http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one- An entire Lightstalkers thread via RSS/XML. en-us Hi, I'm looking for a advice from you about international press-card. In January 2008 I'm going to Lebanon to take pictures of Ashura. In order to get to the south of the country I will need to obtain special permission to photograph. I also need to have a valid press-card. As I never needed it for my photography I don't know from which organization/institution I should get it. Of course besides Lebanon I would like to use this press-card in other parts on the world in the future. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance for your help Aleksander Bochenek www.aaleksander.com Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:56:33 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one- First you must be accredited with or belong to a news agency or service. Such as a photo agency, wire service, magazine or newspaper. Magazines usually don't usually have or give out press cards. Example, you must work for Reuters, AP, Getty or the many others or a newspaper. In addtion you can belong to a photo agency, of which there are many. There are also journalism associations that have press cards. Ask around in the journalism community in your country for advice and direction. Mon, 08 Oct 2007 14:22:58 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#95890 Thanks, And what do you guys think about press-card from European Press Federation: https://www.ep-fed.org Are they recognizable? Aleksander Mon, 08 Oct 2007 14:28:08 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#95892 I know nothing about the EPF but I know that the card issued by them would be no use at all in the UK. Here we have a scheme where cards can only be issued by certain organisations. All cards look the same and are recognised by the police. Check out: http://www.nuj.org.uk/inner.php?docid=69 Martin Mon, 08 Oct 2007 15:08:18 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#95897 I guess the best thing to do would really be what Louie Palu said, but that's not easy. I have a press card that's supposed to work everywhere and as far as getting into museums for free is concerned it really does work. Used it in France, Monaco, London, Sri Lanka, Sicily... Here in Slovenia, you get this card by joining the national press association which is a part of a larger global structure of associations of journalists. This 'International Federation of Journalists' issues this card and I have had experience where only this one (yes, they're all the same) is recognized as valid. Here's a link to their website: http://www.ifj.org Good luck and take care! Luka Mon, 08 Oct 2007 17:01:13 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#95907 I'm sorry Aleksander, there is no thing like an international press pass. Only press cards issued by national media organisations and journalist associations. May be you should obtain one from the polish journalist ...blah blah blah. Besides museums evrybody working in the field, knows there are only national ones... How about the beer? In Barcelona. Mon, 08 Oct 2007 20:40:32 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#95946 I have asked a friend who has some sort of international press credential how she got hers, and she said by being registered as a professional journalist and then she got one through a journalist guild... This was in Italy though, not sure if they have stuff like this everywhere, but maybe worth looking in to. Maybe ask your local journalist union about it... hope this helped Mon, 08 Oct 2007 20:45:30 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#95947 Heinrich, Sure, let's have a beer. I've send you and email. Aleksander Mon, 08 Oct 2007 20:50:13 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#95948 Did you guys take a look at European Press Federation: https://www.ep-fed.org ? I'm still uncertain if the card is worth anything. The information of the website seems to be convincing... Mon, 08 Oct 2007 20:52:30 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#95949 Aleksander, too be really honest. The "Ep-fed" is total bullshit. I did have a look at the website and actually bothered to read a little further. Just two klicks away is the reason they set up this whole thing: talking people into paying them a fee, while hoping on some press rebates for cars, free vacations in the sun and the merits of free entrance into museums as well. Forget it. Call the Polish Journlist Union, ask how much you have to pay to become a member and you will get your press pass. Dont bother with crap like the one above... Mon, 08 Oct 2007 22:26:47 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#95962 www.ep-fed.org really doesn't look very promissing. It's more of a lottery. I know a lot of people who have press cards but they don't seem to work. Happened in Monaco. Only mine was accapted. Well, like I said. I got the most out of the one from www.ifj.org, because it joins all national associations of journalists into one union. And people know it wherever I come. Works at the airports, too, when you have way to much cary-on luggage. So I'd say you take Heinrich's advice and go to the national journalist association, which is probably a part of a broader, global union - probably IFJ - and you'll get your press card there. Mon, 08 Oct 2007 23:15:14 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#95969 Luka, looks good your idea...the germn members in the ifj are two of the three only allowed to issue an official german press card... Mon, 08 Oct 2007 23:21:45 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#95970 I've found personally that the quality of a press card is directly proportional to the caliber of rifle you're facing. Take Louie and Heinrich's advice. Tue, 09 Oct 2007 06:05:31 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#96017 It's quite easy to get temporary membership from the British NUJ, you just need to show a few clippings, you get a press card that is recognised in France and other countries too. I believe temporary membership is about £65 per year. You'd have to go through one of the local offices, they have them in several European capitals or maybe conact the head office in London. Tue, 09 Oct 2007 07:28:57 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#96027 The Chartered Institute of Journalists in the UK offer an international press card to their accredited UK Press Card holders here in the UK - and are themselves one of the UK gatekeeper organisations for the national press card. They are likely to be aware of any standards on International cards. Contact them through the website at www.cioj.co.uk Hope that helps, Michael Tue, 09 Oct 2007 07:52:52 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#96033 hello the big advantage of a press card is security. if your