Can I get a Press Pass when all I have is a blog?
March 28, 2019 8:47 PM Subscribe
I have this silly bucket-list dream of getting a press pass to a FIFA World Cup. I've set my eyes on the next edition: I want to have access to the "mixed zones", press conferences and press boxes at Qatar 2022. The immediate problem is that I'm not a journalist nor I work for any news outlet or institution. How do I go about getting that press accreditation?
My plan is to create an online publication (a blog maybe?) and use that to apply for media accreditation, or to apply as a freelance journalist. It seems like a long shot.
It also seems that FIFA wants freelancers to register with the national associations first. I've found this page on the US Soccer National Team: https://www.ussoccer.com/about/us-soccer-media-services which asks to contact a Communications Department. Has someone gone through this process? What can I expect?
My plan is to create an online publication (a blog maybe?) and use that to apply for media accreditation, or to apply as a freelance journalist. It seems like a long shot.
It also seems that FIFA wants freelancers to register with the national associations first. I've found this page on the US Soccer National Team: https://www.ussoccer.com/about/us-soccer-media-services which asks to contact a Communications Department. Has someone gone through this process? What can I expect?
This is not going to happen, they don't let random freelancers wander into these things.
Even if you were some kind of 'influencer' with millions of followers you would be let in precisely long enough to post a single selfie and then quickly escorted out of the way.
posted by bradbane at 10:23 PM on March 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
Even if you were some kind of 'influencer' with millions of followers you would be let in precisely long enough to post a single selfie and then quickly escorted out of the way.
posted by bradbane at 10:23 PM on March 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
What @smoke said, plus don't do this because it makes life harder for the media people and legit freelancers and journalists in the world. When I was a freelance tech writer I could shoot an email to the right person at an event and get a press pass, few questions asked. But I was legit covering events.
Fast forward ten years and it was much more involved unless I happened to know the people at the event, mostly because of people doing what you describe here.
I now work with a corporate comms team and we run a major event yearly and have to process these bogus requests. So now we have a process that annoys legit writers we don't have a strong relationship with because we have to screen out people trying to scam their way in for free. Don't be that person.
posted by jzb at 5:32 AM on March 29, 2019 [14 favorites]
Fast forward ten years and it was much more involved unless I happened to know the people at the event, mostly because of people doing what you describe here.
I now work with a corporate comms team and we run a major event yearly and have to process these bogus requests. So now we have a process that annoys legit writers we don't have a strong relationship with because we have to screen out people trying to scam their way in for free. Don't be that person.
posted by jzb at 5:32 AM on March 29, 2019 [14 favorites]
I've worked both sides of the press booth-- just to echo, this won't happen.
Here's some example requirements I've seen in the past couple years, all for events with 20-40,000 in-person attendees.... not the largest sporting event in the world.
• Bloggers must demonstrate a readership of at least 30,000 unique visitors per month
• Outlets must have been in continuous operation for at least six months and post original editorial news coverage at least once a week. The website must extend beyond original forums, personal websites, personal analysis or opinion.
• (For a sports tournament) - Must have covered at least 95% of team's regular season home games
• Must have endorsement of team's media director
• Must be a member in good standing of [press association]
• Freelance writers must provide a letter of assignment on the news organization’s letterhead
• Individuals who are not covering the meeting for a recognized news organization are ineligible
posted by matrixclown at 6:21 AM on March 29, 2019 [2 favorites]
Here's some example requirements I've seen in the past couple years, all for events with 20-40,000 in-person attendees.... not the largest sporting event in the world.
• Bloggers must demonstrate a readership of at least 30,000 unique visitors per month
• Outlets must have been in continuous operation for at least six months and post original editorial news coverage at least once a week. The website must extend beyond original forums, personal websites, personal analysis or opinion.
• (For a sports tournament) - Must have covered at least 95% of team's regular season home games
• Must have endorsement of team's media director
• Must be a member in good standing of [press association]
• Freelance writers must provide a letter of assignment on the news organization’s letterhead
• Individuals who are not covering the meeting for a recognized news organization are ineligible
posted by matrixclown at 6:21 AM on March 29, 2019 [2 favorites]
Howdy. Former journalist here. What other people said. I don't think you should feel bad about having this dream; it just so happens that your dream, in this case, is impractical so you can certainly still enjoy the fantasy but pulling it off successfully or ethically is unlikely. Given that, perhaps becoming a volunteer might scratch a similar itch. It will also be incredibly competitive, but volunteering might be, just barely, more realistic. Qatar invites volunteers to help prepare for 2022 FIFA World Cup Good luck!
posted by Bella Donna at 6:22 AM on March 29, 2019 [9 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 6:22 AM on March 29, 2019 [9 favorites]
Just to provide a counterpoint... I wonder if you can adjust this dream to actually creating a legit web site that covers soccer, which attracts a serious audience to come read it?
