THE UK PRESS CARD AUTHORITY is a voluntary scheme for issuing press/media credentials to professional newsgatherers in the UK.
The scheme comprises 16 "gatekeepers": national organisations which represent journalists and other media personnel (employed or freelance) whose work involves gathering material for editorial publication in all media -- print, broadcast and electronic. The gatekeepers issue cards to their members or to those they represent and are responsible for ensuring that the conditions are adhered to.
The definition of eligibility is that a card carrier must be working "professionally as a media worker who needs to identify himself or herself in public." The principal occupations covered are reporters and writers, photographers, film and video camera operators and crews and other broadcasting workers such as producers, researchers etc.
The scheme was launched by the Metropolitan Police in 1992, with the co-operation of all the major industry bodies and the aims of ending the proliferation of press cards and agreement on a universally-recognised card (bearing the word PRESS). The card is formally recognised by all police forces in the UK, and de facto by other public bodies.
There is a Gatekeepers' Committee which oversees the operation of the scheme, but does not itself issue cards. The committee can direct applicants to the appropriate gatekeeper if there is uncertainty.
The gatekeepers are employers' associations, trade unions and professional associations, covering all UK media. From time to time further organisations are admitted to the scheme, if the newsgatherers they represent cannot acquire cards through any other channel.
1 Obtaining a Press Card
If you think you need a press card in the course of your work you will have to apply through one of the gatekeepers listed below. Look through the list and see which Gatekeeper seems the most appropriate and contact that Gatekeeper.
2 Renewing Press Cards
If you need to renew your press card,you should apply through the Gatekeeper who issued the press card to you. If you do not remember from whom you got the card,the prefix initials of the card number will give you the initials of the appropriate Gatekeeper organization.
3 Lost/Stolen Press cards
If you lose your press card or have it stolen, you need to re-apply through the Gatekeeper from whom you originally obtained the card. If you cannot remember which Gatekeeper issued your card then you should email the card manufacturer Custom Card International Services International (CCSI) with your full name,date of birth and home address to lostcards@presscard.uk.com. CCSI will email back the gatekeeper contact address to enable you to request the replacement card.
Enhanced security:
Every card issued from January 2009 will include enhanced security by carrying a UK Press Card Authority hologram. However, because a card may last up to two years, not every card will carry the hologram until February 2011.
The Secretary
The UK Press Card Scheme
e-mail: secretary@presscard.uk.com
Tel: 01983 298060
Mobile: 07989 970 909
WHO ARE THE GATEKEEPERS?
These are the organisations that issue press cards, with definitions of the newsgatherers they represent:
British Association of Journalists
(BAJ)
89 Fleet Street,
London
EC4Y 1PJ
Contact: Steve Turner
e-mail: steveturner@bajunion.org.uk
Tel: 020 7353 3003
Web Site: www.bajunion.org.uk
Covers: Journalists in all media
BBC
Newsgathering,
BBC Television House,
Wood Lane,
London W12 7RJ
Contact: Christella Robertson
e-mail: christella.robertson@bbc.co.uk
Tel: 020 8624 9010
Fax: 020 8624 9101
Web Site: www.bbc.co.uk
Covers: TV, radio, staff and contract staff; national, regional and local
Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematographic
and Theatre Union (BECTU)
373-377 Clapham Road,
London
SW9 9BT
Contact: Tom Bell
e-mail: tbell@bectu.org.uk
Contact: Nancy Ackah
e-mail: nackah@bectu.org.uk
Tel: 020 7346 0900
Fax: 020 7346 0925
Web Site: www.bectu.org.uk
Covers: Production staff and freelances in TV and radio. BECTU also covers independent TV and video production.
British Press Photographers' Association
Suite 219,
2 Lansdowne Crescent,
Bournemouth
BH1 1SA
Contact: Jeff Moore
e-mail: info@thebppa.com
Enquiries: Joanne Turner
e-mail: presscards@thebppa.com
Web Site: www.thebppa.com
Covers: freelance photographers.
Chartered Institute of Journalists
(CIOJ)
2 Dock Offices,
Surrey Quays Road,
London
SE16 2XL
Contact: Dominic Cooper / Norman
Bartlet
e-mail: memberservices@ioj.co.uk
Tel: 020 7252 1187
Web Site: www.ioj.co.uk
Covers: Journalists in all media.
