How do you get a photographer / press ID?

[dphotomania]

Hi, I was at Chinatown NYC during the Chinese New York Parade, and I saw all these photographic with this ID hanging around their neck and they were able to go all over the place to take pictures, does anyone know how can I get or apply for one of these ids?

Thank you much.

[primoz]

Someone might be offended by this but... Press card is meant to be for people who are working for press. It's not meant to be for getting free access to someones favourite band, to see someones favourite sport team etc. So if you are working for press (press agency, newspaper, etc.) then you have it already. If you don't work for any of those then you are not suppose to have it :)

[steven]

Yes, why not just answer the question by stating that you need to work for a recognized press group.
dphotomania made no reference wanting to get in for free or to gain access to his favorite band or sprots team. Just wanted to know about becoming one of the few with press access.

dphotomania there have been several threads here about this exact same question you might try the search for more indepth answer.

[robertwgross]

In some places, a Press Pass is issued by the local police authorities. It allows the wearer to cross some police lines (so the crowd can be photographed), and it waives liability in the event the wearer is hurt when across the line.

---Bob Gross---

[scottbergerphoto]

In New York City, a Press Pass is issued by the NYPD, though the office of the Deputy Commissioner for Public Information. To get one you need to be employed by a major publication and have a letter from the publication or if you are a freelance you need letters from who you sell to. The web site is:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/dcpi/presscred.html
Regards,
Scott

[IndyJeff]

Primoz is right, a press pass is for someone who is working for a publication. It is not meant and should not be issued to anyone who is not part of the working media.

You want to gain access denied to the general public then start sending in resume's to local papers. The reason they issue press passes in the first place is to keep the number of people in a restricted area to a minimum.

I have been at events where I would love to get in a restricted area but, I am not on an assignment nor do I have a client in waiting or someone in mind to submit on spec to. So, I do like anyone else who is not working the event, I stay back and live with what I can get from where I am.

[dphotomania]

Thanks all, I was not trying to get into events for free or anything. I just want to take photos of the event. Because like I said, it did seem like some amauter photographer were carrying the Press ID. Actually after rereading my post, it did sound like I want to get in for free :lol: :lol:, but hey who wouldnt want to have the best view!!;)

Sorry if I did offended any body. It was not my intension to offend anyone from this group. Very nice people here :D. And I learn from you all.

I will do a search for more detail. And if I cant find it, I will ask again!! Hahaha :rolleyes:

Thanks scottbergerphoto, I will check out that link.

[scottbergerphoto]

Thanks all, I was not trying to get into events for free or anything. I just want to take photos of the event. Because like I said, it did seem like some amauter photographer were carrying the Press ID. Actually after rereading my post, it did sound like I want to get in for free :lol: :lol:, but hey who wouldnt want to have the best view!!;)

Sorry if I did offended any body. It was not my intension to offend anyone from this group. Very nice people here :D. And I learn from you all.

I will do a search for more detail. And if I cant find it, I will ask again!! Hahaha :rolleyes:

Thanks scottbergerphoto, I will check out that link.
You have nothing to apologize for. The issue of access to events as they happen raises fundamental questions in a democratic society. We accept the need/right of government to limit access to certain kinds of events because we believe that our news media will provide us what we need to know in unvarnished/unbiased detail. Unfortunately, today more and more news outlets are owned by large conglomerates like Disney, who's primary reponsibility is not to report the news, but to make profits for shareholders. I would like to see less restrictions on Press Passes particularly in NYC to guarantee that the news I see is not altered by corporate interests.
Scott

[primoz]

I guess some of you missunderstood me. Sorry English is not my first language so please bear with me. I didn't want to offend anyone with posting my answer. Yes I still do mean what I wrote and what Jeff put in nicer words. Obviously we usually face same problems with Jeff on those events which we cover (btw... based on Jeff's nick I assume we are shooting completely opposite events... he's shoting motorsport and I'm covering skiing and cycling), so we have a bit different point of view to this thing. This what I said was from my experiences and that means sport events not some political events, trade shows, concerts etc. As it was discussed in some other thread I guess Jeff and I have same experience with people not working for media but having accreditations. And that's reason why I don't like people having press cards if they don't have need for this.
After reading Scott's answer I can actually partitionaly agree with him, about people having more access. But back to my experiences and places where I shot, there's just not enough space for everyone to be there. Just imagine letting all spectators come to field at Super Bowl to take photo of their favourite player :) It just doesn't go like that, so sooner or later you would need to draw line. And those left on other side of line would have exactly same complains after that.
PS: And once again sorry if someone was offended with my answer. It wasn't meant to be rude or offending.

[Avalonthas]

You dont neccessarily have to be a member of a news agency to get a press pass. I do plenty of personal and/or private client work and i often apply for a press pass for exclusive access and stuff. Especially at sporting events. I have gotten many press passes, issued by the Air Canada Center (ACC) for several Toronto Maple Leaf games in the past, and the photo's were a gift to a friend, and had no commercial or news purpose.

[robertwgross]

A year or two ago, President Bush was visiting a defense plant in my home city. The Secret Service already had the local police on alert, so police barricades were placed about one city block away from the plant since anti-war protesters were expected. I was one of the photographers leaning against the barricade and trying to shoot down the block with a 500mm lens. The local newspaper's photographers all had press passes, so they got across the barricade OK. But there still wasn't any long shot, since the second police line stopped them a half block away. Instead, they turned their cameras onto the protest crowd. Whether you agreed or disagreed with the protest, at least it was photogenic and interesting.

