How to identify a legitimate press pass

Press passes are issued by legitimate press agencies such as USPA or organizations such as IAPP and are well respected by businesses, event organizers and public institutions such as the police. This respect allows you to overcome research hurdles, making your every-day editorial work easier. In the United States, however, there is no uniform appearance for press passes. In addition, there are variations when it comes to issuing press passes. Some agencies restrict the passes exclusively to full-time journalists.This limitation does not apply to USPA; however, a press pass issued by this press agency is widely accepted on both the national and the international level.

Recognizing fake press passes

Even among press associations, there are some black sheep that issue press passes only for their own commercial gain. Laypersons who are applying for their first press pass often have a hard time differentiating between a legitimate association and a dubious one. Various factors indicate that a provider enjoys international recognition and acceptance, which should help tip the scale in favor of such an association when deciding on a press pass. Such factors include the availability of a special online portal where articles and images may be presented, as well as the option to receive a letter of confirmation from the editorial office upon request. Press agencies or associations such as USPA and IAPP offer these services and are accepted partners for many public agencies as well as event organizers and businesses.

The format of a recognized press pass

Even though the appearance of press passes may vary depending on the issuing institution, certain standards have become established with legitimate press agencies. The passes must be made of plastic in the size of a credit card, while premium printing methods with color gradients and Guilloché pattern make each press pass unique and that much harder to forge. For security reasons, press passes must be renewed annually, and most press passes receive a different color each calendar year. Other standard features of press passes include the current year and personal data about its owner.

Who issues recognized press passes?

There are numerous press agencies that are able to issue press passes, both on a national and international level. By way of example, we'd like to introduce you to two of these providers: the International Association of Press Photographers (IAPP) and the United States Press Agency (USPA). IAPP, which is headquartered in Miami, focuses on publishing press photos but also offers a comprehensive media selection in the area of news and reports. The organization is governed using flat hierarchies and a detailed division of responsibilities, allowing for a particularly efficient workflow. This is reflected in its affordable membership fees.

A profile of USPA

The United States Press Agency is recognized in the United States and around the world as one of the largest independent press agencies, with a scope of operations that spans all areas of the modern media world. Both full-time and part-time journalists find the right partner in USPA, which, in addition to its role as a press agency, also functions as a link between media professionals, businesses and journalists in the areas of print, broadcast and television. USPA supports its own news channels, allowing its members to easily exchange news, photos and more.Thanks to its own online portal and a diverse network of other journalists and media professionals, USPA makes it easy to start working as an editorial contributor.

Discover the possibilities with USPA and IAPP

IAPP and USPA both include journalists from all areas of the modern media world. In addition to conventional print journalists, these organizations include photojournalists, authors, stage directors, publishers, bloggers, film critics and many other professionals who, either as full-time or part-time contributors, help create a comprehensive spectrum of journalistic work. Besides the standard areas of broadcasting, television and print, the Internet plays a growing role, allowing sufficient space for online journalism to cover all areas of modern media work.