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The National Press Association

Press Credentials in Phoenix: 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.

What the policies say about media access

  • Phoenix Police Operations Order 1.10.00 (First Amendment Activity Support and Management) lists a “Right to Free Press” that employees are told to respect, which it describes as protecting the media’s ability to observe, record, document, and report events in public forums. (source: public.powerdms.com, as of October 24, 2026)
  • Operations Order 1.10.00 also tells employees to respect the right to observe and record the actions of law enforcement officers in public spaces without being subject to retaliation, and adds that officers may direct a person recording from a position that impedes emergency services, endangers public safety, or interferes with an officer’s duties or safety to a reasonable safety zone. (source: public.powerdms.com, as of October 24, 2026)
  • In its section on responding to civil disturbances, Operations Order 1.10.00 says individuals in the affected area, including members of the media, are required to comply with law enforcement orders. (source: public.powerdms.com, as of October 24, 2026)

Who handles media questions

  • The Phoenix Police Public Affairs Bureau’s media advisories page gives an email address for media inquiries, says the on-call public information officer typically responds from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and links a “Submit a Media Inquiry” form. (source: phoenix.gov, as of October 24, 2026)
  • Operations Order 3.1.00 (Organizational Structure) says the Public Affairs Bureau reports to the City Communications Department, is responsible for disseminating Department information including press releases, is available on a 24-hour basis, and assists the on-scene commander or supervisor in responding to media inquiries. (source: public.powerdms.com, as of October 24, 2026)

Other policy language about media

  • Phoenix Police Operations Order 1.10.00 (First Amendment Activity Support and Management) defines “Media” as any individual who gathers, produces, and disseminates news to the public in any form, expressly including self-employed individuals, independent contractors, and freelancers, and says these individuals must comply with orders issued by law enforcement. (source: public.powerdms.com, as of October 24, 2026)
  • Operations Order 7.2.00 (Community Based Policing) refers to Operations Order 6.8.00, Media Relations, as the order that governs the news media. We did not find the text of Operations Order 6.8.00 in the public documents we read, so we do not summarize it. (source: public.powerdms.com, as of October 24, 2026)
  • The Police Department’s media relations page says media can submit public records requests online, that they are handled by the Public Records Unit and Services Unit, and warns media on a deadline to be aware of that process. (source: phoenix.gov, 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 Phoenix issue press credentials?

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

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

Phoenix Police Operations Order 1.10.00 (First Amendment Activity Support and Management) lists a “Right to Free Press” that employees are told to respect, which it describes as protecting the media’s ability to observe, record, document, and report events in public forums. Operations Order 1.10.00 also tells employees to respect the right to observe and record the actions of law enforcement officers in public spaces without being subject to retaliation, and adds that officers may direct a person recording from a position that impedes emergency services, endangers public safety, or interferes with an officer’s duties or safety to a reasonable safety zone. In its section on responding to civil disturbances, Operations Order 1.10.00 says individuals in the affected area, including members of the media, are required to comply with law enforcement orders.

Who handles media questions in Phoenix?

The Phoenix Police Public Affairs Bureau’s media advisories page gives an email address for media inquiries, says the on-call public information officer typically responds from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and links a “Submit a Media Inquiry” form. Operations Order 3.1.00 (Organizational Structure) says the Public Affairs Bureau reports to the City Communications Department, is responsible for disseminating Department information including press releases, is available on a 24-hour basis, and assists the on-scene commander or supervisor in responding to media inquiries.

What else do Phoenix’s policies say about media?

Phoenix Police Operations Order 1.10.00 (First Amendment Activity Support and Management) defines “Media” as any individual who gathers, produces, and disseminates news to the public in any form, expressly including self-employed individuals, independent contractors, and freelancers, and says these individuals must comply with orders issued by law enforcement. Operations Order 7.2.00 (Community Based Policing) refers to Operations Order 6.8.00, Media Relations, as the order that governs the news media. We did not find the text of Operations Order 6.8.00 in the public documents we read, so we do not summarize it. The Police Department’s media relations page says media can submit public records requests online, that they are handled by the Public Records Unit and Services Unit, and warns media on a deadline to be aware of that process.

Which Phoenix pages did you review?

Phoenix Police Department Media Relations (Public Affairs Bureau): mission, staff list, public records for media; Phoenix Police Media Advisories page: media inquiry email, on-call PIO hours, inquiry form, advisory archive; no credential program; Phoenix Police Operations Order 1.10.00, First Amendment Activity Support and Management (marked New 12/15/25); Phoenix Police Operations Order 3.1.00, Organizational Structure (Rev. 02/27/26); Phoenix Police Operations Order 7.2.00, Community Based Policing; Phoenix Police Operations Orders table of contents (lists 6.8.00 Media Relations and 1.10.00; no text of those orders); no credential program; Phoenix Police Continuous Improvement page (statements, press conferences, policy updates); no credential program.

Answers restate the sourced facts on this page.

NPA membership is separate from Phoenix 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.

Apply for a free NPA membership

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.