From: monson@sardine.ECE.ORST.EDU (Tyrus Monson)
Newsgroups: rec.photo
Subject: Re: Phoney Press credentials (was IFPO)
Date: 30 Jul 92 03:27:33 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Oregon State University, Corvallis


     Warning! This is now very long.

In article <mckenzie-280792154807@128.159.169.79> mckenzie@kscdl0.cad.ksc.nasa.gov (Fred McKenzie) writes:
>In article <1992Jul27.222133.27952@cbnewsm.cb.att.com>,
>ka1gt@cbnewsm.cb.att.com (robert.m.atkins) wrote:
>> The following may be of interest on this subject. It is a quote from
>> "PHOTOGRAPHER'S MARKET 1992" and is included in the chapter on photographic
>> ethics:
>> "Phoney press credentials:
>> Some begining professional and amateur photographers.....try to "scam" their way into ... events, posing as someone they're not. ...organizations which
>> actually will provide photographers with such phoney credentials - for a nominal charge. Such forgery is frowned upon ...
>You didn't comment on the article, but I assume it represents your
>viewpoint.
>
>The article seems to be emotionally biased against newcomers - those who
>haven't "paid their dues".  Don't get me wrong.  Fraud is fraud.  However,
>a laminated ID that identifies a person as a freelance photographer, isn't.
>
>If a person is a serious freelance photographer, he has as much right to be
>at newsworthy events as any representative of major media organizations. 

   This isn't quite correct - see below

>To lable him as "beginning professional" or "amateur" is merely name
>calling.  Having the "photo police" evaluate a photographer's credentials
>before issuing him a genuine press pass, does not consider the the more
>important criteria:  does he sell his photographs, or does he starve.
>
>Can you answer the more important question:  "How does a serious freelance
>photographer obtain a legitimate press pass"?
>
>fred-mckenzie@ksc.nasa.gov

 I'm not trying to pick on fred, here, but this thread has gotten way
 off base.  Press passes aren't issued for the purpose of supporting
 photographers. The agents responsible for issuing passes, or granting
 authorization to photographers (news media, in general) don't really
 care if someone is really making a living from photography (news reporting)
 they are concerned with whether or not the photographer is satisfying
 the desires of the people in charge. And there is no central "photo police."

 If (real) police are restricting public access to a location (e.g. a bad fire
 in a congested neighborhood) they really have no obligation to admit
 even one photographer to cover the "event." Of course, police in most
 cities have a long-established practice of admitting the news media
 for the public's benefit. That means they are only interested in
 admitting photographers and reporters who's work will really be used
 in the relevant news media. It should occur to the reader that the
 police don't really do this out of kindness, or interest in the photographer's
 career. Over time, the editor of a news paper can exert a lot of pressure
 on the chief of police and the politicians at City Hall. Some standard
 practices then develop over time. And it is likely that people 
 will observe a lot of variation in policy from one locale to another.
 In this situation, a free lance photographer
 is likely to be squeezed out. He doesn't have an angry editor to 
 help exert pressure on the police or the politicians. There is no one
 with influence to represent his interests.

 On the other hand, the management of a sports stadium may issue passes
 to those photographers it wants to have present for the purpose of
 promoting its sports events. Indeed, those passes may be sold to the highest
 bidder. It is up to the business enterprise to decide who they want to let
 in. That's just business.

 Another example:
 When I was in high school (ever so long ago) I photographed for the
 school news paper, and was admitted to the football games free, and
 allowed to roam the sidelines. Why? The school wanted pictures for
 the paper & yearbook - and I was one of the few people in the school
 who wanted to do the work (for free, of course.) The photographer
 from the local news paper paper was also admitted.
 Why? Because the school board
 knew it was good practice to have the paper publish pictures of the
 town's local boys in action. The press photographer wasn't issued a
 pass. The school authorities (teachers working the gate) knew who he
 was! But a stranger flaunting an official looking badge would have received
 very intense scrutiny. (Why should a stranger with a fancy badge get
 in free? Why would he even be interested in the event if he wasn't
 with the local paper?)

 And so it goes. Different situations create different protocols.
 Buy one of those press badges if you wish. Just recognize that it will 
 have very limited influence in many situations.
Newsgroups: rec.photo