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Obtaining Press Passes?

, 8/8/2005, 10:09:15 PM

I'd like to issue my staff press passes this year, but don't know where to begin. Is there a basic format I should follow (my freshman year we were issued passes that were basically nametags with the masthead on them).

Who should sign them, and what kind of statement should they sign?

Can/should I get them through the local police department, or is that overkill for a campus newspaper?

Are these the kinds of things we can print out ourselves, or should we have them professionally done? Is there anywhere to purchase them?

Responses

Ryan, 8/9/2005, 1:31:04 PM
It depends where you are. A number of areas won't give press passes to college papers (NYC police, Massachusetts police, etc). The best bet is to call your local police department and ask. Then, if not, make your own, and send a sample of the ID to the police departments you work with, explaining that your reporters will be carrying these passes and that you'd appreciate it if they were honored.

Colette Armstrong, 8/10/2005, 3:31:42 PM
Also, check with local papers and see how they get press passes. If it's a state agency issuing the passes, they might go for a college paper. We're accredited through the Colorado Press Association.
Colette Armstrong
Editor
CU-Denver Advocate
Denver, CO

Andrew Welfle, 9/2/2005, 1:07:24 AM
Hi there,

I was the editor of a student newspaper last semester, and responsible for getting my staff their first uniform press credential in the history of the paper (since I've been there, at least)... This is what I did:

Our office is in the student union, which is where the university makes the plastic ID cards. To do this, Union Operations has a bunch of little plastic cards they put though a special printer. We struck a deal with the operations people to make our press credentials. It operates like a university ID, but bears our design. If you would like, I'll email you a PDF of what the layout looks like.

Email me at awelfle@ipfwcommunicator.org

Ciao!

-Andy

Cindy Walker, 9/7/2005, 11:01:36 AM
Andy,

would you mind sending a copy to me? cwalker@faulkner.edu

We have never had them and as the new advisor my job last year was to just get a newspaper out in a timely manner. I'd like to give a little credibility now to the staff!

Latonia Bailey, 9/23/2005, 9:41:23 AM
Do you use the press passes to allow your reporters in free to campus athletic events, plays, concerts, etc. What's the campus policy on admission for the media?

Travis Mason-Bushman, 10/21/2005, 8:36:22 PM
At Contra Costa College, The Advocate staff on assignment are admitted free of charge to all campus events.

klinknot@yahoo.com, 12/19/2005, 5:55:14 PM
They use to make Press Passes for anyone. If you say you are with the press you are. I do not know of any company that sells press passes. I wish I did know a company that sells Press Passes. I someone can tell me who make them please E mail me at klinknot@yahoo.com. Maybe someone can open there own press pass printing store.