Reply To: Scary new breed of fauxtographers.

[Loke]

Stef I am a freelance photojournalist and member of the NPPA….yes, I know there is no “press badge” and that one can go anywhere as a civilian where you are on public land but if you want a chance  to cross the yellow tape with other media you have to apply with the police department to get better access than the average Joe. How this policy applies is dependent on the police department and will vary nationally. Of course, you can always fight it but typically it isn’t that easy to just walk up and ask. Maybe this guy had connections, or whoever looked at him thought he was valid as a photojournalist, perhaps he was published somewhere else.