Press credentials

LRussoPhoto

What exactly do you get by having press credentials? How does it work? Who issue's them? Is there a single orginazation that issue's them?

moose135

What are you looking to do with them? There isn't one all-encompassing set of "press credentials". If you work for a media organization (newspaper, TV, radio, etc.) you will normally have some sort of ID indicating your role, but if you are looking for access somewhere, that often won't get you much. Different organizations and venues all issue credentials, with different requirements. If you are looking to shoot at a sporting event, the organizing body, promoters or venue will issue credentials. If you are looking for access to shoot breaking news (at a government event or crime scene, for instance), your local government and/or law enforcement agency will issue them. And just because one agency issues you credentials, don't expect others to honor them. A photographer friend has an NYPD press pass, and he had to jump through hoops to get similar credentials from the Port Authority for access at JFK airport. And to get that from the PA, he had to show that he was working with a recognized publication (as a freelancer).

There are some photography groups and organizations that may issue you "credentials" showing you are a photographer and belong to that group, but again, don't rely on that to get you where you want to be.

JimKarczewski

What Moose said, plus.. For a typical event (basketball, football, etc.) it's going to be the team that issues the credentials and if it's professional sports, you had better be working for a news outlet or you are pretty much SOL. That being said, high school, unless it's playoffs, nobody questions me and I do work for a news paper...

LRussoPhoto

Not looking to do anything inpirticular, just curious. I see some photog's wearing an nice official looking press i.d. so I was curious if there is a certain organization where you can apply for one. After looking around the web a little I have found that there are many different groups/organizations that you can join and they will issue you an official looking pass. Are any of there groups credited? One I found was the International Association of Press Photographers (IAPP). There are quite a few others as well.

johng

QuadRacer041 wrote: »

After looking around the web a little I have found that there are many different groups/organizations that you can join and they will issue you an official looking pass. Are any of there groups credited? One I found was the International Association of Press Photographers (IAPP). There are quite a few others as well.

It's all a scam. It MIGHT get you past a cop at a breaking news situation. But if you are shooting sports it's meaningless. It will allow you to go where other people are allowed to go - lots of HS athletics like football or basketball. But if it's an event where credentials are issued - your 'official looking ID' is meaningless. For such events you don't just show up and show your "official looking id" and receive a sideline pass. You have to apply for the pass. And, more often than not - it's the editor that needs to apply on your behalf. So, other than possibly making yourself look important to school kids, such passes aren't worth anything.

Angelo

there are "credentials", "passes" and "membership cards"

Membership in the IAPP (a fraternal organization) will garner you a "membership card" but it won't get you very far regarding access.

"Credentials" are really just an employee identifier. If you're a reporter / photographer for the NY Times, you'd have these official credentials that identify you as a legitimate employee of the news organization and will garner you access to "in-the-moment" activity such as an accident or crime scene

"passes" are subjective and discriminatory invitations to a given event, otherwise closed to the public without an entrance fee, issued by the event producer for the purpose of amassing press coverage of the event. These items, boldly stamped "PRESS" are meant to allow access to various areas and / or to avoid waiting in lines.

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LRussoPhoto

Yea, I thought it might be some sort of scam or just something to have to make you feel important, thanks guys.

fredjclaus

The IFPO is another one that will sell you credentials. They don't mean anything in real life though. If you want to shoot local events I'd say become a stringer for a local newspaper. Professional sports, government programs and other public events often issue their own credentials. You would need to contact those organizations directly. Don't be surprised If you get turned down though. They only issue so many and unknown photographers are the first to be turned away.

Best place to start would be your local newspaper. I did that for many years and was able to photograph on the sidelines of local high school football games.


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=42.992469,-78.962397

Angelo

QuadRacer041 wrote: »

Yea, I thought it might be some sort of scam or just something to have to make you feel important, thanks guys.

what scam?

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LRussoPhoto

Angelo wrote: »

what scam?

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Johns post

It's all a scam. It MIGHT get you past a cop at a breaking news situation. But if you are shooting sports it's meaningless. It will allow you to go where other people are allowed to go - lots of HS athletics like football or basketball. But if it's an event where credentials are issued - your 'official looking ID' is meaningless. For such events you don't just show up and show your "official looking id" and receive a sideline pass. You have to apply for the pass. And, more often than not - it's the editor that needs to apply on your behalf. So, other than possibly making yourself look important to school kids, such passes aren't worth anything.