Creating a blog that hits it big is absurdly difficult. And, it'll only work out if you're a very driven person, and kind of a superfan at the same time. But, it may end up being a very satisfying thing to attempt. And, after all is said and done, you'd have a real shot at press passes to games - but probably not in time for Qatar. Of course, you wouldn't be there for pleasure at that point.
posted by Citrus at 6:39 AM on March 29, 2019 [3 favorites]
Creating a blog that hits it big is absurdly difficult. And, it'll only work out if you're a very driven person, and kind of a superfan at the same time. But, it may end up being a very satisfying thing to attempt. And, after all is said and done, you'd have a real shot at press passes to games - but probably not in time for Qatar. Of course, you wouldn't be there for pleasure at that point.
posted by Citrus at 6:39 AM on March 29, 2019 [3 favorites]
I was just about to suggest volunteering! Here is the registration site.
This being international soccer, the other way to achieve your goals is... money. I'm not suggesting showing up to the press conferences and waving around some hundos (though that may well be likely to work, too). I'm suggesting that if you are able to provide some significant financial support to the tournament, or perhaps your national team, you may be able to ask for some perquisites as befits a sponsor, and one of those might be access to press events.
posted by Rock Steady at 6:49 AM on March 29, 2019
This being international soccer, the other way to achieve your goals is... money. I'm not suggesting showing up to the press conferences and waving around some hundos (though that may well be likely to work, too). I'm suggesting that if you are able to provide some significant financial support to the tournament, or perhaps your national team, you may be able to ask for some perquisites as befits a sponsor, and one of those might be access to press events.
posted by Rock Steady at 6:49 AM on March 29, 2019
I don’t think you need to feel bad for your dream. But I do think that you need to check your expectations and perhaps privilege here. There are legitimate journalists from all over the world publishing in all kinds of languages and outlets who have worked for years to develop expertise and produce reporting of value who will not receive press credentials for this event. And the ones that do will be working really hard to get stories for their outlets and to preserve their reputations and do a great job - looking for a unique quote and angle.
I think this is kind of like a dream of conducting a world-class symphony. You can’t wave a baton around with your friends and expect to get results. I agree with others that you need a lot of money — probably, given soccer’s star draw around the world including with rich jet setters - A LOT of money, way more than a major symphony donation. Another path besides volunteering would be to get on a sponsor’s PR team, but again, that usually involves a long career.
posted by warriorqueen at 7:33 AM on March 29, 2019 [4 favorites]
I think this is kind of like a dream of conducting a world-class symphony. You can’t wave a baton around with your friends and expect to get results. I agree with others that you need a lot of money — probably, given soccer’s star draw around the world including with rich jet setters - A LOT of money, way more than a major symphony donation. Another path besides volunteering would be to get on a sponsor’s PR team, but again, that usually involves a long career.
posted by warriorqueen at 7:33 AM on March 29, 2019 [4 favorites]
To add to the excellent points stated above, the press boxes that actually overlook the field are generally reserved for broadcast outlets. Just about all of the media centers I’ve been to (for motorsports, at least) are windowless rooms crammed full of people hard at work; hardly the most glamorous or exciting of environments.
If this is a dream you’re genuinely interested in pursuing, you could reach out to folks in soccer media for informational interviews and be up front about your intentions. Qatar 2022 may very well be out of the question, but you'll know more for future events.
Good luck!
posted by evoque at 12:48 PM on March 29, 2019
If this is a dream you’re genuinely interested in pursuing, you could reach out to folks in soccer media for informational interviews and be up front about your intentions. Qatar 2022 may very well be out of the question, but you'll know more for future events.
Good luck!
posted by evoque at 12:48 PM on March 29, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
I can't speak for soccer generally, but because every woman and her dog would love to get free tickets to events, press passes for popular things are zealously guarded and vetting is generally quite strict. They do not hand these things out like cupcakes, esp to sporting events.
If you do not have a (wildly popular, preferably corporate owned) blog now, there is no way you will get a pass by time World Cup rolls around. I do not know what vetting they will use for the World Cup, but every place I've ever dealt with does some form of vetting that would immediately preclude new websites with no discernible readership or followers that sprung up less than 12 months ago.
If you do not have a portfolio of sports writing about soccer that goes back several years and has actually recognisable publications on it, saying 99% positive things about soccer and FIFA, you will not get a press pass.
If you want that pass, I'm sorry but you need to be a journalist, and/or work for a high profile publication or organisation like a betting site or something that publishes popular news about soccer. This is as it should be: press conferences are not spectator events, watch it on tv if you're not reporting on it.
Access to press boxes (where they even still exist, it's typically more like a row of seats or even fold out seats near the front) is even more limited and policed with a fervour that might surprise you - this is because rando fans try especially hard to get amazing seats to games for free.
Orgs see people like you allllllllllll the time, like so often. They are not stupid and will see you coming a mile away, and deny you a pass. Heck, even actually legitimate bloggers and journalists get denied passes. This is why tennis press conferences are full of the same 30 people every tournament, even though only about 10 of them even know shit about tennis. Passes are hard to get.
Sorry to be a downer.
posted by smoke at 9:15 PM on March 28, 2019 [36 favorites]