Media Use

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Media Requests

If you are a journalist, member of the press, or content creator who’d like to interview NRAO staff, or film/photograph the VLA, VLBA, ngVLA, other NRAO offices or labs, or at the Green Bank Observatory, start your application with NRAO News & Public Information.

  • All film and photography requests must be coordinated with NRAO News & Public Information.
  • Applications must be received a minimum of two weeks before the requested date.
  • Requests that focus on science and education are prioritized.
  • Fees may be charged for projects that require an interruption to regular observatory operations, access non-public areas of the site, or take place outside of regular public hours of operation. 
  • Any requests sent to other emails, phone numbers, or staff will not be considered.

NRAO Produced Media Use Policy

NRAO produced images and videos may on a non-exclusive basis be reproduced without fee, on the conditions outlined below.

All NRAO produced images and videos on this site are copyright protected on behalf of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI), and the National Science Foundation (NSF), and are licensed for use under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/) in accordance with the following conditions:

  • The image or video credit, as given on the NRAO website, must be clearly visible as the source of the image material.
  • If an image credit names persons affiliated with other institutions, it is possible that the person(s) or their institution(s) could assert ownership of the image; the user should contact the named institution(s) to secure permission. If an individual listed in the credit line is a member of the American Astronomical Society, his/her contact information can be obtained from (https://members.aas.org/directory/directory.cfm).
  • NRAO materials, images and videos may not be used to state or imply the endorsement by NRAO or any NRAO employee of a product or service without express written permission from NRAO.
  • NRAO/AUI/NSF disclaim any and all liability arising from the use of NRAO images or video. The user shall hold NRAO harmless against any and all such claims.
  • If an image or video includes an identifiable person, reproducing that image or video may infringe that person’s right of privacy; the user should obtain separate permission from the individual.
  • Narrated videos (as opposed to b-roll footage or animation clips, which the NRAO offers for the express purpose of incorporation into new creative works) may be reproduced only in their entirety, and may not be embedded within other video productions, unless express written permission from NRAO is obtained to allow such use; such permission if granted by NRAO may require the user to secure additional permissions from third parties.
  • Voice over narration, music contained within a narrated video, or video of an on-camera program host (e.g., “talent”) may not be excerpted or re-used in any way other than in the reproduction of the complete video without express written permission from NRAO, which permission may require the user to secure additional permissions from third parties.
  • Broadcast or public/theatrical performance of any narrated video on this site is prohibited without express written permission from NRAO.

These provisions do not extend to use of the NRAO logo, which may not be used or reproduced without prior and individual written consent of NRAO. Owners of external websites wishing to link to the NRAO web site may use NRAO’s logo for the link, provided they have obtained prior authorization from the NRAO Education and Public Outreach Department and on the condition that such use is clearly identifiable as a web link.

By reproducing, distributing, broadcasting or otherwise using NRAO produced images or videos, in part or in full, the user acknowledges and agrees to abide by the above terms.

Contact outreach@nrao.edu for any clarification or permissions.

NRAO requests that a single copy of tangible products that use our images or videos be sent to us at the following address:

National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Office of Education & Public Outreach
520 Edgemont Road
Charlottesville VA 22903
USA