Angelo

I'm not sure which "it" you're referring to. a pass issued by an organization so you can cover their event is legitimate...

did you see my earlier post?

Glort

Getting passes in some sports is a real cheken or the Egg conundrum here.
They won't give you a pass without you have experience and work to show and you can't get work to show of suitable quality unless you have access to the places that will only let people with a pass.

When i wanted to do Motorsports I quickly ran into this and not knowing anyone in that field or particularly inclined to waste time mucking round, I just BS'ed my way into what I needed.

I sent an email to a general interest/bikini babe mens mag and offered to cover an upcoming event for them on spec. Wrote a speil woth the impressive numbers about the cars etc and pitched it as a one off article the predominantly male readership would be interested in as a general interest story. Also pitched the amount of Pit lizzards at these events that would be very much in context with the mags content.

Guy got back to me, made me aware they paid bugger all and I said no probs and had him arrange me a press pass. The pass came not from that mag perse, but rather the largest mag publisher in the country.
In like Flynn!

When I wanted to cover another motorsport, I used the credentials from the previous event to prove my bonafides in that sport to the other organisers. No probs.
I put all the pics on my web site, sent the 1st guy a link to athe page and told him he had 24 hours to decide if he wanted any pics or not and then i'd offer them else where if he wasn't interested.
Never heard from him so sent other editors an email and sold some. 1st guy comes back to me a month later saying he had been on holidays and wanted to use some of the pics.

Told him I had already sold some and he was fine with that and bought some more.
At teh next event I did, I used one of the othe mags as my refrence and established myself as a shooter for them as well.

After the first season, I applied for credientials from the governing motorsport body in the country whom had just bought in an " all in one" type pass to save shooters having to go through red tape with every event organiser.
Basicaly this was a gold ticket to shoot any sactioned event in the country. As they all come under the one organisations umbrella, you have one of these and they can't not let you in. You can cover anything from go karts on up.

I did more local events but it quickly became obvious that although I like the sport, it was not a financialy worthwhile endeavour so I gave it away.
One event I applied for late to cover a drag meet I couldn't get a track pass as they only allowed so many shooters down there. they said I could get a media pass but would have to shoot from the public areas. I said that was fine and did the meeting.
I sold a cover and a centre out of those pics to a new client who told me he had already seen hundreds of shots from teh meet but loved the different angles I had which no one else did.
He never worked out I was shooting from the stands.
Too funny!


Now given the mentality of forums, I'm sure there would be a lot of people that would howl in protest at my backdoor approach and bending the truth etc but the one thing I have learned in life is if you want something, You do what it takes to get it. Doing it by the numbers, I would have probably never got in to these events or at very least had to suffer the indignation of a lot of power trippers and ego maniacs. Once you have credentials with one organisation it makes getting the rest that much easier.

I used a " creative" approach, thought outside the square and got what I wanted.
There are always ways and means if you have the motivation and drive to achieve your goals. :ivar

Angelo

Glort wrote: »

...Now given the mentality of forums, I'm sure there would be a lot of people that would howl in protest at my backdoor approach and bending the truth etc but the one thing I have learned in life is if you want something, You do what it takes to get it. Doing it by the numbers, I would have probably never got in to these events or at very least had to suffer the indignation of a lot of power trippers and ego maniacs. Once you have credentials with one organisation it makes getting the rest that much easier.

I used a " creative" approach, thought outside the square and got what I wanted.
There are always ways and means if you have the motivation and drive to achieve your goals. :ivar

Bravo! You evaluated the situation, worked a plan to your advantage and walked away a winner. It's what winners do!

I hope the OP understands - just because someone says "something" is a scam doesn't mean you should throw your hands up and walk away defeated.

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LRussoPhoto

In post #5 Johng posted saying it was a scam, I took that to mean joining an organization like the IAPP. They give your what they a call a press pass that looks all legit but from what most of you are saying that press passes/media passes are usually given for specific events.
So I was responding agreeing that if that is the case then I agree, IT is a SCAM, thinking that press credentials you get from an organization like the IAPP will work anywhere.

Thats what I meant when I called IT a a SCAM.

Angelo

Well then there's a simple difference of opinion. I don't think anyone joins the IAPP for the sole reason of obtaining a press pass, but one WILL garner you access to many venues. The IAPP is a well regarded organization and membership is meant to imply you fit a profile of professional and ethical standards within the industry. Hardly a SCAM in my book.

