The Demotix Press Card

Demotix is not just active in the UK, but all over the world. it would be impractical to try to address all the legal questions in every country Demotix freelancers are active in, and in some cases detrimental to the photojournalist. Trying to defend a photojournalist's right to photograph if they are hassled in Syria, or even Russia might cost someone their life, or in a few other countries Demotix freelancers are active in. The UK is just a small part of Demotix's coverage.

There are many countries in the world where the Demotix press card is fully accepted as legitimate proof of press affiliation, as it rightly is. You represent Demotix, and Demotix is a legitimate press photo newswire, so anyone saying it is not legitimate is wrong. It is legitimate proof you can submit photojournalistic content, and it will be distributed. It is the official document indicating your membership as a Demotix contributor, just as any other press document signifies that person as a contributor to his/her organization.

Demotix does not want to be cost prohibitive to anyone, as would happen if full legal, and support services were offered like the high cost press cards provide. Think of how much it would cost everyone just to provide support services for an Afghanistan, or Syrian photojournalist.

Demotix does know the people that get the press cards are submitting news/editorial content, and have a legitimate traceable address to get payed. With worldwide coverage getting police reports on everyone is again not practical, and again could cost someone their life.

If a terrorist organization wanted to get someone a legitimate official UK press card they could, just as they could get them a passport to get into the country (as has been done), so there is nothing Demotix is not doing already, or can improve on, that would eliminate this small risk. Having the ability to trace where the money goes is the biggest factor in tracing any criminal activity.

Absolute BS I'm afraid Steve. This has nothing to do with the rest of the world -this is about the UK.

Demotix was born in the UK and its HQ is in London.
Given those two facts, is it really surprising that the old Demotix card was so similar to the UKPC?

IF a new one has indeed been designed (and there are rumours that one is being used in London) and
IF that design is even closer to the UKPC THEN Demotix really is starting to take the piss.

The organisation can claim globalism as much as it wants, but if their contributors' card has a more than striking
resemblance to the accredited media card in the country where they are based and registered, then it is little more than passing off.

If you guys are so bloody keen on being members of the Press, then go out and get a UKPC and stop playing dress up.
I survived in London perfectly well without needing to flash a bit of plastic before joining the NUJ. OK , so occasionally I had to wait
to get out of a kettle a bit longer, but that's no great hardship.

Unlike others I don't have a problem with the concept of Demotix, or people that want to use it as an agency, just its methodology and business practice.

The Demotix Card is wrong - full stop. Once 'issued' (read bought) Demotix have no control over it, or any method of recall.
No matter what you say that IS a potential problem.

Demotix also have a nasty habit of undervaluing images and selling below the market rate. If you want to play in the media world, fine,
but charge realistic prices that don't undercut working professionals - or expect all the flack that gets thrown at you.

Re Demotix :- I think the first step is after having 10 stories you need a full profile with ID picture and that picture is used on the Press Card. Demotix has already said it wants to move to no anonymous profiles (for the majority of it's reporters)

Most press cards are just a form of ID. They don't offer insurance or legal protection. That you normally have to get separately depending on what you are doing and where. some Press organisations offer it as part of membership.

In the UK the Demotix Press card is being seen as a [lower level] Press card to the UKPCA cards and accepted as a form of press card. Though this I think depends as much on the behaviour of the card holder at the time,

From my last dealings with the NUJ the card cost just slightly under 200 pounds for the year as a freelancer, so not hardly free (more like bought), and the application requirements left plenty of room for nefarious acquisition, and use if one wanted to. The money trail being the biggest legitimating factor, much like Demotix's money trail for those being payed.

My last press ID card issued from the major agency I work with the most was free, and very similar to plenty of cards worldwide, but no one accused it of being an attempt to copy, mostly the other way around. I did not need a picture for it, only my passport number, and banking details to get payed.

The NUJ is a union, and not a news agency. You can not submit news breaking, or feature news through the NUJ. You have to be an accredited journalist working with some other agency to join. For this reason it would be much more fitting to compare the ID press card Demotix issues with those ID cards issued by the actual news agencies you are working for. That is what the Demotix press card is, verification that you do freelance for a legitimate photo news agency, and Demotix is a legitimate agency, selling through established distribution channels only open to legitimate news services.

Your Demotix ID card is accepted now that people are getting used to seeing it, with very very little hassle worldwide. The only ones objecting to it as legitimate are the same ones starting to be replaced by citizen journalists, as is normal. The agencies that determine if you can go beyond the police line as a journalist have no problem with it as being legitimate, with very few exceptions. You personally have seen this change in how the police treat you with it.

It would be interesting if someone would join the NUJ with Demotix as the agency they freelance for, listing their Demotix submitted work in the application process. I am guessing that now the NUJ would accept the application if someone was to apply. From my knowledge there has been no one yet doing, or trying to do this.

Demotix does receive more news submissions from those countries outside of the UK than inside the UK too. The world does not revolve around the UK as some think...lolol. Being based in a particular location does not mean that is your main business dealing area. Most times your base location is determined by the laws of that location, and how they benefit you the best.

The world does not revolve around the UK? I am stunned! Next you will tell me the British Empire no longer exists!!

