Men denied press passes sue NYPD

By: Erin Floro

 

Three men are suing the New York Police Department, claiming they were denied press credentials without much explanation in 2007.  Each had possessed one in the past.

 

Now all are working for nontraditional or online news outlets and claim they have been unfairly denied credentials for this reason.  They feel their 1^st Amendment right of freedom of speech and of the press is being violated.

 

Two kinds of credentials are issued.  One is a working press card for full time journalists covering breaking news on a regular basis.  The other is a press identification card for those employed by “a legitimate news organization” that don’t normally cover breaking news.  The first one allows the journalist to cross police lines at emergencies and the second one doesn’t. 

 

We can’t really have everyone who claims to be a reporter crossing police lines; it would be too chaotic.  Who should be considered legitimate?  Criteria used for issuing badges seem a little vague.  Maybe this lawsuit is what it will take to change it.