Presscards for e-journalists

do we qualify?

[peewhy]

As professional writers and journalists albeit in cyberspace, do we qualify as 'Press' thus entitled to Press Cards.

If anyone has one, applied for one, been rejected or indeed just knows how to obtain when ... how do we do it?

[stuartmcdonald]

Wouldn't you be wanting a Blog Card? ;)

[Galtego]

Press passes are both local and particular. Their issuance is a judgment made by the press officer of a government or an event. You will need to fill out applications of one kind or another. By what you say, you'll convince the person making the decision. If you are rejected at first, address the reasons given in your second communication. For unrecognized online media properties, it usually takes at least two tries.

[peewhy]

Wouldn't you be wanting a Blog Card?

....a Pro-Blog Card, please!

Press passes are both local and particular. Their issuance is a judgment made by the press officer of a government or an event. You will need to fill out applications of one kind or another. By what you say, you'll convince the person making the decision. If you are rejected at first, address the reasons given in your second communication. For unrecognized online media properties, it usually takes at least two tries.

Yep understand all that. What I wanted to know was

If anyone has one, applied for one, been rejected or indeed just knows how to obtain when ... how do we do it?

Thanks for responding all the same.

[alika]

I have attended government-sponsored and private events and gotten press cards after telling them that I work for an online magazine and would like to cover their event. Just ask the organizers.

[peewhy]

It may be just the UK put a press card is an official card from a governing body such as the Press Association. Once issued it is accepted as a bone fide document.

I don't think I would have a problem with someone accepting my work as 'professional & journalistic'.

I'd like to know where and to whom I apply.

[alika]

In the US, we also have a National Press Club. Candidates need to be sponsored by 2 existing NPC members. But one can apply from the event organizers directly and request permission to attend an event even WITHOUT an NPC badge. It is good to have, but not necessarily required in many events. Unless of course you want to cover White House events or other high-level type of events :o)

[peewhy]

It sounds like both UK and US have similar Press policies.

It looks like I'm in the wrong forum for answers to this one.

I'm sure someone posted the fact that he had a press card, but then, it could be an event one as opposed to the official general one.

[elguapo]

go to the NPC website and ask them DIRECTLY

[Syzygy]

For accreditation in the UK, start with the NUJ [nuj.org.uk]...

Syzygy

[pleeker]

It depends who and what you report on.

As a former real-world news journalist, I needed to apply for press credentials with the local police and sheriff's department. These credentials allowed me access to various general events where the public was not allowed -- news conferences, announcements, even crime and accident scenes.

As a current online journalist, we (the web site) seek credentials from the organization hosting the event(s) we wish to cover. For example, we wanted to cover the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremonies in March, so we applied for credentials to the PR firm in charge of that, and the request was granted.

We've been doing this for several years now, and find that most organizations are open to credentialing web media, though quite often we do have to prove we're not a group of #*$!le-faced 17-year-olds. (I actually include that line in many requests!)

wow, got zapped by the bad word dictionary. That should say p i m p l e -faced.....

[peewhy]

Pleeker, thanks for that. We (UK) certainly don't need to approach the Police. They don't like the press anyway!

I think Syzygy is on the right track with the NUJ (National Union of Journalists). It'l probably be a case of join the Union and get your card.

[peewhy]

Pleeker, I'll take that back about the police!

The scheme was launched by the Metropolitan Police in 1992, with the co-operation of all the major industry bodies and the aims of ending the proliferation of press cards and agreement on a universally-recognised card (bearing the word PRESS). The card is formally recognised by all police forces in the UK, and de facto by other public bodies.

[stever]

peewhy, it's not (or at least it wasn't) as easy as "just joining the union".

Especially since I suspect you would be classed as a freelance journalist, where a much closer look was taken at experience and credentials. I actually asked about this the last time I was in the UK and they were fairly negative about the whole business until I mentioned I was a former long-term NUJ member and a qualified journalist (then things became a lot easier).

Freelance was always a hotly debated and fiercely contested area - because of such things as fanzines, people wanting free entry to gigs, events, press conferences, etc. I don't know if the IoJ is still going (they leapt into action during the national journalists' strike many years ago) but they, I would imagine, must have their own card and they didn't seem to be so picky (he said, sniffily).

(Former NUJ chapel treasurer.)