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UK Press Card guidance for applicants

The BAJ is part of the UK Press Card Authority, we are one of a number Gatekeepers authorised to process applications and issue  the only UK PRESS CARD formally recognised by all Police forces in the UK and other public bodies. The UK PRESS CARD is an essential ID verifier for journalists and newsgatherers working on assignments. A two-year Press Card is available to both members and non-members of the BAJ who need to identify themselves in public as genuine media workers.* – The card carries the issuing gatekeeper’s logo in the top right-hand corner, with multiple built-in security features that the Police and public bodies can quickly verify, including a unique user PIN.

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A two-year UK Press Card costs £35.00 for BAJ members and £80.00** for non-members. Unlike most other Gatekeepers, you do not need to be a member of the BAJ to apply for a UK Press Card through us, but you must be working for a major UK news organisation. We do not issue UK Press Cards to Vloggers, Bloggers or Social Media Influencers, regardless of how many subs, followers or likes you may have.

 

NOTE;

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* ‘UK Press Cards’ are subject to meeting strict criteria laid down by the UK Press Card Authority that the BAJ must follow for the issue of PRESS ID. Membership of the BAJ does NOT guarantee entitlement. Please allow ten working days for your application to be reviewed, verified and processed. 

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** Applications for a UK Press Card will only be accepted if accompanied by the following**;

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  • Proof of identity, e.g. certified copy of a passport, driving licence etc., and proof of home address.

  • Samples of verifiable published paid journalistic work, showing clearly the work is attributed and credited to the Press Card Applicant. 

  • A UK Standard Passport photograph of the Press Card Applicant. This must be high Res and uploaded with the application. 

  • An original signed letter with a ‘wet’ signature on official headed paper from the editor or managing editor of a recognised major UK national media outlet, certifying that the applicant regularly produces paid work for them as either a staff member or freelance contributor. Applicants can not supply letters signed by themselves; all supporting letters will be verified by the BAJ ‘cold-calling’ the signatory using the supporting organisation’s published UK telephone number. We do not call the mobile phone numbers of signatories. All documents supplied will be retained and kept on file. We do not return supporting documentation for press accreditation. Altered or forged documents shall be considered an attempt to obtain press credentials by deception. BAJ will, without exception, report such attempts to the Police and share details with all other gatekeeper organisations to prevent secondary applications from being made. Rejected applications will be excluded from reapplying for six months.

  • We now accept Press Card applications electronically, however letters with a wet signature must be posted to BAJ Union, PO BOX 79790, London, NW11 1QT.

 

More information from the UK Press Card Authority website where the scheme rules are available here > (PCA). 

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