Access to the U.S. Census Bureau's news embargo site is limited to qualified individuals representing media outlets that give their chief attention to the gathering and reporting of news. Applicants must be employed or represent news outlets that regularly publish or broadcast a substantial volume of news material for public consumption. Embargo access is granted on an individual basis only. Embargoed data cannot be shared or discussed with colleagues or associates that have not been approved by the Public Information Office.

Embargo access may be granted to reporters, editors, writers, publishers, editorial and news cartoonists and artists, news photographers, producers, librarians, presidents, general managers, videographers, webmasters and other editorial employees who work for qualified news outlets, which include publications, news services, broadcast outlets and news internet sites that meet the following criteria:

• Their primary purpose is the dissemination of news.
• They are regularly issued and supported by advertising or paid subscription and operate with editorial independence from any political, governmental, commercial or special interest.

Online media (may include news outlets, blogs, vlogs and others) must meet the following requirements, in addition to those above:

• The website must belong to a recognized media organization and have a specific, verifiable street address and a telephone number.
• The website must have at least 60 percent original news content, commentary or analysis.
• Media representatives are required to submit two bylined articles that were posted on the website within the past month.
• The website must be updated at a minimum of once a week.
• Media representatives are required to register using an email address associated with a media outlet. Group or generic email addresses such as “newsdesk@censustimes.com” and personal email addresses (i.e., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc.) will not be accepted.

Online publications that are communications outreach or advocacy publications of nongovernmental or nonprofit organizations do not qualify for embargo access.