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.

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:

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

British Association of Journalists (BAJ)
89 Fleet Street,
London
EC4Y 1DH

Contact: Steve Turner
e-mail: steveturner@bajunion.org.uk

Tel: 020 7353 3003

Web Site: www.bajunion.org.uk

Covers: Journalists in all media

Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematographic and Theatre Union (BECTU)
373-377 Clapham Road,
London
SW9 9BT

Contact: Tom Bell
e-mail: tbell@bectu.org.uk

Contact: Teresa Debrou
e-mail: tdebrou@bectu.org.uk

Tel: 020 7346 0900

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
29 - 31 Saffron Hill,
London
EC1 8FH

Contact: Tim Bishop
e-mail: info@britishpressphoto.org

Contact: Jeff Moore
e-mail: membership@britishpressphoto.org

Tel: 0776 187123

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 6000

Covers: National and international picture agencies.

Foreign Press Association (FPA)
11 Carlton House Terrace,
London
SW1Y 5AJ

Contact: Tom Browne
e-mail: tombrowne@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

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.

ITN Radio
200 Gray's Inn Road,
London
WC1X 8XZ

Contact: Jon Godel
e-mail: jon.godel@itn.co.uk
Tel: 020 7430 4890

Contact: Bonnie Oldham
e-mail: bonnie.oldham@itn.co.uk
Tel: 020 7430 4491

Web Site: www.itn.co.uk

Covers: Independent Radio News and the whole independent local radio network

ITV Network Ltd
200 Grays Inn Road,
London
WC1X 8HF

Contact: Jan Sissons
e-mail: Jan_Sissons@itv.co.uk

Tel: 020 7843 8079
Fax: 020 7843 8158

Web Site: www.itv.co.uk

Covers: ITV stations and Channel 4

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: 020 8222 8844

Web Site: www.napa.org.uk

Covers: Regional and local news agencies in the UK.

National Union of Journalists (NUJ)
308 Grays Inn Road,
London
WC1X 8DP

Contact: John Toner
e-mail: johnt@nuj.org.uk
Tel: 0207 843 3713
Fax: 0207 278 1812

Card Administration Contact: Brian Randall
e-mail: brianr@nuj.org.uk
Tel: 0207 843 3722
Fax: 0207 837 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)
8th floor St Andrew's House,
18-20 St Andrew Street,
London
EC4A 3AY

Contact: Sue McLeavy
e-mail: sue.mcleavy@n-p-a.co.uk

Tel: 020 7632 7433
Fax: 020 7401 2428

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, printed or on-line. Also issues cards for British Society of Magazine Editors and UK Association of On-Line Publishers.

Reuters
85 Fleet Street,
London,
EC4P 4AJ

Contact: Timothy Steward
Tel: 020 7542 4932
Fax: 020 7542 4955

Contact: Ingrid Montbazet
e-mail: Ingrid.Montbazet@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 7705 3535
Fax: 020 7805 7147

Covers: Sky News television