Press pass

A press card serves as proof of full-time and part-time journalistic activity to a third party and is therefore primarily a working instrument to facilitate the journalistic research.

Exhibition

A statutory system of issuing press cards are in Germany not because this would limit the freedom of the press guaranteed by the Basic Law. Press cards are issued by many organizations and editors that create different criteria for the award. While some organizations issue certificates only to proven full- time journalists, others give this also to part-time journalists. In addition, there are organizations that issue press cards also paid to persons who can demonstrate an occupation as a journalist or be content with a signed acknowledgment by the applicant that he was working as a journalist without asking for further evidence.

Members of journalists' associations, the cards are usually issued free of charge, otherwise there is usually an annual fee for non-members, which is measured differently depending on the association.

Species

The press card usually contains the name, address and photograph of the cardholder. The issuing organization confirmed this fact to work as a journalist. Most press cards are made of plastic and are held in credit card format. They are usually issued for one year.

Federal Uniform press card

Since 1950 there was an agreement between the Minister of the Interior Conference on the one hand and journalists' unions and associations publisher on the other side, which regulated the issue of the " uniform national press card ". This document should be accepted in principle by the authorities and was therefore referred to as " officially recognized " press card. This agreement, " the authorities to check who is acting as an agent / in the press" should facilitate, allow the issuance of a " uniform national press card " only the following associations:

  • German Journalists Association ( DJV )
  • Verdi Department of Media
  • Federal Association of German Newspaper Publishers ( BDZV)
  • Association of German Magazine Publishers (VDZ )

In autumn 2004, the Administrative Court Dusseldorf presented after a lawsuit filed by FreeLens - Association of Photojournalists fixed ( professional association ) that even this association is responsible for issuing the " uniform national press card ". On 5 May 2006, the German Minister of the Interior decided to point out the future, " the requirement of Hauptberuflichkeit " maintain a " mission statement ". However, from a regulatory perspective it was " appropriate ", even those journalists concede the card, " which are not full-time, but quantitatively and qualitatively comparable regularly and permanently engaged in journalism ". Same time it was determined that the issuance of press cards should not be " the main purpose of the Association ."

A final agreement on the future regulation of the press card assignment and of the measures to legitimate organizations was not hit by the German Minister of the Interior initially. As a candidate for further negotiations, the German journalists Association ( DFJV ), the German Press Association (DPV ), the Federation of Press photo agencies and picture archives ( BVPA ), the Association of German local newspapers (VDL ), the Association of German sports journalists reported ( VDS), the German Media Association (former Youth Media Germany ) and the Association of documentary (AG DOK). As between the candidates and the four Altverbänden no agreement was reached, the Conference of Interior Ministers (IMK ) decided on 7 December 2007 that press cards no longer allowed to wear the authorization of the Minister of the Interior on the back from 2009. Till then, there the IMK- prompting was noted to support the card - holder in his work. Since 2009 is the formulation: "Institutions and businesses are asked to give the representatives of the press fulfilling their public duty serving information. "

The associations originally involved shall, on the uniform national press card as before, together with two -added. This has since been issued by the DJV, from the dju in Verdi, the BDZV, the VDZ, the VDS and FreeLens.

In the coalition agreement between the CDU, CSU and SPD for the 18th legislative period ( from autumn 2013) states: " Journalistic and editorial responsible media are central to democracy, freedom of information and opinion and regardless of the technological dissemination. The coalition is supporting an initiative of the countries to reintroduce, official press card '. "

Other associations

In addition, numerous other organizations differently designed cards according to their own criteria, partly linked to membership packages such as legal or reference a journalistic journal.

Youth Press ID

For young media makers up to 27 years who do not work full time in youth media, give the national federations of the Youth Press Germany eV and the Junge Presse Nordrhein- Westfalen eV, coordinated with DJV and dju youth press card out, which therefore also nationwide is recognized.

Editorial cards

Many media companies are exhibiting their own ID cards for their employees. These serve both as a house ID card, legitimize the other hand, the owner against third parties as a member of the appropriate editors. In this classification, a renowned media value chain is as to the press pass.

Recognition

The recognition of press cards by companies and operators is very different and mostly dependent on the reputation of the issuing organization.

As before, the press cards of the four older associations DJV, dju, VDZ, BDZV plus FreeLens and VDS are some of the German trade fair organizers accepted in principle, since they have written proof of full-time work as a journalist has to be provided by the applicant as 1993-2007 was given by the Minister of the Interior Conference. Statements of other associations, explicitly make the sometimes advertising to spending their badges to anyone, however, are sometimes more, sometimes less accepted. The possession of a press card is anyway increasingly unimportant, proper prior accreditation is mandatory at many events and regardless of the identity card.

Importance

In the daily practice of the journalistic press card is less important than is often assumed. To be supported by companies, institutions or other agencies in the research, is more important, for which publication a journalist is active, or that this duly accredited. Of some importance in the press card, however, is the occurrence of journalists towards public authorities. After the German national press laws, which essentially are very similar, government departments and agencies are required to representatives of the press to provide information when the not really serious reasons to the contrary. Journalists must be granted upon presentation of their press card according to § 6 para 2 Assembly Act, access to meetings in closed rooms.

Press card and journalists Off

For many journalists, the possession of the press card has another aspect: Many companies link the granting of a journalist rebate to the proof of journalistic activity. Companies that offer a discount journalists, the journalistic work be substantiated by submission of a press card; many companies are guided by the classical associations.

Auto- press - plate

Many organizations that issue press cards to distribute to a press plate that can be placed in the car. This sign may in some cases be useful to be recognizable about in large quantities as a vehicle of the press, but has no function in the legal sense. In particular, it does not entitle them to cross the road traffic regulations or other legal provisions. With the larger German trade fairs is available as a service usually a separate parking space quota which is specially reserved for the press.

660601
de