name. The organization's name is written as PLOS and pronounced to rhyme with “boss”.
- Article. If your news article will be published online, include a link to the freely available PLOS ONE article.
If you are interested in joining PLOS’ press list, please visit PLOS’ embargo policy page for eligibility requirements and conditions.
If you have questions or need to get in touch with us, please contact us at the information below.
Social media
We recognize that blogging, Twitter, Facebook, and many other social media sites are powerful tools in information dissemination. If you choose to blog or post information about a PLOS ONE article via social media, please wait until the embargo on the paper lifts and include a link to the article.
Speaking to the media
If you agree to be the contact for journalists, please note that you could be contacted by reporters from around the world. It is important that you respond to their queries in a timely manner as journalists work under tight deadlines. Failure to respond to them could result in a story being published without your input and might end up containing inaccurate information.
Before giving an interview, please ensure that the journalist will agree to abide by the embargo. It is also helpful to share the link to your manuscript so that the journalist may include it in the article.
Promoting your research on social media
We encourage you to promote your research on social media. Please wait until the embargo lifts and include a link to the published article.
More information on using social media to promote your research:
An Introduction to Social Media for Scientists, PLOS Biology
How social network “roots” help scientists communicate their research, EveryONE Blog
Communication between scientists
We encourage you to discuss your research with other scientists. You may present and discuss your research for scientific purposes prior to publication. This includes talking about research at conferences and on preprint servers.
Who covers PLOS ONE
Every day we see PLOS ONE articles in the news. In 2015, over 6,000 news articles, blogs, radio programs, and podcasts from around the globe discussed over 2,100 PLOS ONE articles. Though we cannot guarantee the media will cover any one article, we regularly see PLOS ONE research being reported on by The New York Times, WIRED, BBC, Xinhua, National Geographic, Discovery News, The Washington Post, and by many well-known science bloggers.
Nest Etiquette—Where Ants Go When Nature Calls
Regional Personality Differences in Great Britain
Behavior and Body Patterns of the Larger Pacific Striped Octopus
Read the latest research summaries, author interviews, multimedia pieces, and other content that spans the breadth of our latest publications at PLOS Research News.
Media tracking
Our media tracking system showcases news and media coverage of our articles and enriches post-publication discussion. The tool automatically picks up coverage that links directly to the journal article.
We also encourage authors and readers to submit any additional coverage or resources online using the link on an article’s “Related Content” tab. Pending journal approval, the coverage will be displayed on the “Related Content” tab. This wide range of content may include news media, blog posts, discussion boards, podcasts, lab websites, and institution or funding institution pages.
Contact
US Office
Tessa Gregory, Editorial Media Associate
onepress@plos.org
+1(415) 590-3559
UK Office
Bethany Jones, Journal Media Manager
onepress@plos.org
+44(0)1223 446968