Freelance journalists, reader reporter and citizen journalism
For members of the press the press pass is an important working tool. Yet many of the national associations accept only full-time professional journalists – only they receive the much-desired press pass. In cooperation with the European Chamber of Journalists e.V., the market for press passes was researched and a number of lesser known alternatives for part-time journalists were demonstrated.
As well as the associations there are also many publishers and news agencies that issue special press passes for newspapers, TV stations, or magazines, as well as editorial passes. These passes often make the work of journalists (contact with political institutions, the public prosecutor, the police or private companies, visits to press conferences, etc.) just as easy as a conventional press pass might.
An admission into the fellowship of the IFJ global journalists' community. The IFJ provides support and services to press card holders, including access to the IFEX network which is a coalition of press freedom and journalists' groups that monitors the state of press freedom the world over. Regular bulletins from the IFJ and updates on actions in defence of journalists are available to all card holders.