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Press Credentials in Dallas: What the City’s Own Policies Say

No standing program found

By The National Press Association editorial team · Last reviewed: . Policies change, so confirm with the agency’s media office before you rely on this page.

We found no standing city-issued press credential program on the official pages we reviewed as of October 24, 2026. Below is what the city’s own policies say about media identification and access, each statement linked to the page it came from.

Identification the city’s policies say is accepted

  • General Order 323.02 (Major Incidents) says media representatives who have employer-issued identification, a Department of Public Safety press pass, or another form of valid media identification are allowed immediate access to the area next to the Department's command post. The order names the Department of Public Safety press pass as one accepted form; the Dallas order does not describe who issues it. (source: dallaspolice.net, as of October 24, 2026)

What the policies say about media access

  • General Order 323.01 says members of the media must display appropriate press credentials before they are admitted to restricted areas. The order does not say who issues those credentials. The page shows this order as revised 01/30/2007. (source: dallaspolice.net, as of October 24, 2026)
  • General Order 323.02 says that, at a major incident, the ranking officer decides further access beyond the command post area and is to make every effort to accommodate the media's need to be as close as possible. Where no command post is set up on a more routine incident, the ranking officer is not to unduly restrict media movement. (source: dallaspolice.net, as of October 24, 2026)
  • General Order 323.02 says media members will not be denied access to areas where the public is allowed to be present. (source: dallaspolice.net, as of October 24, 2026)
  • General Order 323.03 says media members are given guided access to crime scenes as soon as the ranking investigative officer determines it is practical, with exceptions the order lists (private property where the responsible person asks media to leave, preserving the scene or not interfering with an investigation, and not interfering with an operation). (source: dallaspolice.net, as of October 24, 2026)
  • General Order 331.05 says that in public areas, any form of identification referred to as press credentials does not give an individual special privileges or access, and that members of the press and the general public have the same rights in areas accessible to the general public. (source: dallaspolice.net, as of October 24, 2026)

Who handles media questions

  • The Dallas Police Department lists a Police Media Relations Office with a telephone number of (214) 671-4065 and the email address pio@dpd.dallascityhall.com. (source: dallaspolice.net, as of October 24, 2026)
  • General Order 323.02 says that in extreme cases personnel from the Media Relations Unit may be summoned to a scene to conduct media briefings, and that a Media Relations Unit member who is summoned assumes the role of media coordinator. (source: dallaspolice.net, as of October 24, 2026)

Other policy language about media

  • General Order 331.05 says no individual is required to display press credentials in order to observe, photograph, or video/audio record police activity in an area accessible to, or within view of, the general public. (source: dallaspolice.net, as of October 24, 2026)
  • General Order 323.01 says officers will not restrict the movement of newspersons unless their actions clearly and directly interfere with police operations or investigations, and that no member of the media is to have property such as cameras, film, or notes confiscated or threatened with confiscation without due process of law. (source: dallaspolice.net, as of October 24, 2026)

Pages we reviewed

Official pages change, and a program we did not find could exist elsewhere in city government. Confirm with the agency’s media office before you rely on this page.

Frequently asked questions

Does Dallas issue press credentials?

We found no standing city-issued press credential program on the official pages we reviewed as of October 24, 2026.

What identification do Dallas’s policies say media can use?

General Order 323.02 (Major Incidents) says media representatives who have employer-issued identification, a Department of Public Safety press pass, or another form of valid media identification are allowed immediate access to the area next to the Department's command post. The order names the Department of Public Safety press pass as one accepted form; the Dallas order does not describe who issues it.

What do Dallas’s policies say about media access at incidents?

General Order 323.01 says members of the media must display appropriate press credentials before they are admitted to restricted areas. The order does not say who issues those credentials. The page shows this order as revised 01/30/2007. General Order 323.02 says that, at a major incident, the ranking officer decides further access beyond the command post area and is to make every effort to accommodate the media's need to be as close as possible. Where no command post is set up on a more routine incident, the ranking officer is not to unduly restrict media movement. General Order 323.02 says media members will not be denied access to areas where the public is allowed to be present. General Order 323.03 says media members are given guided access to crime scenes as soon as the ranking investigative officer determines it is practical, with exceptions the order lists (private property where the responsible person asks media to leave, preserving the scene or not interfering with an investigation, and not interfering with an operation). General Order 331.05 says that in public areas, any form of identification referred to as press credentials does not give an individual special privileges or access, and that members of the press and the general public have the same rights in areas accessible to the general public.

Who handles media questions in Dallas?

The Dallas Police Department lists a Police Media Relations Office with a telephone number of (214) 671-4065 and the email address pio@dpd.dallascityhall.com. General Order 323.02 says that in extreme cases personnel from the Media Relations Unit may be summoned to a scene to conduct media briefings, and that a Media Relations Unit member who is summoned assumes the role of media coordinator.

What else do Dallas’s policies say about media?

General Order 331.05 says no individual is required to display press credentials in order to observe, photograph, or video/audio record police activity in an area accessible to, or within view of, the general public. General Order 323.01 says officers will not restrict the movement of newspersons unless their actions clearly and directly interfere with police operations or investigations, and that no member of the media is to have property such as cameras, film, or notes confiscated or threatened with confiscation without due process of law.

Which Dallas pages did you review?

Dallas Police Department: Police Media Relations Office; Dallas Police Department General Orders, 300 series (includes 323.00 Press Relations and 331.00 Public Recording of Official Acts); City of Dallas Public Information Office bulletin: Media Credential Information, Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge Celebrations (February 23, 2012; one event, not a standing program).

Answers restate the sourced facts on this page.

NPA membership is separate from Dallas credentials

A National Press Association membership is a private association credential. It is not government-issued, it is not a city credential, and it does not guarantee access anywhere. It can serve as identity verification and supporting documentation alongside your published work. It is free to apply.

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Sources

Every fact above is linked to the page it came from. Policies change, so confirm with the agency’s media office before you rely on this page.