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Long-time readers of Gothamist may remember that we've applied for NYPD press passes a couple of times, and have gotten denied. The explanation we were given was that the NYPD only credentials traditional media— radio, print, and television— and that online reportage simply did not qualify. So it was with great interest that we attended today's public discussion of "Rules for City Issued Press Credentials" at New York Law School.
As part of a proposed settlement of a lawsuit brought by Norman Siegel on behalf of three online-journalists that had their applications for press passes denied, the city has agreed to consider revising the press pass rules. As part of that process, Gabriel Taussig of the New York City Law Department and Siegel outlined the proposed new rules for the three dozen journalists, bloggers, and other concerned citizens who showed up, and solicited some feedback. Here is an overview:
- Restrictions limiting press passes to certain mediums will be removed— in the future, online, offline, on-air, etc. will all be treated equally.
- To qualify for a press pass, the journalist or journalism organization will need to provide six clips from the last 24 months showing news-gathering activity that would require a press card— that would include live reportage from police and fire scenes, public assemblies, government press conferences, or similar events.
- The new system will consist entirely of working press cards, reserve cards (issued to freelancers by a news organization), and single-event cards. The other press cards that were issued as a courtesy (but didn't allow the reporter to cross police or fire lines) will be eliminated.
- If an applicant for a press card is denied, there is a formal process to appeal, in which the city has a set period of time (90 days) to respond to the appeal. Previously, the city had no time limit for response, and applications often fell into a black hole of city bureaucracy.
After their presentation, people in the audience were allowed to ask questions. One of the main criticisms brought up is that it's difficult for a freelancer to assemble six clips without a press card, and without those clips the freelancer can't get a press card, creating a chicken-and-egg situation. Some of the mainstream organizations also wondered whether their managing editors would be allowed to get cards, given that they only report from scenes infrequently, but still need the cards for big emergencies like 9-11 or the Transit Strike. Other reporters were concerned the NYPD doesn't train its officers to respect press passes, and that the reserve press cards (which have no picture) are often impossible to use. And finally, some of the bloggers in the audience worried that the NYPD might reject our clips because they didn't have enough "on-the-scene" reportage, and the definition of that is vague. Does one fact reported from the scene count, or do you have to include an interview with a witness? What about a picture?
While most agreed that revising the rules was a good idea, some of the mainstream reporters worried that hordes of bloggers might block their access to important events. Siegel said that he did not expect it be an issue (he pointed out that even Mayor Bloomberg's press conferences are rarely oversubscribed) but if it did become a problem, the various parties would gather again to determine a solution.
Under the new rules, it seems like Gothamist would qualify for the new credentials. Once the new rules go into effect (a process that will take many months), we'll have each of our full time writers and editors apply, and we'll also ask for a couple of reserve cards for our interns and freelancers. We'll report back once we're approved or denied. It is our hope that with the new rules, the playing field for bloggers and professional journalists will become a little more level, and we'll have access to the same sources and scenes that current mainstream journalists take for granted. Hopefully, as a result, the quality of our reportage will improve, and we'll be able to pick up some of the burden being shed by the dying mainstream media organizations.
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Does this mean fresh news instead of Newsdays stories from 2 days ago?
Those Newsday stories were 12 hours old at most!
But my point is simple: without access to the same tools and freedoms that traditional MSM reporters have, it's unfair to criticize the output of those reporters. If they don't let us in the room, or into the press conference, or behind the police line, how exactly do you expect us to do the high quality reporting job that you so desperately require from us?
In my days with a local tabloid, the ONLY times press passes ever came in handy were for scheduled press conferences. Breaking news, talking to suspects/victims/family members, all that stuff: just act like you're supposed to be there, and you'll never be given a hard time.
good luck guys, hope you get some.
can you tell us if any new press passes were issued in the say 8 years or so since a new PC was sworn in?
This is so exciting!
It was easier in the old days. All you needed was a fedora with a hat band and a well lettered card that said "Press" in it.
fuhgeddaboudit, gothamist is about to get made.
