Demotix defends 'press pass' scheme after criticism from industry group

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Citizen journalism wire Demotix has defended its press pass scheme after coming under fire from the UK Press Card Authority.

Chair of the authority Mike Granatt is quoted on the NUJ's website as saying "the Demotix 'press pass' is nothing of the sort", referring to it instead as a "hobbyists" pass.

He adds that the authority will be contacting police forces across the country to alert them to the card.

Speaking to Journalism.co.uk, Demotix CEO Turi Munthe said the issuing of their press passes is carefully monitored.

"We allow our reporters to apply for the press pass only once they have uploaded a minimum of 10 stories that we've verified and approved," he said. "The odd exception is for reporters whom we know, and who specifically request press passes for specific events. They know, like we know, that they represent Demotix - so we're careful in issuing them, and they are careful in using them."

In the article on the NUJ website, Granatt goes on to say the Demotix card may be misleading to authority.

"Our concern is that the police and third parties might be misled by the Demotix card. Its intention is confirmed by Demotix's advice on their website which suggests '…walking up to the authorities with swagger, then shove the press pass in their face along with 'that's right, I have access to this event' grin on your face.'

"No professional journalist would behave like that. And no-one should encourage anybody to try to bluster their way past a cordon or into an event with this hobbyists' 'press pass'."

In response Turi said he had always planned to approach the UK Press Card Authority to discuss the matter.

"We haven't approached the UK press card gate-keepers not because we have an ideological stance against them, but because we haven't got round to it - we function currently in 190 countries and territories around the world," he told Journalism.co.uk.

"Obviously, an impartial organisation that helps journalists make their case to the police at a time when journalists (freelancers in particular) are finding it harder and harder to cover the news because of police harassment, is a great thing. We'll be in touch with them."

He did however take issue with Granatt's description of Demotix's journalists as "hobbyists".

"In direct response to Mike Granatt's comments, however, we'd like to point out that he is wrong to describe the Demotix community as 'amateur journalism' or the work of 'hobbyists'," he said.

"The vast majority of Demotix' regular contributors are pro or semi-pro photojournalists around the world, whose work has appeared in every major news outlet in the UK. The 'ownership' of news reporting is not - by any means - as simple as many in the trade, Mr. Granatt or other, might like. And we are extremely proud to be challenging that ownership, and bringing different voices to the table.

"Our view has always been that everyone everywhere, if they are serious, should have right of enquiry. We also believe we make better judges of that 'seriousness' than the globe's police forces. So of course we will do anything we can to help our community report the news. That's why we were founded."