Press Card Authority
The UK Press Card Authority is a voluntary scheme for issuing press/media credentials to professional newsgathers in the UK. The scheme comprises 17 `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 Gatekeeper's 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 any 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 newsgathers they represent cannot acquire cards through any other channel.