It's about time. The NYPD has a really antiquated attitudes towards the press. I've dealt with them many times, and they can be sort of ridiculous with how they mete our access.
However, I really think the whole idea of press passes is also antiquated. The 'press' can now be anyone with a Flip camera and web connection, as we saw with the whole Sully landing and now iReport etc.
We're definitely headed slowly towards more access for everyone which is a great thing.
"..and we'll be able to pick up some of the burden being shed by the dying mainstream media organizations."
Zing!
Wait, Gothamist gathers news? Doesn't it just regurgitate other news media?
I was under the same impression. I thought Gothamist existed to give an angle on what was already being reported. What do you need a press pass for?
Gothamist performs two functions: meta-curation of other content (about 50% from MSM, and 50% from blogs and other independent media), as well as our own original content production. That includes the interviews we do, as well as reporting additional facts on the meta-stories (calling up sources for comment, doing additional research), as well as wholly original stories that we source and report ourselves.
Obviously we do more curation than original reportage-- but I guarantee you that for the budget we have to work with, we produce about 2X the amount of original content per dollar than the MSM outlets. Let's see how they do when they don't have a few billion dollars of shareholders money to burn!
Okay, but you don't need a press pass to call sources or cull photos from Flickr. About the only original reporting I can think of is the occasional restaurant opening or review. Nothing I can think of that a press pass would let you do but a business card wouldn't.
No, you don't need a press pass to call sources or cull photographs from Flickr—but having a working press credential is useful for even attending non-emergency events like mayoral press conferences. It becomes a vicious cycle where, if by having a press credential, we'd gain more legitimacy by covering more "breaking news" events yet there are barriers to even getting a press credential in the first place.
We're lucky to have developed some good relationships with different agencies and organizations where we can get access to events with enough notice, but we'd like the opportunity to increase the breadth of our reporting by having a press credential.
Additionally, the NYPD press credential is considered the standard for many other organizations putting on events. When I wanted to attend the ServiceNation forum last year with then-presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain, the vetting process required that I have an NYPD issued press credential. I had to go back and forth with the group to get access.
I'm a photojournalist and have a Working Press card and it means nothing. I was once on scene at a fire taking photos and the cops told me to stand back. I was among the same crowd of ordinary gawkers. No privilege involved.
Twice I've been denied access to a public street. Once at a murder scene and again at a fire. I went up to the police line flashed my card and asked to get by and the cops simply said no. I reiterated the fact that the card allows me to "cross police and fire lines" and that what he was standing in front of was a police line. And no budge. It wasn't even crowd control. The streets were empty otherwise and there were no other news media on scene.
A press card merely gives you credibility to the public. And helps in identifying yourself as a journalist.
I can think of a few events where Gothamist was a valuable source. the crane accident, the hudson river plane landing, the Grand central area steam explosion, probably the SI ferry crash in a lesser extent.
If Gothamist is going to ask for press cards, how about using at least a few of the standards that traditional media uses----I find the writing on this site confusing and atrocious. The headlines are confusing at best...and you condemn the alleged victims before a court of law does. There is a reason why news shows and newspapers use words like alleged, reportedly, cops say and police claim. My rant is over.
To be fair, Gothamist isn't the only outlet that does this. I'm sure a few writers at the Post and Fox News do the same thing, including referring to Obama as an "alleged" president. And it's mostly John Del Signore that's the serial instigator on this site, the Andrea Peyser or Bill O'Reilly of Gothamist, if you will.
The simple fact that a law enforcement organization has anything to do with this says it all. That "they" have to "let us" in the room is very scary.
I know for a fact that two of these individuals had press credentials and they were denied renewal, not an initial pass. This is an important distinction, because one of them is a real muckraker and the denial has been seen as retaliation.
I am new to this website so I will with hold judgment until I have had some time to read original content of which I hope there is plenty. There is after all a reason why I stay away from establishment media and its not to read it on other websites.
By the way, what kind of fact checking do you guys do for submissions? Whats mentioned about language in [16] is pretty alarming.