Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/04/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 06:22 PM 4/13/98 -0700, you wrote: >If I publish a news magazine, am I automatically considered "press?" >If so, how does one go about getting a "press pass?" Are these >distributed by law enforcement, or does the newspaper or magazine >make their own? Yes, if you publish a legitimate news magazine, you are automatically considered "press." Press passes are distributed by arenas, and other closed private venues to let the press pass their line. You do not automatically gain one just for being the press. Police are constrained by 1st Amendment from "licensing" the press. We are not sanctioned by the government. That's what makes us free. Thus, the police allow the press in. The piece of paper we hold is for identification only. There is no legitimacy grated by anyone elses to us. Our job is to be the eyes of the public, and it's the public's benefit that grants us the right to cover news. Not because we're something special, or we have lots of money and power. It's a sacred trust. Some of us take it seriously. But you have to be a legitimate member of the press, or the cops can keep you out of a disaster with no consequence. There are laws in most states that describe what kinds of things we do and don't have access to as members of the press. ========== Eric Welch St. Joseph, MO http://www.ponyexpress.net/~ewelch There's too much blood in my caffeine system.