Press Access Passes People Event Journalists Make Reporters

A "press pass" is a card, often worn on a string around the neck, that gives special "privileges" (the right or opportunity to do something that few people can do) to a journalist, reporter, or photographer. Press passes are generally given out by "entities" (organizations, businesses, or agencies) or event organizers.

Sometimes "law-enforcement agencies" (government departments that enforce the law, including police departments) give out press passes so that journalists can "cross" (go past) "police lines" (lines that police officers create to prevent people from crossing so that they can conduct an investigation). This access allows journalists to report on "breaking news" (stories that are still happening), as long as the "emergency response personnel" (police, firefighters, and other people who respond in emergencies) do not believe that access by the press will "hinder" (make more difficult) their work.

"Event organizers" (people who make arrangements for events) often "issue" (give out) press passes to media representatives, because they want to "secure" (get; make sure they have) "press coverage (stories in the news about the event). The best way they can do that is to make sure that reporters have full access to the most interesting parts of the event. Event organizers also give reporters "press kits" or "press packets," which are usually a folder filled with additional information about the event and the organizers.

"News agencies" (groups of reporters) also issue "press cards" to their reporters. The press cards are more like identification documents. Reporters can show their press cards to "demonstrate" (show) that they are journalists and hopefully get better access to interviewees and information related to news stories.