BTW The NUJ is one of 17 gate keepers for the UKPCA Press Card. http://www.ukpresscardauthority.co.uk/
This is the only one the UK Police (theoretically) recognise. However many seem to accept the Demotix one. Though I think a lot of it depends on how you behave on the ground. All the 17 gate keepers in the UK have entry criteria. Some are higher than the UKPCA requirements so you automatically get a Press Card. There the requirements for the organisation are lower you have to apply for the Press card on merit.

Guys,

We're in the middle of a conversation with the Press Pass Association in the UK (I met with them all personally last month) to figure out how we can avoid confusion over the Demotix Press Pass and theirs, and whether we should run our press pass accreditation scheme through them.
I'll keep you posted.

Secondly, I have ABSOLUTELY no idea where any idea of a redesign came from.
If we don't work with the UK Press Pass Association, any redesign of the card will move away from theirs.

Thanks and happy 2012!
Turi

Hello,
I want to apply Demotix Press Card. What do you think? I need opinions from you all.
Thank you.

Have you tried talking to some of the other Demotix reporters from Malaysia, to see if they've found it useful?

Turi - Any feedback from Press Pass Association with regards to the press card issue?

I was at an event yesterday and I showed my Demotix card to the PR rep. handling the event and was literally labelled a 'hobbyist' with a press card and denied access to the official press pen. The card was recognised and I was informed that Demotix is not up there with 'NUJ' for access.

As Steve pointed out, NUJ is a union and not a news agency. So to be compared and also advised to join them to be considered as a serious photojournalist, 'since there is a pecking order', was to say the least 'demeaning'.

Having said that, some PR agencies will accept the Demotix Press Card. Which brings me to my next question, is Demotix in discussions with PR agencies for entertainment events in the UK?

IT is clear you don't understand the press card situation in the UK. The UKPCA card as issued by the 17 gate keepers of the UKPCA http://www.ukpresscardauthority.co.uk/. All you have to do is join one of the 17 gate keepers. Some due to their entry requirements automatically give a press card. With some that have a lower level of entry you have to apply separately.

If you want a UKPCA card all you have to do is join on of the 17 gatekeepers.

Should Demotix join the UKPCA scheme nothing would change. Demotix would not issue the cards to everyone as now. If you want a UKPCA card you would still have to meet their requirements.

The other point is it is a voluntary scheme. It just happens as 99% of the professional media use it the Police Recognise it. They could recognise the Demotix card if they wanted to. Most of that will depend on how Demotix reporters behave in the ground. There are some who are protesters some of the time and reporters when it suits them. In which case the Police will never recognise it as a real press card.

I was very sceptical of it's use but I have found the Demotix card works most of the time with most police forces.

As for events.... and PR people for entertainment thePress card is neither here nor there. IT is who you are working for. I was talking to a photographer for NME the other week. She can get in anywhere with her company ID. She does not need a Press card. On the other hand a UKPCA Press Card carrying reporter for Model Railway Magazine is not going to be let in to a Guns and Roses concert. Events people will let in the Press for magazines and newspapers they want to appear in.

BTW who do you have your Public Liability Insurance with?

"I was at an event yesterday and I showed my Demotix card to the PR rep. handling the event and was literally labelled a 'hobbyist' with a press card and denied access to the official press pen. The card was recognised and I was informed that Demotix is not up there with 'NUJ' for access."

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Well, the same situation here at Germany. Where the media interest is high enough, the organizers becomes picky. At the concerts of wellknown bands they gets some dozends of accredition requests. So they takes only the media, which they´re interested in. Someone shooting for the internetportal of a radio station, which is expected to play the songs of the band and pay them duties for that, is at a reasonably better position as a photographer sent for example by one of the Springer-yellow press (somewhat like The Sun at UK).

So there´s not the question, which ID-card You´re carry with You, but if they´re interested in seeing the pictures provided by the media You´re working for. Usually this question is being discussed beforehand with the organizer`s press desk and not with the poor security guys at the entrance. These poor guys are charged to let only the photographers in, whos names are registerd on the accredition list. So their task is to tell all the others something, which makes them either to buy a ticket or to disappear and which is not directly impolite.

People, fact is, for the most, Demotix Press Card will hold not much more acceptance than, say, a card that says "Patricio Murphy - Photojournalist" and has PRESS printed somewhere. I mean, the ARGRA (Argentina's photojournalist's association) pass is issued by the Ministry of Interior, and has the same security details as a passport. It's no wonder that that kind of pass holds more credibility than a pass that I can have made at home with the proper printer.
The Demotix press pass only means you upload photos to Demotix. If they don't care about Demotix, which, let's face it, is not Reuters/AP/AFP/EFE or the likes, you're screwed.

I've already got 10 stories. how can i make the demotix press id card? thank's

If your country has an association it is a good idea to become a member. In Canada there is the Canadian Association of Journalists, their application requires proof of work to show you are indeed a journalist. They also issue a membership card. I have used that card many times with Police or other officials.

Another thing is to practice what you will say when someone questions you. If you stumble looking for words then you are likely to encounter some resistance. Be truthful but tell them directly who you shoot for.

Just some thoughts, I have been freelancing for 10 years, and while many people (police and officials) know me in my city, whenever someone new starts or if a provincial or federal politician comes through, it is always a challenge.

cheers and good luck.
Mark.