Bloggers Now Eligible For Press Passes In NYC

RobotRunAmok writes "The New York City Police Department announced Tuesday that bloggers and others who publish on the Web will now be eligible for press credentials. The move comes as a result of a lawsuit filed in 2008 by three Web journalists who were denied press passes. In New York, journalists with press passes are typically allowed to cross police barricades at public events. 'Events that will qualify include city-sponsored activity — like a press conference or parade — as well as emergencies where the city has set up do-not-cross lines. The proposal also allows inexperienced journalists to obtain single-use press passes. Longtime civil rights lawyer Norman Siegel, who represented the journalists who sued, says the city will now decide who a journalist is by looking at the type of work they do, and not the organization they write for.'"

Re:I write for Slashdot

[LostCluster]

If you've got enough attention on Slashdot, and you've got something to say... register a domain name, get a $20-40/mo. hosting package, and link to it in your Slashdot signature. If people like you here, they'll love you there.

Re:great, thanks a lot

[HungryHobo]

Ah so lets limit it to an elite and their friends.

Not friends with the right person?
Not born into the right family?

Sucks to be you!

Re:great, thanks a lot

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah... I think the press pass should be limited to people who:

1. Have covered such events in the past.

2. Have a measurable audience somehow... be it web, print, TV, radio, etc.

3. Haven't caused problems at previous events.

1. So, in order to cover such an event, you must have a Press Pass, and in order to get a Press Pass, you must have covered such an event.

2. In order to have an audience, you must get the news. In order to get the news, you've got to have an audience.

3. In order to get a Press Pass, you have to have covered such an event without one. Which pretty much means going past police barricades or some similar illegal activity. So, pretty much be definition, you'll have misbehaved at a previous event.

In summary, your requirements reduce to:

1. No-one will be issued Press Passes.

if you RTFA before issuing your screed, it states that inexperienced bloggers or other journalists can apply for a 1 day pass to cover events.