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NYC press card: what replaced the NYPD press pass

The NYPD no longer issues press credentials. Under Local Law 46 of 2021, the job moved to the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), whose Press Credentials Office opened in January 2022. The card is free, runs on a two-year cycle and is for journalists who cover events in public places in the five boroughs.

Below: who qualifies, which card types exist, what the card lets you do – and what an FJA card can and cannot do in New York.

MOME press credentials How to get credentials

At a glance

Issued by: NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME)
Since: January 2022 (previously NYPD)
Cost: Free
Validity: Two-year cycle, expires January 15 of odd years
Main rule: 6 works in 24 months, in-person coverage on 6 days in NYC

From NYPD press pass to MOME press card

For decades, New York press cards were issued by the NYPD’s Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Public Information. Local Law 46 of 2021 transferred this to the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. MOME’s Press Credentials Office opened in January 2022; its rules took effect on January 19, 2022 and were revised on March 13, 2025.

So if you search for an “NYPD press pass” today, the application you need is with MOME, not with the police department.

Who qualifies for the NYC press card

For the Standard and Reserve cards, MOME’s published rules require:

You are at least 18 years old.
You submit at least six works published or broadcast in the 24 months before you apply.
Those works show in-person coverage on at least six separate days of events in public places in the five boroughs.

Freelancers can qualify: the test is your published coverage, not your employer. What does not qualify is commentary or aggregation without in-person reporting from New York events.

Card types, validity and cost

Standard and Reserve press cards: run on a two-year cycle and expire on January 15 of every odd-numbered year.
Single Event Card: valid for the event or 24 hours, whichever is shorter. You must pre-register, and the same six-works rule applies.
Cost: there is no fee.
Process: apply through the online Press Credentials Portal. MOME must decide within 30 days. Cards are picked up by appointment at 1 Centre Street, Room 370.

What the NYC press card lets you do

According to MOME, the card allows you to cross police and fire lines at emergency, spot and breaking-news events and at non-emergency public events, and to attend City events that are open to the press – subject to limits for space, safety and the preservation of evidence.

The card must be worn visibly. It gives no parking privileges and it is not a general access pass for private venues, concerts or sports events; those organizers credential separately.

Can an FJA card replace the NYC press card?

No. Only the MOME card lets you cross police and fire lines in New York City. The FJA card is not issued by any US authority and does not grant that access.

What it can do is serve as a verifiable photo ID while you build the six-works portfolio MOME requires, and as identification alongside assignment letters when you apply to events, venues and press offices. If you report regularly in New York, apply for the MOME card as soon as you qualify – it is free.

Press credentials in other US cities

New York is the exception: most cities issue no general press card, and those that do have their own rules.

Los Angeles: the LAPD Media ID lets holders pass police and fire lines. It is for staff and for self-employed journalists who regularly cover events behind those lines; freelancers need three assignment letters or three work samples from the last six months, and a California DOJ fingerprint check. A first card costs $73 for applications from October 20, 2025; renewals are free.
Los Angeles County: the Sheriff’s Department issues its own press pass to news organizations that regularly cover police and fire news, with a letter on letterhead, government ID, a LiveScan fingerprint check and two recent stories.
Chicago: the Chicago Police Department credentials full-time employees of Chicago news outlets; the employer applies on the journalist’s behalf.
Washington, DC: the Metropolitan Police Department stopped issuing media passes on April 1, 2015. Media have the same access as the public, as long as it does not create a safety hazard or interfere with an investigation.

Building the six-works portfolio for New York

MOME counts works that show you were physically present at events in public places in the five boroughs, on at least six separate days within 24 months. Protests, press conferences, parades, community board meetings and breaking-news scenes all qualify if you report from the scene. Keep each piece with its publication date, your byline and a note of where and when you reported, so the application is quick to assemble.

Sources: LAPD press pass policy · LAPD fee notice · LASD press pass · Chicago PD · DC MPD

Frequently asked questions

Does the NYPD still issue press passes?

No. Since January 2022, press credentials in New York City are issued by the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME).

How much does the NYC press card cost?

Nothing. MOME does not charge a fee.

When does the NYC press card expire?

Standard and Reserve cards expire on January 15 of every odd-numbered year. Single Event Cards last for the event or 24 hours, whichever is shorter.

Can freelancers get an NYC press card?

Yes, if they meet the same rule as everyone else: six published or broadcast works in the last 24 months showing in-person coverage of public events in the five boroughs on six separate days.

Does the card get me into concerts or games?

No. It is for police and fire lines and City events. Venues, teams and promoters credential media themselves.

Sources and last review

NYC MOME – Press Credentials Office FAQ (March 2025) – rules, card types, validity, fee, pickup
NYC MOME – Press card application – how to apply
NYC MOME – Press card – overview

Written and reviewed by the FJA editorial team. Last review: 23 October 2026. Laws, fees and procedures change – check the linked sources before you rely on a detail.

NYC press card: what replaced the NYPD press pass

From NYPD press pass to MOME press card

Who qualifies for the NYC press card

Card types, validity and cost

What the NYC press card lets you do

Can an FJA card replace the NYC press card?

Press credentials in other US cities

Building the six-works portfolio for New York

Frequently asked questions

Sources and last review

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