A press pass is a credential issued by an event organizer, government body, or accrediting institution that authorizes a journalist to enter restricted areas, attend briefings, photograph proceedings, and interview participants. In international affairs, press passes are central to coverage of summits, parliaments, courts, and UN bodies, where access is tightly controlled for security and protocol reasons.
At the United Nations, the Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit (MALU), part of the Department of Global Communications, issues passes to journalists covering Headquarters in New York. Applicants typically submit a letter of assignment, proof of employment with a recognized media organization, and government-issued ID. Short-term passes cover specific events such as the annual general debate of the General Assembly each September, while longer-term accreditation is granted to resident correspondents.
Other major institutions operate parallel systems. The European Parliament and European Commission accredit journalists through their respective spokesperson services in Brussels. The White House issues "hard passes" for daily access and day passes for one-off coverage, administered through the press office and Secret Service. NATO, the IMF, the World Bank, and the WTO each maintain their own accreditation procedures for ministerial meetings and annual summits.
Press passes typically restrict bearers to designated press galleries, filing centers, and stakeout positions, and may be revoked for breaches of conduct. Disputes over revocation have generated notable litigation: in Sherrill v. Knight (D.C. Cir., 1977), the court held that the White House cannot deny a press pass to a bona fide journalist without due process protections.
For Model UN delegates and student researchers, press passes matter in two ways. First, MUN conferences often run press corps committees that simulate accreditation. Second, when conducting field research at real institutions, students should distinguish between media accreditation (for working journalists) and observer or visitor passes (for academics and NGOs), which carry different access rights. Misrepresenting affiliation to obtain a press pass is grounds for revocation and possible criminal charges in many jurisdictions.
Example
During the UN General Assembly high-level week in September 2023, thousands of journalists received press passes from the UN Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit to cover leaders' speeches and sideline meetings at Headquarters in New York.