Council of Photographic News Agencies
(CPNA)
Universal Pictorial Press,
29-31 Saffron Hill,
London,
EC1 8SW.
Contact: Peter Dare
Tel: 020 7421 6002
Covers: National and international picture agencies.
Foreign Press Association (FPA)
c/o Commonwealth Club
25 Northumberland Ave
London
WC2N 5AP
Contact: Terry Page
e-mail: terrypage@foreign-press.org.uk
Tel: 020 7930 0445
Fax: 020 7925 0469
Web Site: www.foreign-press.org.uk
Covers: Journalists from overseas media working in the UK
Additional Information: Click Here
ITN Ltd
200 Gray's Inn Road,
London
WC1X 8XZ
Contact: Catherine Marles
e-mail: catherine.marles@itn.co.uk
Tel: 020 7430 4184
Web Site: www.itn.co.uk
Covers: ITN News, C4 News and ITN On.
ITV Network Ltd
200 Grays Inn Road,
London
WC1X 8HF
Contact: Paul White
e-mail: paul.white@itv.com
Tel: 020 7156 7336
Fax: 020 7843 8158
Web Site: www.itv.com
Covers: ITV stations and Channel 4
International Visual Communication
Association (IVCA)
19 Pepper Street,
Glengall Bridge,
London
E14 9RP
Contact: David Cambridge
e-mail: david@ivca.org
Tel: 020 7512 0571
Fax: 020 7512 0591
Web Site: www.ivca.org
Covers: Users and suppliers of business communication.
National Association of Press
Agencies (NAPA)
Pictures On The Page,
318 King Street,
Hammersmith,
London,
W6 0RR
Contact: Paul Stewart
e-mail: paul@potp.co.uk
Tel: 01322 628444
Web Site: www.napa.org.uk
Covers: Regional and local news agencies in the UK.
National Union of Journalists
(NUJ)
308-312 Gray's Inn Road,
London
WC1X 8DP
Inquiries, applications and renewals: Paul Goldstaub
e-mail: paulg@nuj.org.uk
Tel: 0207 843 3737
Fax: 0207 837 8143
Contact: John Toner
e-mail: johnt@nuj.org.uk
Tel: 0207 843 3713
Fax: 020 7837 8143
Web Site: www.nuj.org.uk
Covers: Journalists in all media. The NUJ also covers freelance photographers in the Association of Photographers.
Newspaper Publishers Association
(NPA)
St Andrew's House,
18-20 St Andrew Street,
London
EC4A 3AY
Contact: Stacy Haertel
e-mail: stacy.haertel@n-p-a.co.uk
Tel: 020 7632 7433
Fax: 020 7632 7431
Covers: National newspapers, daily and Sunday. The NPA issues cards to some freelance reporters and journalists.
The Newspaper Society (NS)
St Andrew’s House,
18-20 St Andrew Street,
London
EC4A 3AY
Contact: Stacy Haertel
e-mail: stacy_haertel@newspapersoc.org.uk
Tel: 020 7632 7400
Fax: 020 7632 7401
Web Site: www.newspapersoc.org.uk
Covers: Local and regional newspapers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, daily, weekly, paid-for and free. The NS issues cards to freelance reporters and photographers whose work is known to editors of local or regional newspapers.
Periodical Publishers Association
(PPA)
Queen's House,
28 Kingsway,
London
WC2B 6JR
Contact: Maggie Turner
e-mail: maggie.turner@ppa.co.uk
Tel: 020 7404 4166
Fax: 020 7404 4167
Web Site: www.ppa.co.uk
Covers: Consumer, Business to Business and Customer magazines published in the UK. Also issues cards for British Society of Magazine Editors.
Reuters
Ground Floor,
Kildare House,
Dorset Rise,
London,
EC4Y 8EN
Contact: Ava Healy
e-mail: Ava.Healy@reuters.com
Tel: 020 7452 5361
Fax: 020 7542 5644
Web Site: www.reuters.co.uk
Covers: Reuters issues to its own newsgatherers and those working for other national agencies.
Sky News
6 Centaurs Business Park,
Isleworth,
Middlesex
TW7 5QD
Contact: Sara Sheriff
e-mail: sara.sheriff@bskyb.com
Web Site: www.sky.com/skynews
Tel: 020 7585 4577
Fax: 020 7800 2197
Covers: Sky News television
