Going Places with Press Passes
Good reporters will do whatever it takes to get the right story, the right information, and the right picture. For these reporters, little is more essential than a press pass. One of these passes will allow reporters to access places that would otherwise be restricted. With a press pass, reporters have a wider range of stories from which to choose, allowing them to report on important events. Although any type of reporter may be issued a press pass, they are usually most vital for photographers. Although a journalist may be able to glean information from other sources, a photographer must capture images of events that happen only once. There are a few types of press passes, and getting a press pass depends upon which type of pass you hope to get. One type of pass is event-specific; it is issued by the event, and is null once the event is over. This often applies for things like concerts, festivals, trade shows, and award shows. This may be due to public interest in the event, such as when famous musical acts are performing. In this case, sufficient public interest exists, and attaining passes can be quite difficult.
However, the event may be more likely to grant passes if they particularly desire lots of publicity, such as in the case of trade shows. These are not possible to recreate. And, after all, a picture is worth a thousand words. Knowing how to get press passes will benefit you immensely. Journalistic agencies and employers, such as newspapers, may issue official identification cards to their employees. This is usually akin to an employee ID. Although this usually serves to identify journalists, it may or may not serve as a press pass, depending on the event. This is also jurisdiction-dependent, though, and no two places have the same rules. The final, and most important, kind of press car is that issued by the local or state police. The process for attaining these cards is usually quite extensive, depending on the jurisdiction from which they are issued.
A background check is usually performed; the journalist’s credentials are checked thoroughly. Usually, if a police press pass enables journalists to gain access to crime scenes, they must give samples of their DNA and their fingerprints. It is generally only possible to attain one of these cards if you report current or breaking news. Special interest writers, columnist, and bloggers are usually not eligible for this kind of press pass. For reporters and journalists who are ready to go after breaking news and report from the front lines, a police press pass is important. The other kinds of passes all have their merits, though, and they should not be so easily dismissed. After all, it takes all types to make the world go around, and the news industry needs to report on all kinds of events. For journalists who have hollowed out their niche, figuring out which type of pass they need should be quite simple.