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LRussoPhoto

Angelo are you a member of the IAPP or any other type of similar organazation? I'm not dis'ing. Just basing my opinion on what John was saying. Maybe he is worng, I don't know, thats why im looking for opinions.
I'm trying to see wha tthe benifits would be.
Please dont take it the wrong way.

Angelo

I don't take it the wrong way and I'm not arguing with you. I'm trying to help you understand and decide how to approach this. I am not a member of the IAPP.
I am an architect and Creative Director - As such I belong to the AIA, the ISP, D&AD and ADC

Glort

Angelo wrote: »

I don't think anyone joins the IAPP for the sole reason of obtaining a press pass, but one WILL garner you access to many venues. Hardly a SCAM in my book.

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I'm afraid i disagree.

I looked at teh site and on each and every page they mention their press card and on most pages they plug it is THE main benifit they offer. To me it looks like they are merely cashing in on the wannabes with camera's that think because theyhave one they take on an elevated importance and right to take pics of what they want.

The reason proper passes exist is to keep the the wannabes that have no purpose other than their own out of things that are going to be overly popular, potentialy dangerous or both without some real and useful puprose for the pics.
Maybe it may seem ironic me saying that but i had worked in the media before and my sole purpose for getting passes was to take pics to sell and I had potential buyers lined up from the start.

To me that organisation is merely issuing false credentials. The fact it says it will issue its passes to anyone says it all. With any normal press pass that i have come across, you have to nominate whom you are shooting for and get a reference from them. This is where this pass becomes useless.

As John said above, it may get you past a cop or security gaurd at an accident or something but i doubt very much it would get you into a press conference of any importance and certainly not any mainstream sports events that I have come across.

I would also bet that anywhere one of those passes got you into, something you could knock up in photoshop or download from the net would as well! There are different levels of security of access and while flashing something official looking may get you into some sort of on the fly minor news event, they sure as heck are not going to get you into any half decent sporting, press conference, concert or similar pre arranged one because all that is done in advance and here ate least, they check them all out.

If you say your with a media org. they want to know whom your editor is and their contact number and they DO ring them and if you say your freelance, then the checks start with a blood sample, go on to wanting to see copies of tearsheets of your work and a list of potential buyers whom they will also ring to check they know you.
Some press shooters association pass is NOT going to get you in the door on its own and I would say would probably make them suspicious ( especially if they know who this mob is) and more likley to get you the knockback or a more through look at your credentials that anyone else.

I would have to agree that from what I'm seeing, those passes are indeed a scam.

Angelo

Quadracer - go back and read your original post which contained a couple of simple, straight-forward questions.

Posts #2, #3 & #6 seem to give you straight-forward answers.

Good luck

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johng

Angelo,
Let's clarify: what circumstances has an IAPP-issued "press pass" gotten you access to? What sporting events or news events? When I need a 'pass' to shoot a news or sporting event, organizers want requests from an editor. So, since you have indicated my advice that the IAPP-issued "press pass" won't get the OP much access, can you elaborate on your own personal experience that contradicts my advice?

Angelo

John

I never defended the IAPP pass. Read my post #6. I think I was VERY clear and concise. And I think this subject has run its course.

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BradfordBenn

For my work, not photography, I often get passes that allow me access to pro sporting events. Something else that is often needed when applying for/being granted passes is proof of insurance and an indemnification of the organizer. So having a pass can also be a legal contract that requires some effort to get. Think about the risk of being up close to the action and being involved in it. Many of us have seen the photographers on the sidelines dashing out of the way of a play. Think about if one doesn't get out of the way in time and injures a multimillion dollar athlete.

Glort

johng wrote: »

Angelo,
Let's clarify: what circumstances has an IAPP-issued "press pass" gotten you access to? What sporting events or news events? When I need a 'pass' to shoot a news or sporting event, organizers want requests from an editor. So, since you have indicated my advice that the IAPP-issued "press pass" won't get the OP much access, can you elaborate on your own personal experience that contradicts my advice?

I would also like to hear how Angelo's experience differs from my own.

johng

Angelo wrote: »

John
I never defended the IAPP pass. Read my post #6. I think I was VERY clear and concise. And I think this subject has run its course.
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Angelo, maybe my confusion was in regards to this statement made by you:

Angelo wrote: »

I don't think anyone joins the IAPP for the sole reason of obtaining a press pass, but one WILL garner you access to many venues. The IAPP is a well regarded organization and membership is meant to imply you fit a profile of professional and ethical standards within the industry. Hardly a SCAM in my book.

