Educational Content Policy to Prevent Commercial Bias

Introduction

The International Society for Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP) is dedicated to advancing the knowledge and skills of professionals through high-quality, unbiased educational events. To maintain the integrity of our conferences, webinars, podcasts, and other educational formats, we have established guidelines regarding the presentation of materials and the promotion of products or services. This policy outlines the expectations for all speakers, moderators, podcast guests, hosts, and contributors to ensure our content remains focused on education and free from inappropriate promotional bias.

Scope

This policy applies to all forms of educational content provided under the auspices of ISMPP, including but not limited to live and recorded conferences, workshops, webinars, podcasts, and e-learning, whether conducted online or in person.

Policy on Promotional Content

 All contributors should refrain from including inappropriate promotional materials or endorsements of products, services, or companies during any presentation or contribution. The focus should remain purely educational, aimed at enhancing the professional competence of our audience.

To maintain neutrality, educational slides, handouts, and any supplementary materials should not contain company logos, trademarks, or any form of branding unless it is essential for educational purposes and has been approved by ISMPP during the review process.

Balanced Representation

When it is necessary to mention commercial products or services for educational purposes, ensure that more than one product or company is represented. Comparisons should be fair, balanced, and based on objective criteria to maintain neutrality and educational value. This should be discussed and agreed upon in advance with the program committee session lead and ISMPP to determine if it is appropriate to include balanced commercial content.

Sponsored Content

For sponsored content, we allow presentations that provide valuable educational insights while disclosing the sponsorship. Sponsored content must remain primarily educational, offering balanced information and avoiding purely and excessively promotional messaging. Any sponsored content should clearly disclose the sponsoring organization at the beginning of the presentation and in related materials, with limited use of company branding to maintain focus on educational content.

Submission and Approval of Materials

All educational materials intended for use in presentations, including slides, videos, handouts, and notes, must be submitted to the ISMPP Education team lead for the program at least 7-14 days prior to the event date for review and approval.

Submissions will be reviewed based on their educational value, relevance to the event's objectives, and adherence to this policy. The review process ensures content is free from inappropriate promotional bias and aligned with the society's standards for high-quality education.

Acknowledgment of Policy

By agreeing to participate as a speaker, moderator, guest, or host, you acknowledge your understanding and acceptance of these guidelines. A signed agreement may be required before participation in society-sponsored events.

If these guidelines are not followed, it may result in the removal of the non-compliant content from the event, and the individual may be restricted from participating in future society events.

The ISMPP Education team is here to support you in preparing your materials. If you have any questions about this policy or require assistance in ensuring your content meets our guidelines, please contact [email protected].

We appreciate your cooperation and commitment to maintaining the educational integrity of ISMPP’s events and activities. Together, we can continue to provide valuable, non-promotional educational experiences for our professional community.