Abstract
This article considers the impact of social media and electronic publishing on the scientific and journalistic communities. It reviews the concept and definition of news embargoes and gives a brief history of open-access publishing. Two case studies are presented to emphasize changing science-to-media and science-to-science communications in an environment increasingly dominated by electronic communications and social networking. It discusses the potential impact of these changes on professional societies and the importance of modernizing the policies of professional societies regarding electronic communications.