I want to share a little story based loosely around something that happened recently involving www.demotix.com and Mr. Mike Granatt...
Here's the basis of what went on : "UK Press Card Authority chair Mike Granatt said: “The Demotix ‘press pass’ is nothing of the sort, despite the fact that it is designed to look like a genuine journalists’ identity document." you can see a little more here.
So, on with the story...
I've been a supporter (though I didn't quite fit really, music related stories not Demotix main market) of Demotix from the off. I could appreciate that a lot of people were not fans as the idea of introducing "citizen journalism" could be seen to be taking work from the current batch of paid journalists and letting "just about anyone with a voice or a camera" do the job... I have many journalist friends and in a mini gtvone-stylie survey, it was suggested that those people didn't actually care all that much "If there's news to be reported and someone is there, that's good, as long as it's reported fair and true" was the main theme amongst my snap-happy, copy-ridden friends... So I continued to submit my images and follow along on Twitter, meeting up with the guys on occasion and hearing what they had to say as a company (over a cheeky pint of milk) and generally liking everything about them...
So from a general observer with a slight interest in the whole "Press" thing, I became more involved and thought about doing much more "citizen journalism" and submitting my work to Demotix. I thought that having a press card would be a good thing and wondered to myself "what would it take to get a UK Press Card?" and as ever, set about finding out!... As a community manager for a large photography website and a general voice on many things photography, I thought it would be interesting to be in touch with someone at the NUJ and ask a few questions..
Mr. Mike Granatt suggests that Police may be misled by the Demotix press card and that it may be misused? My question to you then, Mike, is why did the NUJ give me an actual, real UK Press Card? All I had to do was join the union, pay a little bit and ask the right people and HEY PRESTO! (I've removed my number so that it's not misused) what makes this card (below) different to the Demotix version in terms of "I could have either" it seems?
Now, Mike, I'm certainly not about to pull a crazy stunt and barge my way into an area where I may be less "wanted" but what's stopping me? I have a Press Card baby! I'm not a news gatherer, or am I? I respect the fact that The NUJ looks after Journos and I'm certainly not out to make any enemies their either, but the question has to be asked "why the hell would they give me a press card?"
Everyone has the right to capture what they see that they deem newsworthy, and to have an organisation like Demotix there to back you up and help you get that news out to the people, that's a good thing right? I had support from Demotix when I went along to photograph G20 - They advised on what to expect, they had on-site support for uploading etc... For "nobody's" like me, that is amazing! So if they're going to advise you on how to get access and help you out with a "Press card" that whilst not being the "official job" it certainly spells out your intentions to those that might ask to see it, right?
I didn't use my press card at that G20 thing (The photographers demonstration, right?) ..and to be honest I've never used it.. oh, wait, there was one time when I showed it to a security guard who didn't know his bollocks from his forehead, so that was a pointless waste of time, wasn't it! I've been allowed access to most places I needed to get by being a decent human being...
In short, what I'm saying Mike, is that before you go ranting about organisations like Demotix that are accessible and helpful to "regular Joe" you should make sure that the "official" gate-keepers are looking out for your best interests first, wouldn't you say?... or are you just worried that Demotix are doing a darn fine job?
*I have no idea why I've made bold certain bits of text!