FAQ

Anyone who is employed or works as a freelance journalist can apply for membership. Unlike many other journalist organizations and agencies, the USPA doesn´t differentiate between part- or full-time workers. Since professional journalistic work cannot be measured by income or whether it was done by a full-time journalist, USPA ensures that freelancers also have the chance to become a member of an organization and reap all the benefits it offers.

• A marketing platform for editorial content (word, photograph, sound, online) via www.uspa24.com or www.germandailynews.com
• Special deals when shopping (perks and press discounts through collaborations with companies and product suppliers)
• An official press identity card (Reporter card)
• A press vehicle ID for your car
• An international press pass
• Professional and career consulting with 24/7 e-mail support

USPA is an officially registered international press and journalist press agency with a registered office in the USA. United States Press Agency is authorized to issue the USPA press pass, which is officially recognized. USPA press credentials are officially registered (International Association of Press Photographers Registration Services). Thanks to the agency´s hard work, the press pass enjoys a high level of acceptance at agencies, businesses and with organizers and is on par with the national identification cards of countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, England, France, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Press cards are issued by journalist agencys, not by government. There is no such thing as an official press card. Journalist associations are not authorized to give press cards to exclusive groups of journalists. Anyone who represents the press (whether full- or part time) has the right to a press card. USPA stays true to this principle.

The benefits of membership are varied and numerous:

• Representation of interests
• Strong networks
• Unbureaucratic, comprehensive and competent service
• Support of part-time journalists
• Tips on successfully marketing journalistic services
• Tips on getting clients
• The right to bear the title "Member of the United States Press Agency" or "Member of the USPA"
• A press pass
• A press vehicle ID for your car
• Official press identity card (Reporter card)

Although holding a press pass does not give you, a representative of the press, the right to be admitted to events for free, most organizations assume that this card means that you have a journalistic background without asking any questions. In isolated cases, documents proving you are covering the news are asked for. With a press pass, you also get admission to inaccessible areas which are off-limits for non-journalists. However, don´t forget that every organizer can make use of the house rules and decide for themselves which media representatives to let in. Tips on how to get into sought-after tradeshows and events despite being rejected can be found in the protected member area.

When using a press vehicle ID for journalistic work, you´ll get access to blocked-off areas and use of special parking spots (for example at tradeshows, concerts, sports events and other functions). The press vehicle ID, however, does not protect you from getting parking tickets when you have parked illegally. But, in media-friendly cities, many have observed that the police often look the other way when a press vehicle ID is displayed in a car. The press vehicle ID may only be displayed when the car is being used for journalistic purposes. It is only valid along with a press pass. It can be extended yearly with an annual stamp.

This serves to protect the identity documents from being copied or counterfeited. The card´s visual design is changed yearly, and the security marks are constantly re-implemented. USPA press passes are registered and provided with the current year which proves its validity.