going to photograph there, YOU WILL be asked what you are doing. the press cars is a help. but a cover note in the area's tongue is the method to reduce hassel. the local police dont speak english or french. have a good trip Tue, 09 Oct 2007 13:47:46 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#96087 Hi, the way you can get a press card is by asking an agency, newspaper etc to do it or to join the national press union, and then you can get the International Press Card issued by IFJ (International Federation of Journalists). When in my country, i dont ever use any press card that i have but when travelling, always carrying y international press card to be secured. Tue, 09 Oct 2007 13:59:46 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#96089 Thanks for the tips. I will try to get it this way. Tue, 09 Oct 2007 14:12:39 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#96091 All right! Thanks to you guys seems like I'm on the good path now. I've called both IFJ and polish national federation - SDP. As you sad I have to join national first and than apply for the international card. Polish SDP is very helpful and they will let me join from here (Barcelona) without too much of the bureaucracy. Hope to get the card on time. Thanks a lot! Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:48:21 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#96568 ashura is a public events i think you dont need international press card you can have access without but you have to pass by hezbollah office to get access permission. Sun, 21 Oct 2007 18:59:39 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#98165 Char, that you for your info/opinion. Can you advise to which hezbollah office I should go when I'm there? Alekasnder Sun, 21 Oct 2007 21:25:03 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#98177 Martin - not quite true about the UK press card. I have been working in London for three months with an IJF press pass and that's been accepted whenever I've needed to produce one (three times so far to the police). Perhaps it helps that I am clearly a foreigner, I don't know? I need to find a way of obtaining an NUJ pass without having to shell out £300 to join one of the foreign correspondents' bodies(?). Sun, 21 Oct 2007 22:16:18 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#98180 international press card from the international federation of journalists - IFJ you get it in your union. and the wallet they give you with it it's great to hold a passport. cheers and good luck Sun, 21 Oct 2007 22:52:50 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#98181 What is one (freelancer) to do if they don't belong to their local union because they relocate too often? I'm an American living in Italy but will be moving to Southeast Asia very soon but not sure for how long. Afterwhich I could be moving back to Europe or the States. How long does the process take to become a member of a local union? Anyone have experience of this in Italy, USA, Cambodia and Thailand? additional info posted on Lightstalkers: <http://www.lightstalkers.org/press-pass> Mon, 22 Oct 2007 07:24:02 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#98209 Hi I have travelt all over the world with my press pass from IFJ and it always works. I also carry my national press pass with me (just in case). You can get the IFJ card trough your national Press Pass issuer. All the best Thomas Sjørup Mon, 22 Oct 2007 07:48:11 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#98212 Aleksander, You DO need a Press Card to get any permission from anybody in Lebanon. This is a MUST. First to get the basic one the "Ministry of Information" one, which would get you all the others the "Ministry of Defense" and the "Hezbollah" permission.. The Hezbollah office you should visit for permission is in the suburbs any taxi driver in the city knows about it or even a hotel if you are staying there. My friend took a bus and he got to the office all by himself. It's where you should get a permission to get into any village or town that is a Hezbollah stronghold.. cheers, D Mon, 22 Oct 2007 08:03:18 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#98214 Thanks all - currently I'm during the process of getting the national press-card. Just after receiving it I will apply to IFJ for the international one - I just hope I will get it all done in time before Ashura... Regards Aleksander Mon, 22 Oct 2007 19:23:50 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#98282 Aleksander-did this work for you? Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:27:40 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#103609 John, I'm still waiting for the national one. Once I get it I will apply for the international. Aleksander Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:35:30 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#103610 Hi guys. I've managed to become the member of SDP (polish journalist association) and get the International card from IFJ. Most likely I will be heading to Lebanon soon. I still need to organize many things. One of them is the letter of accreditation (cover note). How should it look like (contents) and in what language it should be written? I will prepare such and ask my friends in the newspaper to sing it. Thanks in advance for any suggestions Aleksander Sat, 05 Jan 2008 21:11:28 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#107374 What about unions for the U.S.? I'm looking on IFJ and can't find anything... edit: I think I may have found something... Sun, 06 Jan 2008 17:07:47 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#107451 what ever you do when you get there, keep some people informed about your location in case something goes wrong. i believe that there are LS members based in Lebanon that will give you info and help as soon as you get there. we need trustfull contacts where ever we are. Sun, 06 Jan 2008 19:24:25 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#107469 Aleksander, your letter should naturally state that you work for this magazine or newspaper or news agency and that you are here on an assignment for them.. It could be in French, English or Arabic (which is probably not the option you will go for).. The 3 languages are very fine here.. By the way you didn't really need an international press card, a local one would have done the job.. Anyway good luck.. Hmmm by the way, Ashoura should be in 9 days so if you want to capture that you should hurry in getting here.. cheers, Dalia Wed, 09 Jan 2008 11:59:29 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#107856 Ok, guys. Seems I have most of the information I need already. I flying there tomorrow. Great thanks Aleksander Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:39:31 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/international-press-card-which-one-#108008