---Bob Gross---

[FlyingPete]

Because like I said, it did seem like some amauter photographer were carrying the Press ID.

Yep, I have had 'press passes' at various events, as I have been officially covering the event for the organiser, I have noted some shooters with passes that do come across as amateurs (I myself only see my self as an amateur), turns out they usually work for smaller publications and often use their own gear, many it is just a weekend job.

Or sometime it is often a case of who you know, that is how I got my first break, my wife was the PA to the Director of the company organising a music festival! I cover all sorts of stuff now!

[Steven M. Anthony]

You have nothing to apologize for. The issue of access to events as they happen raises fundamental questions in a democratic society. We accept the need/right of government to limit access to certain kinds of events because we believe that our news media will provide us what we need to know in unvarnished/unbiased detail. Unfortunately, today more and more news outlets are owned by large conglomerates like Disney, who's primary reponsibility is not to report the news, but to make profits for shareholders. I would like to see less restrictions on Press Passes particularly in NYC to guarantee that the news I see is not altered by corporate interests.
Scott

I agree completely. The media have largely become readers of press releases for the government. We see "town meetings," but not the people screening out those who don't agree with the speaker, to give but one example.

It is a difficult situation, as clearly--as Primoz points out--we cannot let everyone who wants in to an event with a press/access card to get in. At this point, I think we need to let the event organizers figure out how many passes are distributed and who gets them.

As for "non-working-photogs" getting press passes, again, I think that's up to the event organizer who gets them--or how involved teams give them out in the case of sporting events. I know I had a press pass for a motor race in Canada via one of the teams (I had an "in" with the team's sponsor). I guess it's possible I displaced a working photog from that race. But if so, that photog hadn't made a strong enough case for him/herself to not be replaced with the likes of me!

And my guess is that even if the "non-workers" are at times in the way, I'm sure most would get out of the way if you asked. Something like "Hey, my editor would love a few shots from that vantage point--mind if I get in there for a bit?" I had a pro ask me that at the race I was at and felt flattered he thought I had a good spot!

[primoz]

I agree with Steven, about asking them to move away. Usually on those events I'm covering there are always few local guys who are there for fun and they got accreditations, since they know right person. In 99.9% of cases I don't have any problems with them. When they see big lens they move without me even asking them. And if they don't, I'm most of time quite nice person :) , so I always ask them nicely. And it almost always work. But with those 0.1% of people it's different. They don't have any idea about "rules" so they act like they are onlyones there. And that's problem. With other photographers is completely different. Everyone know, we all need to bring photos back. So everyone moves a bit and there's always space for another lens... as long as you know this and you don't act like you own that place since you got press pass it's working fine. But luckly there's only that 0.1% of people who don't play that way :)

[dphotomania]

It starts to make sense why only around 30+ people were inside the barricade taking picture and only 1 news channal i recall (Fox 5). :lol: :lol:

I think it all comes to who you know. :rolleyes:

Actaully come to think about it, I was at a sking resort and I was in an area where I was not suppose to be and they let me stay as long as I get out of the skiers way. Hmmm, I think people are nice when they see photographers.

Here is the officier that looked away when he spotted me w/ my camera, thats why I was able to take a few shots.


http://www.dphoto.us/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=905
http://www.dphoto.us/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=904
http://www.dphoto.us/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=907
http://www.dphoto.us/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=911
http://www.dphoto.us/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=910
http://www.dphoto.us/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=908

[jimsolt]

I agree completely. The media have largely become readers of press releases for the government. We see "town meetings," but not the people screening out those who don't agree with the speaker, to give but one example.

It is a difficult situation, as clearly--as Primoz points out--we cannot let everyone who wants in to an event with a press/access card to get in. At this point, I think we need to let the event organizers figure out how many passes are distributed and who gets them. . . .

There are 2 types of events -- news events and staged events. Obviously if you stage an event you want the most favorable coverage possible. If the organizer issues the "press" passes, he controls the coverage. On the other hand, at a true news event experience has shown that limiting the access to actual accredited news people works best. There is increasing concern by the working press that the above mentioned "screening out those who don't agree" is not a good trend. I would suggest that admission approval by the organizers only worsens that situation.
The NYPD Shield is probably the most difficult press pass to get anywhere in the world. While it might get you into some staged events, it is issued to identify you as a legitimate member of the working press.
Jim

[david_usmarine]

I live in indianapolis and once called the rca dome(where the colts play) and talked to someone about getting on the sidelines to photograph a game for the hell of it.......
who wouldn't wanna photograph peyton manning(future hall of famer).....but the lady on the phone was telling me that the rules are you must be accreditted, meaning have a pass from a newspaper or something like.....it sucks.....but.....

i understand that they have only so much room on the sidelines........but as taxpayers in the city they ought to allow a few people(after security checks) to get their rocks off by coming to the game especially when 50 yard line seats are all sold to the cream of the crop around here.....

but that's just my 2 cents ......... :)

[SRPhotographic]

Press passes wont get you everywhere. Many events, especially sports, require credentials to gain access. To get credentials, either you or your editor have to contact the person at the event in charge of media relations. It's usually a smooth process.

[Riff Raff]

A few places I've managed to infiltrate the press corps just by looking like I was supposed to be there. This is from a Howard Dean rally four years ago when he was still running for president:

http://shawn.mchorse.com/HowardDeanSA/content/bin/images/large/P8252828.jpg

I later read a whole article about the guy in the center with the view camera. It took me a bit of reading before it connected with me that I'd actually seen the subject of the article and had a photo of him doing what they were talking about. :lol: