NYC PRESSCARD RENEWAL at 1PP

Dunno, you should call them up and ask but last time I checked they wanted newspapers or magazines. Call +1646 610-6700 and ask for Det. Diaz.

Thanks Damaso! I figured as much. When I first got my Working Card from Detective Diaz, I covered a lot of breaking news. Now I dont cover as much of that so im not sure I will have three tearsheets from the papers I work for by tommorow. I only have 2 sheets and a couple on a website. Ill give her a call right now. Thank you!

GT

Good luck!

George,

Interesting situation you mention. I just went through the process yesterday for the first time in NYC. Here is the deal:
1) They will except tear sheets from the web. all of my submissions were web based.

2) HOWEVERIf you don’t bring in breaking/spot news tear sheets they will issue you THE PRESS ID ONLY! THE ONE THAT ALLOWS FOR CROSSING OF POLICE, AND FIRE LINES IN NON EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. ORANGE CARD.

3) I was issued the orange card yesterday (much to my surprise) even though my letters specifically called for working press,they don’t care.

4) Bring only spot and breaking news tear sheets period.

let me know how it goes,

Best,
EHRG

Do they issue any other card for ‘professionals’ without creds or tears? Some gross pea-green colored card for a wandering shooter like myself?

Erica,

Unfortunately the rules have become so tight. There is nothing lower than the card I have(orange) that is a “hard card” which is eligible for renewal. I looked over the board carefully (there is a large print out of all the cards available posted on the left side of the counter) and the only other one was called “Temporary Press ID” and it appeared as a heavy paper, non renewable badge. Sorry :(

I had the wind knocked out of me a bit when I was given the Orange card. It seems the NYPD simply does not care if you had 50 Time covers, or if you worked on staff in L.A. yada yada. If the images weren’t shot within the five boroughs, spot news or breaking news, from the last six months they don’t count. End of story. Maybe she just didn’t like me. who knows. At the end of the day, I’ve been shooting in NYC for over 9 months with no issue. Staying under the radar, using big glass and good instincts still are the most important credential

Best,
Ed

in reality nobody cares which card you have. do you think cops and firefighters are looking at the fine print when there’s some incident going on?

the only difference is that the actual working press breaking news card entitles you to a vehicle pass for your car, and the parade pass or orange card does not.

this only matters if you have a car.

Alan,

In my experience you are totally right. Then one day you happen to have the motivated, dedicated rookie who read the entire officers handbook cover to cover, and you are now in a CSPAN congressional debate instead of making pictures which always turns into the “You wanna go to jail!” statement in under 30 seconds. Or worse…another photog goes out of their way to tell the officer that your badge doesn’t entitle you access to the area. Oh yes my friends…I have seen it all.

I have a car, (which costs over 600 dollars a month to park) so yea, I was a little upset…but then again, I haven’t used the car to shoot a single assignment so this really is of my own doing. I can’t complain, I just didn’t like having to feel like my professional ability was going to be impaired because of a colored piece of plastic.

if you’re not using your car a lot you can garage here in brooklyn (indoors) for $125 a month. out on atlantic avenue in bed-stuy where the LIRR becomes elevated above.

when i go away for long periods i’ve done this, they bury your car three levels below, totally safe, until you get back.

also, when you are using car for assignment and you don’t have the pass, i’ve learned my lessons: don’t risk getting a ticket, YOU WILL these days with draconian enforcement. So just throw the car into a garafe for $20-30 and bill it to your assignment. Parking is a perfectly legitimate expense, especially if you had to lug lights or long lenses or whatever around…

For years and I had a Press Id Card, the “second tier” card and can’t recall ever having a problem. A few years ago I finally got a Working Press card and can’t say that it makes much of a difference, except to other photogs! TO a certain extent it seems like there isn’t any logic behind who gets what cards but I can say that if you have some fires or shootings you are more likely to get a working press card.

Erica, the rules used to be much more lax but starting a few years ago they tightened them up a LOT. Instead of having cards that would last up to two and a half years they started using cards which all expired in January which meant if you got a card in November you would have to come back in two months. When I asked they said it was in order to cut DOWN on the number of cards being issued, the brass felt there were too many people out there with press cards. But I also worked for years without one so just keep shooting!

bear one thing in mind though: whatever card you carry, it is subject to the discretionary judgment of the police on hand - in other words, they dont have to honor it if they dont want to. They didnt at 9/11. When I was working in NYC I covered many events without bothering to carry a pass - the agency alway had a few on hand but it was a pain to requisition them on short notice and after all spot news and so on is all by definition short notice. I never bothered to apply for a pass of my own either, though it would have been wise to do so.. Just couldnt be bothered. THings may have tightened up so much post 9/11 that you cannot any longer get away with such lazy behavior as mine.