About the annual media preview
The media preview event is organised by the Archives and Government Services. Representatives of newspapers and broadcasting organisations are invited to attend the preview during the first full week of December. The Reading Room is closed to the public during this week.
Preparing State records for release
The National Archives team works year-round on preparing records due for release after 30 years (under the National Archives Act, 1986) and 20 years (under the National Archives (Amendment) Act, 2018). However, large transfers of records from Department of State typically arrive in October.
Media coverage
There is a strict embargo set before which it is not permitted to broadcast or publish stories from the new records for release. After the embargo, during the period between Christmas and New Year, the press and television may feature stories from the archives, reflecting on significant events in our recent history.