So, in your own words, you APPEAR to indicate that an IAPP pass will garner the OP access to many venues.

Did you not mean to write that? Did I somehow misinterpret your meaning? It would appear you are stating the IAPP pass will get the OP access. So, I'm simply asking why you make that statement?

Of course, when you basically tell someone to ignore my opinion as you imply here...

Angelo wrote: »

Posts #2, #3 & #6 seem to give you straight-forward answers.

You might expect me to challenge your own experience that allows you to indicate your advice is good and strait forward and mine (suggesting the iapp pass wont get him into events) is not valid.

Or, did I misunderstand "but one WILL garner you access to many venues."?

dbveto

Angelo wrote: »

John

I never defended the IAPP pass. Read my post #6. I think I was VERY clear and concise. And I think this subject has run its course.

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Yes post #6 is very clear, but your post #15 seem to be the opposite or at least confuses the issue?

Glort

Here is a somewhat typical ( although quite relaxed) Media Accredation Application for what I see here.

http://www.sydneyeventing.org/sites/default/files/images/mediaaccreditation_0.pdf

Anyone that is a member of the organisation in question (or any other similar) send my the details of what I have to fill in for the part of whom the organisation is, I'll do the rest with my details and we'll see if this gets us anywhere.

This would be a very easy event to get into because i know working with the organisers thay are very keen to get all the publicity they can. If you couldn't get into this event with those bought and paid for IAPP credentials, you'd be lucky to get into MC Donalds with them!

If you were to apply for access to something actually popular and known even like Drag racing meets let alone Football or other major sporting events, they generally only allow people from affiliated organisations owned by the overall parent company of the major sponsors or those that have teh TV rights etc.

Trying to get in as a freelance will have your application scruitinized more than anything else.


I agree with the above post on the confusing rebuttal and contradictory posts. I am interested to know if things in the US are different to what they are here and if the actual personal experience of others with these fake associations would get a person as far as the carpark to any worthwhile event that you couldn't make up your own creditneials that would have as much ( or little) value as what these Iapp people are charging for.

I think that far from the subject having run it's course, the real value and information of the thread is only just getting going.

Angelo

John

I see where I allowed confusion to creep into my statements so let's try to clear this up. OK?

Firstly, the OP began the thread by simply asking what credentials were and who issued them. A thread which has devolved into a debate about the validity of the IAPP.

In post #6 I outline the differences between the various (small c) "credentials" and clearly state my opinion that anything issued by the IAPP proves nothing more than membership. In a later post I indicate that such membership might suggest, but not guarantee, a certain level of professionalism in the field.

Yes, I later suggested that an IAPP press pass would garner access to venues, because it will in some cases. That is not a ringing endorsement of becoming a member. We have members here who are members of the IAPP and I hope they may eventually weigh in on the subject.

Conversely, you made a subjective, broad stroke condemnation of the matter as a scam. I don't know that that's true or fair.

Further, as I mentioned earlier in this thread and have repeatedly on this forum - I am a Creative Director with an educational background in art and architecture with accreditation and membership in several professional organizations. As much as I enjoy photography and derive some income from my work it is not my full-time profession. However, I am very much involved in the routine contracting of photographers for product, service, location and fashion shoots and for the purchasing of images for marketing and advertising projects.

I am not a member of IAPP nor any "press" organization so I cannot provide personal examples of access acquired as a result of such membership.

As an aside - I have approached venues expressing my interest in "covering" their event for the purpose of reporting back to the dGrin membership. You can find several of my posts on, gallery openings, PHOTOLA, and Alfred Wertheimer. And I do this with nothing more than a self-created laminated ID card bearing the dGrin logo and my name, clipped to my camera strap. This bolsters my contention that it is the venue one needs to approach for access rather than rely on press credentials.

John - I hope this proves satisfactory. I respect you and appreciate the level of your work and participation here. I hope we retain that.

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idiotabroad

To find out who to contact about passes for concerts and like events check out the artist rider. Most of the time you can find these online and they list all sorts of information pertaining to media and backstage and ALL the contacts involved. Bark up the right tree and it might get you somewhere. lol