Media / Press Pass Policy

A Los Angeles Police Department (also referred to as LAPD or Department) News Media Identification Card (also referred to as ‘media card’ or ‘press pass’) shall enable the bearer to pass through established police and/or fire lines within the City of Los Angeles in order to cover news events occurring behind such lines.

It is important to note a media card is not required to obtain or have access to information distributed to the media by the Department.  Not having an LAPD media card would not prevent persons identifying as media from attending Department sponsored news conferences or events held in any public space.

Who is eligible?

In compliance with LAMC Section 52.16(A), eligibility is determined as:

“The Board is hereby authorized, and may delegate the authority to the Department, to issue news media identification cards (hereinafter “cards”) only to those whom the Board or the Department determines to be actual news-gathering representatives of newspapers or publications, news services, radio or television stations maintaining a regular news service or to self-employed reporters and photographers who regularly cover news events at which police and/or fire lines within the City of Los Angeles are established. The exclusive purpose of such cards shall be to enable the bearer thereof to pass through established police and fire lines in order to cover news events occurring behind such lines.”  

Persons who regularly report from Council or committee meetings, on sporting events or activities, on entertainment news, or write or produce investigative news stories do not require an LAPD media card.  These types of stories do not occur passed established police or fire lines, and do not fall under the criteria defined in LAMC Section 52.16(A).

Employees of Department-Identified News Organizations:

1. Complete the News Media Identification Card Application.  The application must be completed and signed in order to be considered.  Failure to do so could result in delays or denial of the application.
2. Provide a letter on original business letterhead, signed by a news director, editor, or person in charge, stating the applicant is an employee of the news organization who regularly covers news events at which police and/or fire lines within the City of Los Angeles are established.
3. Scan the application and letter, and e-mail to wwwpress@lapd.online.
4. The application and letter will be reviewed by the Department Media Pass Coordinator, and the applicant will be contacted regarding the next step of the application process.

Self-Employed, Freelancers, Employees of Non-Department Identified News Organizations:

1. Complete the News Media Identification Card Application. The application must be completed and signed in order to be considered.  Failure to do so could result in delays or denial of the application.
2. Provide three (3) letters on original business letterhead, signed by a news director, editor, or person in charge, stating the applicant has completed assignments requiring the need to cover news events at which police and/or fire lines within the City of Los Angeles are established,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  OR; provide three (3) examples of work credited to the applicant from the last six (6) months. The samples must show the applicant performed work that required access passed established police or fire lines. Such examples can include articles, photographs, videos, or other forms of media.  The examples can be provided in print, PDF format, or through links to sites where the example can be viewed.
3. Scan the application, letter, and samples, and e-mail to wwwpress@lapd.online.
4. The application, letter and samples will be reviewed by the Department Media Pass Coordinator, and the applicant will be contacted regarding the next part of the application process.

Department of Justice

Each applicant shall complete a California Department of Justice Fingerprint Background Check prior to the issuance of any new or renewed media card.

Denial or Revocation of Media Card

The media card remains the property of LAPD, and is subject to denial or revocation by the Department. The Department, in the exercise of its reasonable discretion, may deny or revoke a media card for reasons including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Failure to meet the requirements outlined in LAMC Section 52.16(A).
2. Past revocation of an LAPD media card.
3. False or misleading statement(s) on the media card application.
4. The media card applicant/holder has been arrested and/or convicted of any criminal offense, including but not limited to, those involving use of force or violence on the person of another, lewd conduct, forgery, embezzlement, vagrancy, or interfering or otherwise impeding the activities of law enforcement officers.
5. If the Department deems the media card holder abused their media card authority.
6. If the media card holder uses their media card to deceive another person, or for the purpose of committing or attempting to commit a crime.
7. If the media card holder terminates their employment with a news agency, or their job duties no longer require maintaining an LAPD media card.

If the Department denies or revokes a media card, the applicant/holder can appeal the Department’s decision.  The applicant/holder must submit their appeal in writing to the Board of Police Commissioners (BOPC).  The BOPC will review the appeal and make a final determination.  Any appeal to the BOPC must be postmarked within ten days after mailing of the denial letter.  The BOPC, in its sole discretion, may consider late appeals only upon a showing of good cause.  Good cause for purposes of this paragraph includes, but is not limited to, the failure of the Applicant to receive notice of the Department’s decision, or mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect.

Loss/Theft of Media Card, Change of Employment, No Longer Employed by News Agency

If the media card is lost or stolen, the media card holder or their employer must report the media card lost/stolen with a policing agency.  A copy of the report must be provided to the LAPD media card coordinator before a new media card will be re-issued.

If the media card holder changes employer, the holder must notify the LAPD media card coordinator of the change.  If the media pass holder is no longer employed with the news organization, the media card must be surrendered to Media Relations Division immediately.

For additional information, contact the Department Media Pass Coordinator at (213) 486-5910.