Home › Press credentials

Press credentials: what they are and how to get them

Press credentials are the documents that prove you are a working journalist: a press card, a commission or assignment letter from an outlet, an employer ID and, for specific events, an accreditation pass. Most organisers want more than one of them. You can get a press card from a union, employer or association; accreditation comes from each organiser.

The term is used differently in the UK and the US. This guide covers both, explains which credentials carry most weight where, and how freelancers and online journalists can build a credible set.

Apply for your press card How accreditation works

At a glance

Press card: Proves you work as a journalist (FJA from £82)
Commission letter: Proves who you are reporting for
Portfolio: Proves what you publish
Accreditation: Permission for a specific event, issued by the organiser

The four kinds of press credentials

Think of credentials as a toolkit, not a single card.

1. Press card

A photo ID showing that you work in journalism. In the UK: the UK Press Card through a UKPCA gatekeeper, an employer card, or an association card such as the FJA press card. In the US there is no national card; credentials come from employers, associations and local authorities.

2. Commission or assignment letter

An email or letter from an editor confirming that you are covering a specific story or event for their outlet. For major events this is often the decisive document, especially for freelancers.

3. Portfolio and bylines

Links to recent published work show organisers what kind of coverage to expect. For creators and podcasters, audience figures belong here.

4. Event accreditation

A pass issued by the organiser for one event, season or venue. It is what actually gets you into the press area. See press accreditation.

How to get press credentials step by step

Build your credentials before you need them.

Publish regularly – credentials follow work, not the other way round.

Get a press card – UK Press Card if you qualify, otherwise an association card like the FJA card.

Line up commissions from editors for the events you want to cover.

Apply for accreditation early, with all of the above attached.

Details on each step: how to get a press card, FJA requirements and freelance press card.

Press credentials in the UK and the US

Same idea, different systems.

	United Kingdom	United States
National press card	UK Press Card via 22 UKPCA gatekeepers (not state-issued)	None; credentials are issued by employers, associations and institutions
Police recognition	UK Press Card recognised by UK police forces	Varies by city; New York City issues its own press card
Licence to report	None	None – the First Amendment protects freedom of the press
Parliament / Congress	Press passes for outlets regulated by Ofcom, IPSO or Impress	Congressional press galleries set their own criteria

Sources: UKPCA, UK Parliament, NYC Business, Cornell LII, October 2026.

Credentials for freelancers and online journalists

The hardest group to credential – and the one that needs it most.

Freelancers, bloggers, YouTubers and podcasters rarely have an employer ID, and many UK Press Card gatekeepers set professional criteria they cannot meet – the BAJ, for example, does not issue cards to bloggers, vloggers or influencers. For them, a verifiable association press card plus a solid portfolio and written commissions is the most realistic package. Be transparent about who you are working for and never claim an outlet you do not work for. More: bloggers, content creators, podcasters.

Credentials that do more harm than good

Some “credentials” damage your reputation.

Self-made cards that imitate police or government IDs
Cards from anonymous websites without any check or verification
Cards that promise VIP access, free entry or “immunity”

Using an outlet’s name without a real commission
Lending your card or accreditation to someone else
Expired cards that still appear valid at first glance

See fake press card.

Build your own credentials file

Experienced freelancers keep everything an organiser might ask for in one place – ready to send in minutes.

Documents

Scan of your press card (front and back)
Recent commissioning emails or letters from editors
Accreditation confirmations from earlier events
Insurance certificate, if you have one

Work samples

A short portfolio page with your best recent work
Three links per beat you cover (for example politics, music, sport)
A one-paragraph biography in the third person
A professional headshot for organisers who print badges

Store the file in a cloud folder you can open from your phone. Update it every few months and remove expired documents, so that you never send an organiser an out-of-date card or confirmation.

Frequently asked questions

What are press credentials?

Documents that prove you are a working journalist: a press card, a commission or assignment letter, an employer ID and event-specific accreditation.

How do I get press credentials as a freelancer?

Get a press card (UK Press Card if you qualify, otherwise an association card), collect commissions from editors and keep a portfolio of published work.

Are press credentials and press passes the same?

Often the terms are used interchangeably. Strictly, a press pass or accreditation is for a specific event, while credentials is the wider set of documents.

Can I get press credentials online?

You can apply for a press card online, for example the FJA card. Event accreditation is applied for through each organiser, usually online too.

Do I need press credentials to be a journalist?

No. There is no licence for journalists in the UK or US. Credentials make your work easier but are not legally required.

How do I get press credentials for a concert?

Apply to the promoter or artist’s management with a commission and examples of your work. See our page on media passes for concerts.

How many credentials should I carry at an event?

Usually two: the event pass issued by the organiser and your press card or staff ID. Keep the commissioning email on your phone in case someone asks which outlet you are working for.

Do credentials from one event help with the next?

Yes. A list of events where you were accredited, with links to the coverage, is one of the strongest arguments in a new request – it shows organisers that you deliver.

Is a press card the same as press credentials?

A press card is one kind of press credential – a general ID for journalists issued for a fixed period. Event passes, accreditation badges and commissioning letters are other kinds. Organisers usually look at several of them together.

What if an organiser asks for a credential I do not have?

Ask what alternatives they accept. Many organisers will consider a commissioning email from an editor, a staff ID or examples of published work instead of a specific card. Be honest about what you can provide.

How do press credentials work in the USA?

There is no national US press card. The New York City press card, White House passes, congressional gallery accreditation and event credentials are all issued separately by the body that controls access. Details: press credentials in the USA.

Sources and last review

Written and reviewed by the FJA editorial team. Last reviewed: 23 October 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.