Official Cop Block Press Passes: Take Your Activism to the Next Level

I hate to be the one to tell you, but most events have their own credentials. Those won’t work. I like how you have to say its a souvenir so you won’t get busted. If you want to be a legitimate journalist, go to school and learn the proper way. Not the Copblock School of Getting Arrested but a good college class or two.

BTW, you can’t be “busted” for carrying a press pass. Press passes are simply a form of ID issued by media organizations to people working for them. In essence, they are similar to a company issuing an employee ID card. On the face of it, there isn’t anything legally significant or potentially illegal to them. They’re simply a convenient way of identifying who someone is and who they work for.

And while private events often do issue their own generic passes to identify who has been granted press access, press passes from a media outlet are often required to apply for them. Even when that isn’t the case, having a press pass can make the process quicker and easier.

10.00 bucks huh? Freedom of the press…pay as you go.

Mopping floors at the TV station does not make you an expert at anything other than mopping floors at the TV station.

Film everything. We are the press.

lol @ john Q’tips trolling

The freedom to record under the guise of copblock is free per the founder himself. These credentials are no more than a badge to be worn by those who paid your light bill. I sincerely hope people aren’t so blinded by their hatred of the state to see what a fraudulent sale this is.

I was born with my credentials. Unfortunately the sheep in blue costumes think I need a laminated bathroom pass to take pictures. Thanks to CopBlock for providing that pass.

Journalism is a term used to give arbitrary value to press. If you are not a journalist or a member of the press you have as much rights and access to public information and employees as anyone else.

These “press passes” probably cost about $10 to produce and mail out with Shipping and Handling. So it is a fair price. If you want to go with the more traditional pass you can go to any number of traditional online news associations and get an official “press Pass”

While negative commentators while being accurate that the event you attend usually gives press passes (after vetting), they fail to realize that most of the “events” that copblockers report on are their own events.

In my experience having a “press pass” even one made by yourself gives you credibility and makes people more comfortable speaking to you if you have “press”. Sort of like when a minimum wage security guard or police officer gets a nice silver/gold badge, people have the tendency to give them extra rights and leeway.

Cops are a little less likely to harass someone that has press credentials, just like people are likely to leave people with badges alone.

Shawn, take those creds to the White House and see if they get you in.

I going to get one of these and one from Carlos Miller/PINAC!

JQP, do you make this up, as you go along, or do you truly believe the hype you type?

Let’s get to the nitty gritty on Press Passes. What is a Press Pass? A Press Pass by definition, is a Pass for the Press (Citizen Press as well), created by either the Organization they represent, i.e, in this matter Cop Block, Law Enforcement (Local, County, State, etc…), or Event, i.e, The Consumer Electronic Show (CES).

In order to ascertain said Press Pass Credentials, a person could create said credentials themselves, i.e., JQP’s Blog, or file with their local media (AZ High Times), or national media, say NBC, ABC, CNN, Mother Jones, Cop Block, etc… (Yes, due to the web presence, and satellite affiliates, Cop Block can be considered national media).

For a Law Enforcement Press Pass, acknowledgement by said LE, and a possible background check, fingerprints, fee, etc… a LE Press Pass for access to Crime Scenes, LE events, etc… could be applied for, and would be considered an additional pass to an existing “Press Pass”.

As for “Event Press Passes”, let’s look to event websites for needed credentials to ascertain said pass. Most likely access would be granted to an Event related entity, or blog post, or you happen to know someone in the event planning group. Usually a bit of background, and a fee, could provide access to this type of additional “one off” press pass.

As to your post from the 10th “take those creds to the White House and see if they get you in.” As someone with stated Media experience, I’m sure you’re aware of the background checks, and investigative aspects which are needed to allow said access to such a prominent event. However, many bloggers, and internet reporters do gain access to such events. Recall recently the access granted to Neil Munro, the Irish-born reporter from the Daily Caller. (Google: idiot yells at obama during press conference). Anything is possible.

I like the Cop Block Press Pass concept, and the fact that continuity and further access to Cop Block followers, will offer further credence to this site, and affiliates.