Press pass

Government-issued cards

In the United Kingdom there is a national, officially recognised Press Card, it is issued by the UK Press Card Authority (UKPCA), which is an organisation owned and controlled by the UK’s major media organisations, industry associations, trades unions, and professional associations. It is the only card issued in the UK to be recognised by the police, other emergency services and government departments.

Law-enforcement cards

thumb|right|A Denver press pass.

Police departments at a city, county, or state/provincial level may issue press passes in some countries. Such passes allow the bearer to cross police or fire lines to report breaking news, or grant access to crime scenes or other restricted areas{{cite web | access-date = 2007-04-01 | archive-date = 28 January 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090128024715/sfgov.org/site/police_index.asp?id=38072 | url-status = dead | access-date = 29 October 2012

Because of the exceptional dispensation endowed by police press passes, they are issued with discretion–some jurisdictions require an in-person interview with all prospective applicants, complete set of fingerprints, and a background check.{{cite web | access-date = 2007-04-02 | archive-date = 2009-07-27 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090727015610/gothamist.com/2005/04/27/from_the_publisher_help_gothamist_get_a_press_pass.php | url-status = dead

Police-issued passes do not grant access to government press conferences or any other such privileges: they are only recognized by emergency response personnel, and only valid within the jurisdiction of the issuing agencies.

Parking permits

Press parking permits may allow the bearer to park in restricted "resident-only" parking zones, and may exempt them from parking-meter costs. These privileges apply only for the duration of breaking-news coverage, and do not nullify all parking restrictions: red zones, fire hydrants, crosswalks, bus zones, disabled parking zones or access ramps, commercial loading zones, taxi cab zones, "no stopping" or "no parking" zones, transit lanes, and other towaway zones are still off-limits.

Event-specific

| access-date = 2007-05-07 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080108202908/http://www.cesweb.org/faqs/press.asp | archive-date = 8 January 2008 | access-date = 2007-05-07 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060901231554/http://www.supplysideshow.com/west/6a1presspass.pdf | archive-date = 2006-09-01 | url-status = dead}} In addition to journalists, some bloggers may be granted event passes.{{cite news |access-date = 2007-04-02 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060618110136/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/13/AR2006051301289.html |archive-date = 18 June 2006 |url-status = dead

Many major events, especially trade shows, issue press kits to pass-holders.{{cite web |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131002181230/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6844293/ |url-status = dead |archive-date = 2 October 2013 |access-date = 2007-04-02 |access-date = 2007-05-07 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090131171808/http://www.senate.gov/galleries/daily/FAQ2.HTM |archive-date = 31 January 2009 |url-status = dead

Open events

For activities open to the public, such as community gatherings, school events, or trade shows, a police- or media-issued press pass may offer little advantage. Free or reduced-price admission, or guaranteed entry, can sometimes be arranged.{{cite web | access-date = 2007-05-07 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722152330/http://www.ihollywoodforum.com/press_pass.php | archive-date=2011-07-22}}{{cite web | access-date = 2007-05-07 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060702161640/http://www.iscb.org/ismb06/presspass.php | archive-date = 2006-07-02}} The benefits may be more extensive, granting access to front-row seats or to press-only rooms. For sporting events, a press pass issued by a stadium grants access to the press box.{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131002181230/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6844293/ | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2 October 2013 | access-date = 2007-05-07}} Because open events are usually funded by paying attendees, the number of press passes may depend on the number of tickets sold.{{cite web |access-date = 2007-05-07 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090124000255/http://demo.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=100 |archive-date = 2009-01-24 |url-status = dead

Closed events

For events closed to the general public, police- or news organization-issued press passes sometimes grant access, but almost all require advance application for admittance. Greater exclusivity, however, means more restrictions on potential pass recipients. For professional conferences or trade shows, passes may be granted only to journalists who regularly cover the industry or who hold a title of "industry analyst", or with an editorial or reporting designation.

News agency cards

In the United Kingdom, the UK Press Card Authority (a voluntary consortium of news agencies) issues a nationally standardized card to United Kingdom-based news gatherers.

Fake cards

;Spurious cards Press passes not issued by a recognised publication can be obtained or made, with the intention of gaining benefits offered to holders of legitimate press cards. Joan Stewart of the Public Relations Society of America reports, "Fake press passes abound at restaurant and theater openings, sporting events, music festivals, political rallies, celebrity parties and even crime scenes. With a decent computer and color printer, almost anybody can crank out an official-looking pass within minutes."

;Counterfeit cards Counterfeit copies of cards issued by legitimate publications can be made. Issuers of cards have taken measures to prevent counterfeiting of their cards, creating cards with holographic foil blocking, signature strips, and tamper-resistant lamination.{{cite web | access-date = 2012-06-18 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070227013049/http://www.cioj.co.uk/press_cards.html |archive-date = 2007-02-27}}

References

References

1. "The UK Press Card Authority".
2. (2007). "Media Invitation – Complimentary Press Pass". International Society for Computational Biology.
3. "Press Registration". Cambridge Health Institution.
4. "Press Pass Request Form". Bike Information Association.
5. "The UK Press Card Authority". The UK Press Card Authority.