What the National Press Association is
The National Press Association (NPA) is a membership association for independent and working journalists in the United States: bloggers, newsletter writers, freelancers, and reporters who publish on their own platforms as well as in print. Applying is free. Members can also add an optional printed press kit.
Apply for free membership if you publish a blog or website, a newsletter, bylines in print publications, or a social media profile with an established audience.
What we publish
We publish plain-language guides on press credentials, public records, filming and recording, court access, and the ethics of newsgathering. Every factual claim in a guide links to the source we read. Quotes are checked against the live source page before a guide is published, and if we cannot source something, we leave it out.
Start with how press credentials actually work, or see which major U.S. cities issue press credentials. To see exactly how we work, read our editorial standards.
What an NPA membership is, and what it is not
An NPA membership is a private association credential. It is not issued by a government agency. It does not give you legal rights, guarantee access to any event or scene, or give you parking or police-line privileges. Agencies, venues and event organizers decide who they admit.
No U.S. law requires a journalist to carry a press pass. A membership card is one way to show who you are and what you do. It is never a substitute for the requirements an agency or organizer sets, which our credentials guide and city pages explain with sources.
We do not give legal advice
Our guides are information, not legal advice. Laws and agency policies change and differ by place. If you are facing a legal problem, speak with a licensed attorney.
Our standards for members
Members are asked to follow the NPA Code of Ethics, which covers accuracy, honesty about who you are, and respect for people and the law.
Contact us
Questions, corrections or partnership ideas: info@pressassociation.org, or visit the contact page.
Last updated: October 24, 2026