Photojournalists in the USA, covering news on “federal highways” are now covered by a law that requires them – along with anyone else working on the highways – to wear high visibility ANSI 107-2004 class II vests. The US National Newspaper Association sells suitable items with the word PRESS on the back in large letters for $15.
Now well I wouldn’t want to go that far when covering most events, since our police in the UK seem unable to distinguish between press photographers and demonstrators, perhaps we should make their job easier? Although, given that the Met Forward Intelligence Teams (FIT) have taken certainly hundreds if not thousands of pictures of me over the past few years I would have thought they should recognise me by now.
At more sensitive events I often work with a press card clearly visible, alhtough I don’t like to do so, because most of what I do – even there – falls within what should be part of the freedom of expression available to all citizens. I worked for years without a card when most of my income came from teaching, and if for some reason I was no longer eligible for a card it wouldn’t stop me working now – although it would make a few things impossible and would increase my chances of arrest.
Legislation in recent years has meant there is no such thing as an “innocent bystander“. If you are in a particular area and have been issued a SOCPA warning to leave and stay you are guilty of an offence, even if you take no active part in what is happening. I’ve objected and shown my press card when given such orders only to be told by police it makes no difference, but I think they are simply wrong. If I didn’t have a card I would be considerably more likely to leave rather than continue to take pictures.
Usually I carry my card in a holder inside a trouser pocket, in a holder on a cord around my belt, making it very simple to find when I need to show it and attaching it securely to my person (long ago I handed a card to a police officer and never saw it again.) In Summer I often wear a holder that fits on my belt that I can drop the card into – still in its holder – to wear it visibly, but easily take it out for people to look at.
But in colder weather I wear a jacket on top of the belt, and the only way I’ve found to carry the card visibly is in a holder that goes round my neck. Often I have at least one camera around there too, and things can get tangled, which is a nuisance. Cords around the neck also can be used to strangle, which can be a danger in tense situations. So usually the card stays in my pocket on its cord. I’m sure there must be a better solution to make it securely visible.
Not that having a press card is always of much help. At various events police refuse to treat journalists any different from demonstrators, and at times I’ve been told that the UK Press Card I have (a police approved scheme) “isn’t a real press card.”
Of course, the US item, published at the end of last month, reminded me of this year’s great April Fool hoax on EPUK, which provided a great solution for some of these problems – and fooled many – including a Guardian writer!
