press passes

City Of San Diego abruptly ends longstanding media ID and parking placard program, raising new questions about access, accountability, and press rights

Source:  Sandiegoville

February 26, 2026 (San Diego) - The City of San Diego has abruptly discontinued its Media Identification Card (Press Pass) Program and the blue parking placards that for decades helped local journalists cover breaking news safely and in real time. The change, effective February 13, is being framed by San Diego Police Department as an administrative modernization effort. But to many working reporters, photographers, and editors, the practical effect is simple: less access, more friction, and a new discretionary landscape in which on-scene decision-making can tilt against the press, especially when coverage is critical.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

MEDIA EXPERTS PARTICIPATE IN PANEL TO ADDRESS CONTROVERSIAL PRESS PASS ISSUES

 

By Janis Mork

April 15, 2013 (San Diego)- Last week, in the KPBS studio at San Diego State University, U-T San Diego public engagement reporter Matt Hall moderated a three-member panel  hosted by the San Diego Chapter of Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)  to explore the controversial issue of press credentials.

Should San Diego Police Department stay in charge of who gets press credentials countywide?

Who needs press passes—and how does SDPD determine who does and doesn’t receive them? 

These are among the questions addressed on a panel consisting of  U-T San Diego public safety reporter Kristina Davis, true crime author Caitlin Rother, and freelance videographer James ‘JC’ Playford, who filled in for  San Diego Reader journalist Dorian Hargrove originally scheduled.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.