As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:
Commissioner. "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the Office of Media and Entertainment.
Emergency, spot, or breaking news event. An "emergency, spot, or breaking news event" means an incident or occurrence in a public place within the City of New York that was unplanned or unforeseen by an agency of the City of New York and is the subject of newsgathering, including, but not limited to, a crime scene, fire, train wreck, bombing, and plane crash.
Event sponsored by the City of New York that is open to members of the press. An "event sponsored by the City of New York that is open to members of the press" means an event that is organized by one or more agencies or offices of the City of New York that is available to more than one member of the press, including, but not limited to, a local press conference; provided, however, that such an event does not include a meeting of City employees or officials with individual members of the press or individuals engaged by a single newsgathering organization.
Member of the press. A "member of the press" means an individual who gathers and reports the news, by publishing, broadcasting, or cablecasting articles, commentaries, books, photographs, video, film, or audio by electronic, print, or digital media such as radio, television, newspapers, magazines, wire, books, and the Internet, including but not limited to an employee of a newsgathering organization or a self-employed newsperson.
Newsgathering organization. A "newsgathering organization" is an organization or entity that gathers and reports the news by publishing, broadcasting, or cablecasting articles, commentaries, books, photographs, video, film, or audio by electronic, print, or digital media such as radio, television, newspapers, magazines, wire, books, and the Internet.
Press credential. A "press credential" means a Standard Press Card, a Reserve Press Card, or a Single Event Press Card.
Press Credential Unit. The MOME Press Credential Unit ("PCU") is the division within MOME that administers and oversees the press credential issuance program.
Public event of a non-emergency nature. A "public event of a non-emergency nature" means an event in a public place within the City of New York that was planned, anticipated, approved, or permitted by one or more agencies or offices of the City of New York, including, but not limited to, a parade or demonstration.
Reserve Press Card. A "Reserve Press Card" means a credential issued to a newsgathering organization pursuant to 43 RCNY § 16-04.
Reserve Press Card authorized user. A "Reserve Press Card authorized user" means a member of the press who has been temporarily issued a Reserve Press Card by a newsgathering organization pursuant to 43 RCNY § 16-04.
Single Event. A "Single Event" means a discrete activity that is an emergency, spot, or breaking news event, a public event of a non-emergency nature, or an event sponsored by the City of New York that is open to members of the press.
Single Event Press Card. A "Single Event Press Card" means a credential issued pursuant to 43 RCNY § 16-05 to a member of the press to cover a Single Event.
Standard Press Card. A "Standard Press Card" means a credential issued to a member of the press pursuant to 43 RCNY § 16-03.
(Added City Record 12/20/2021, eff. 1/19/2022)
(a) A Standard Press Card holder, a Single Event Press Card holder, or a Reserve Press Card authorized user is entitled (i) subject to space limitations and safety and evidence preservation concerns, to cross police, fire lines, or other restrictions, limitations or barriers established by the City of New York at emergency, spot, or breaking news events and public events of a non-emergency nature where police, fire lines, or other restrictions, limitations, or barriers established by the City of New York have been set up for security or crowd control purposes, within the City of New York; and (ii) subject to space limitations and safety concerns, to attend events sponsored by the City of New York that are open to members of the press.
(b) When there is a denial of a Standard Press Card holder's, Single Event Press Card holder's, or Reserve Press Card authorized user's ability to cross police or fire lines, or other restrictions, limitations, or barriers established by the City of New York or attend events sponsored by the City of New York, such denial must come from an authorized person of the City agency(ies) or office(s) sponsoring the event or a supervising officer or a member of the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information of the New York City Police Department ("NYPD").
(c) Upon request from an authorized person of the City agency(ies) or offices sponsoring the event or a supervising officer or a member of the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information of the NYPD, a Reserve Press Card authorized user must provide identification (i) when seeking to cross police or fire lines, or other restrictions, limitations, or barriers established by the City of New York or attend events sponsored by the City of New York; and (ii) at any time after such access has been granted.
(d) A Single Event Press Card holder who is under sixteen (16) years old:
i. must be accompanied by a parent, a legal guardian, or a responsible adult who is at least eighteen (18) years old when seeking to cross police or fire lines, or other restrictions, limitations, or barriers established by the City of New York or attend events sponsored by the City of New York, and at all times after such access has been granted. Only one parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult must accompany no more than one Single Event Press Card holder who is under sixteen (16) years old to each event for which the Single Event Press Card is issued.
ii. In the discretion of the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment may waive this requirement for a Single Event Press Card holder who is under sixteen (16) years old taking into account the criteria listed in 43 RCNY § 16-05(e)(iv)(C);
(e) A Single Event Press Card Holder who is sixteen (16) years old to eighteen (18) years old: In the discretion of the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment may require, after taking into account the criteria listed in 43 RCNY § 16-05(e)(iv)(C), that the Single Event Press Card holder be accompanied by a parent, a legal guardian, or a responsible adult who is at least eighteen (18) years old when seeking to cross police or fire lines, or other restrictions, limitations, or barriers established by the City of New York or attend events sponsored by the City of New York, and at all times after such access has been granted. Only one parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult must accompany no more than one Single Event Press Card holder who is sixteen (16) years old until eighteen (18) years old to each event for which the Single Event Press Card is issued.
(Added City Record 12/20/2021, eff. 1/19/2022; amended City Record 2/11/2025, eff. 3/13/2025)
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