§ 16-04 Reserve Press Card.
RCNY § 16-04
(a)A Reserve Press Card is only issued to a newsgathering organization that employs or otherwise engages an individual(s) who is a member of the press to cover, in person: i. emergency, spot, or breaking news events, or 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; or ii. events sponsored by the City of New York that are open to members of the press.
(b)In its discretion, the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment may issue more than one Reserve Press Card to a single newsgathering organization based on the newsgathering organization's demonstration of need.
(c)The Reserve Press Card cycle is two (2) years. All Reserve Press Cards expire on January 15 of every odd year.
(d)The Reserve Press Card bears the name of the newsgathering organization to which it is issued together with other information designated by the Commissioner or head of the PCU. Any additional information designated by the Commissioner or head of the PCU shall be provided on MOME's website.
(e)A newsgathering organization that qualifies under subdivision (a) of this section may apply by completing an application that includes information about the newsgathering organization and members of the press engaged by the newsgathering organization. The newsgathering organization must submit six (6) or more articles, commentaries, books, photographs, videos, films, or audios published, broadcast, or cablecast on separate days within the twenty-four (24) months immediately preceding the Reserve Press Card application, sufficient to show that the newsgathering organization complies with subdivision (a) of this section.
(f)An application for a Reserve Press Card shall be granted or denied no later than thirty (30) days after the applicant submits a complete application for the Reserve Press Card. If an application for a Reserve Press Card is denied, the applicant shall be advised in writing of the basis for the denial pursuant to 43 RCNY § 16-06.
(g)An authorized representative of a newsgathering organization must appear in person to pick up the Reserve Press Card(s) if the application is approved. If the newsgathering organization was issued a Reserve Press Card(s) during the previous cycle, it must surrender all such card(s) in person to MOME. If such card(s) was lost or stolen, it must provide a Verification of Crime/Lost Property Report issued by the NYPD.
(h)The newsgathering organization holding a Reserve Press Card(s) may provide a Reserve Press Card to an individual who is a member of the press employed or engaged by the newsgathering organization if: i. such individual does not already have a Standard Press Card issued in accordance with 43 RCNY § 16-03; ii. such individual is not currently subject to a period of suspension or revocation of a Standard Press Card or Single Event Press Card, or such individual's conduct within the past six (6) months is not characterized by any of the criteria for suspension or revocation set forth in paragraph (iii) of subdivision (b) or paragraph (iii) of subdivision (c) of 43 RCNY § 16-06; iii. the newsgathering organization directs such individual to complete a specific assignment that requires the individual to cover, in person: (A) an emergency, spot, or breaking news event, or a public event of a non-emergency nature, where police or 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; or (B) cover, in person, an event sponsored by the City of New York that is open to members of the press; and iv. such individual is at least eighteen (18) years old.
(i)When the editor or supervising employee of the newsgathering organization has determined that the Reserve Press Card authorized user completed the specific assignment for which the Reserve Press Card was issued, the Reserve Press Card authorized user must promptly return the Reserve Press Card to the editor or supervising employee of the newsgathering organization. (Added City Record 12/20/2021, eff. 1/19/2022; amended City Record 2/11/2025, eff. 3/13/2025)
