A
press pass (alternatively referred to as a
press card or a
journalist pass) grants some type of special privilege to
journalists. Some cards have recognized
legal status; others merely indicate that the bearer is a practicing journalist. The nature of the benefits is determined by the type of issuing agency, of which there are three major categories:
news organizations,
law-enforcement agencies, and event organizers (usually for a specific single affair like a corporate
press conference). Each type of card grants different authorizations, thus it is often necessary or desirable for reporters to hold multiple press passes simultaneously.