How to Get a Press Pass: Government-Issued or Special Events

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Obtain a press pass for any event
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Press passes allow journalists to access high profile and controlled areas. There are different types of passes for different events. Some organizations don't require media to wear official press passes, while others do. Freelance journalists and photojournalists can acquire press passes with the proper planning and connections.

How do you get a press pass?

To get a press pass for a special event, research the event beforehand, prepare your credentials, and contact the press office as early as possible. Consider joining a journalist union to secure passes more easily. To get a government-issued pass, file for a pass online, typically through your local police website.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Getting a Press Pass for Special Events

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  1. Special events include concerts, sports events, and other ticket holding events. The press pass for these events grants you free entry and sometimes allows you to go backstage to access for further coverage. Usually concerts will have a promoter separate from the venue that is responsible for granting these passes.
    • Research the event and contact the venue for help tracking down who is in charge.
  2. In order to get a press pass you're going to need credentials, or records that prove you work for a media outlet. Use previous articles or coverage that relates to the event you're interested in. It will benefit the promoters to see your style of work and your demographic as it pertains to the event in question. [1]
    • One of the best ways to prove your affiliation with a news source is to make contact using a work email address.
    • On your work email address, make sure to include a signature that says your role for the company. For example: "Gerald Straton / Photographer and Editor for L.A. Underground News"
    • An ID produced by either your newspaper or broadcasting outlet may be helpful as well.
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  3. Try to contact them as early as possible. Let them know who you are and who you work for. Often a press office will go by the name, public affairs office, or public relations. You may need to sell them on why they want access to an event, and how you would provide them with positive coverage.
    • You’ll be required to offer information about your publication or blog's followers that will benefit from the coverage.
    • Craft a simple but professional email pitch. You could begin with, “Hello, My name is ________ and I am an avid photojournalist from ________. I am reaching out with an interest in applying for a photo pass for the Switchfoot Fest this coming July.” [2]
  4. Some pre-planned events will issue badges to certified members of the media. In these situations, the issuing authority can be pretty tough on credentials. Keep pushing that you are there to cover the story. Try to convince them it would be a good idea to give you a badge.
    • Whoever issues the badges at the event will have a record of all the names who get access to the event.
    • You should start applying for press passes as soon as possible!
  5. Some photographers keep all the little press badges they get for several reasons. Badges act as trophies for the journalist, and serve as a visual indication that you’re an experienced journalist. You may find that you can get preferential access to major events by using an old badge alone.
  6. You can become a member of a journalist union that protects and helps freelance photographers and writers cover events. Some of the unions require a fee from you and benefit you with paying jobs and less hassle acquiring press passes.
    • The application process is straightforward with most writing unions. They ask that you provide samples and writing proof. [3]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Obtaining a Government Issued Press Pass

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  1. You only need a government press pass if you are covering stories dealing with crime scenes, exclusive press conferences, or another type of non emergency event with police barriers. Government issued press passes are typically reserved for officials in the media. These types of press passes vary in access and eligibility from state to state.
    • If you’re eligible for a press pass working for your blog in Kansas, things might be different in Chicago.
    • Government press passes expire after an allotted amount of time. Check with your local agency once obtaining one.
    • You can interview members of the government or police without a press pass.
  2. Do a quick search online to find out if your local city or town issues press passes. Some smaller towns don’t have an office responsible for issuing out press passes. The passes are typically associated with your local police department. Only new agencies covering crime investigation or government press conferences need to do this.
    • New York, for example, requires you to submit one or more articles or commentaries that’s been published in a 24 month time period. You also need to prove that you’ve covered six or more in person stories. [4]
    • Most applications can be completed through the police’s website.
  3. If you are a freelance news correspondent working for multiple agencies, you can still get a government pass. Write to your contacts at the separate news sources asking for proof of your employment. Some cities require three separate letters of identification. Other city agencies will only hand out government passes to reporters employed by an official news source.
    • Your reference letters should include verification of completed assignments from a media outlet.
    • Every city’s police department has different rules for freelance reporters.
  4. Many cities won’t accept applications and will only issue press passes through official news agencies. If you begin working for a news outlet, you should discuss government press passes to your superiors. You might learn that you’ll receive one if you are assigned a story requiring one.
    • Your agency will only give these out if they pursue events that require government passes.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Creating a Press Pass

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  1. Many photojournalist and reporters create their own press pass using Photoshop or other photo editing software. For several events, you are issued an official press pass. However, you sometimes need further information. This is why many in the journalism field create a photo ID indicating their role.
    • These IDs do not guarantee you access to the Paul Simon show or an interview with Seth Curry. These are for further establishing your credibility in the field.
  2. The most common way to portray a press ID is with a lanyard ID holder. You can purchase lanyard ID holders from most office supplies stores. You’ll also need a high gloss paper to print your graphic onto. It is best to have access to a photo editing software like Photoshop on a decent computer.
    • If you don’t have a good photo of yourself, you’ll need someone to help you take a high quality photo.
  3. Open Photoshop or another photo editing software on your computer. Create the document to the size of 3-â…›” x 2,” which is the normal size of badges. Decide if you want to create your badge in the landscape or horizontal orientation. Insert your photo to the document and crop the picture so it is a clear image of your face only. [5]
    • Next, you should insert minimal text explaining you are “PRESS” and your affiliating organization. Make the “PRESS" or "MEDIA" in red or black text. You could also include if you’re a photographer or a journalist.
    • If your media organization has a logo, insert the logo onto the corner of the ID, or place the faded logo in the background.
    • Keep it simple to make it look as professional as you can.
  4. It is best to print onto thick, high gloss paper. Print off the ID and carefully cut out the badge. Make clean cuts when cutting out the outline of the ID. Print off multiple IDs on the same page, in case you mess one up.
    • Be sure your printer can handle color printing before beginning the process.
  5. Once you have your final cutout of your ID badge, you are ready to finish everything up. Insert the badge into the lanyard holder. You are now ready to hit the streets with your press badge. You could also include some references of your superiors on the back of the card.
    • Things you could include on the back are phone numbers, addresses, and other information someone might request from you.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Are there any companies that print press passes for bloggers?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can go to a third party source to create a press pass for you. This type of pass would have the same legitimacy as a homemade press pass. Homemade passes are valuable for proving who you are, but will not grant you access everywhere.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Not Helpful 8 Helpful 27
  • Question
    Where can I find a third-party source to create a press pass? I lost mine.
    Community Answer
    Press credentials are offered for freelancers, bloggers, photographers and others involved in print or online media through uspressassociation.com.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 14 Helpful 15
  • Question
    Are freelance videographers considered a member of the press?
    Community Answer
    To answer your question, in a sense it is a yes and a no. The press is the printed/recorded news while the media is gathering and reporting the news. So, videographers are considered the press as well as media.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.niemanlab.org/2014/06/who-gets-press-passes-a-new-survey-looks-at-how-journalists-are-being-credentialed-or-not/
      2. ↑ https://blog.suzi-pratt.com/how-to-get-media-credentials-for-an-event-or-concert/
      3. ↑ https://nwu.org/journalism-division/press-passes/
      4. ↑ https://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/press_relations/Press_Credentials_Application.pdf
      5. ↑ https://www.indiemade.com/resource/how-make-press-badge-be-renegade

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To get a press pass, start by contacting the event venue and asking who's in charge of granting press passes. Then, once you have their contact information, send them an email from your work email address explaining who you are and what media outlet you work for. You can also include your previous articles or coverage that are relevant to the event. In your email, make sure you convince them that granting you a press pass would be good for their event. To learn how to obtain a government-issued press pass, scroll down!

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