Wikipedia:Press pass

This page discusses the use of press passes to assist Wikimedia contributors in collecting content to share in Wikimedia projects.

There are some exclusive events which restrict the general public from entry. If a Wikimedia contributor were to have a press credentials, then that person might apply for press pass to get press access to the event. Once in the event, the person might do anything permitted to the news media, including taking photographs, conducting interviews, making video recordings, or simply becoming more informed. After attending an event as press, a person may wish to share what they gained with others through Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects.

Background

The term "press pass" has all these separate meanings:

• press credentials or press accreditation, which is a media organization's recognition of a particular person as their press agent
• a physical document or card which states the press credentials of a press agent
• event pass, which is the permission of an event host to allow a person with press credentials to enter an event
• a physical document or card which an event host provides to press agents which it invites to its event

Press credentials are assigned by media organizations to responsible individuals who can be trusted to represent the organization as a press agent. Respectable organizations do not casually issue press credentials. The behavior of a person with a press credentials reflects on the organization which issued them.

At events which offer press access, the hosting organization has no obligation or requirement to recognize anyone's press credentials or grant event access. Instead, they will accept applications from individuals with press credentials. Based on the reputation of the organization providing press credentials and the professionalism and capability of the press agent requesting entry to the event, the hosting organization will make a decision on whether to grant event access. Having press credentials may assist a person in gaining entry to events; however, the most important factors in getting a press pass to events are an applicant's own personality, their journalist skill set, and their ability to convince the event organizers the event would benefit with the applicant there as press.

A person holding a press credentials may get free entry to events, access to events which are only for press, and special permission to use cameras in places where others may not be allowed.

Wikimedia contributor press passes

The Wikimedia projects are media projects. The Wikimedia works are highly consulted media sources. In some cases it would be beneficial for events to grant press passes to Wikimedia contributors if that encouraged coverage of events, people, or ideas in Wikimedia projects.

There currently is no fully developed process for issuing press passes to Wikimedia contributors generally. What follows is what precedent exists.

English Wikinews press credentials

The English Wikinews project will issue press accreditation to active contributors of English Wikinews. Their guideline for requesting accreditation is at n:Wikinews:Accreditation policy. Their credentialed agents are listed at n:Wikinews:Credential verification.

As of November 2015, English Wikinews will not issue press credentials to anyone seeking them for the purpose of making contributions to Wikimedia Commons, Wikipedia, or any other Wikimedia project except English Wikinews.

Here are the historical development pages of their policy.

• meta:Wikinews accreditation policy - description of the relationship between the Wikimedia Foundation and this policy
• meta:Wikinews Foundation - a 2007 proposal to establish an organization for managing press accreditation
• meta:Collaborative Media Network - a 2008 proposal to establish an organization for managing press accreditation

Wikimedia chapter initiatives

• meta:Grants:Learning patterns/Developing contacts for press / photo accreditations community organizers at Wikimedia Österreich and Wikimedia CH share insights on their experiences issuing press passes.
• Wikimedia New York City has an experimental program at meta:Wikimedia New York City/Press credentials for press credentials.

Other precedents

• Wackywace; HaeB (2 August 2010). "Wikimedians accredited as photographers at royal wedding". The Signpost. {{cite news}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
• HaeB (14 February 2011). "Gaining accreditation as Wikimedia photographers at sports events". The Signpost. {{cite news}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
• Eurovision Song Contest
  • 2014 Eurovision Olsson, Albin; a/k/a abbedabb (10 May 2014). ""No interviews. Except for Wikipedia!" – Documenting the Eurovision Song Contest on Wikimedia Commons". Wikimedia Blog. {{cite news}}: |last2= has generic name (help) – documents experience at the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest
  • 2016 Eurovision Erhart, Ed (20 May 2016). "Freely licensed magic at Eurovision". Wikimedia Blog.