::: International Press Association - Frequently Asked Questions :::
This
is the place to find answers to most of your questions about
IPA and membership issues. Once you become a member, you will
find another FAQ section in the Members Only Area
that will deal with questions related to members issues.
Please remember to check our Forums area which will enable
you to ask questions about anything not covered by our FAQ's
sections.
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IPA
was formed in 1991 and is a duly registered Limited
Liability Corporation in the state of New Jersey.
IPA was originally created as an organization
to bring professional and amateur photographers
together to take part in regional hands on seminars
and workshops. The workshops were designed to
improve photographic skills while offering members
discounts, benefits and a chance to see their
work published in IPA newsletters and publications.
The concept and ownership of IPA came from Leonard
Rapoport, who is the current IPA founder and president.
Mr. Rapoport has vast business and photographic
experience and has been the President of a number
of other corporations including; MTI Group a marketing
and web site consulting firm. He currently owns
a number of photo related web sites including
IPA and hiresroyaltyfreephotos.com.
Mr. Rapoport is an internationally published photographer
and author. He is a retired commissioned officer
in the US Army National Guard. With over 30 years
of creative, sales and marketing skills, Mr. Rapoport
was a key player in the building of a number of
public and private corporations. He was the President
of Movie Tee's, a company that supplied many video
manufacturers with licensed movie related products
when this market was in its infancy. He has spent
his life shooting photos of many subjects including
celebrities like Neil Diamond as well as other
diverse subjects including a trip to the Amazon
Jungle. He is a leader and an innovator and is
well suited for his role as President of IPA.
IPA has no affiliations with any other organization
bearing our name and is not a news service as
some people often think.
2
What
are some of the goals of IPA?
Having
an unbiased international platform to showcase
talent was one of the keys to this new organization
(the web has given us that platform). Bringing
talent together to exchange thoughts and ideas
was another. This web site will offer the
amateur or professional photographer, videographer
or journalist a place to show their work and gather
the information they will need to market news
worthy material and meet others that have the
same goals and interests.
Through important links to international publications,
news media and links to information contributed
by other IPA members, members will have a single
source to help them succeed in their photo or
journalistic endeavors. Members will find that
IPA's new Member Profile will give them an opportunity
to post their resume, show their work and gather
the information they need for success in this
industry.
In addition IPA will offer members discounts and
benefits from a number of other businesses, including
major photographic dealers and manufacturers.
Finally IPA will build a strong web presence that
will enable the organization to publish fast breaking
events and stories, submitted by members.
With tightened international security members
will find IPA press identification and important
asset for access to "Media Only" events.
Our ID should never be used however to breach
a secure area where the member of others might
be at risk of any harm.
3
What
are my dues used for?
Our small membership dues are part of the funds necessary
to develop and maintain our web site and other
IPA projects. It also covers our business costs, including but not limited
to, the production costs of our Press ID kits.
IPA does not accept any paid advertising which makes us an AD FREE site and enables us the freedom to be objective in our reviews and articles.
4
I
understand Gold and Platinum members qualify
for Staff IPA Press ID, what
does this mean?
Being
a Gold or Platinum member of our organization,
identifies our members as working staff for IPA. This distinction
enables us to issue our IPA freelance Press Credentials,
in accordance with White House Press Office Rulings
regarding cyber journalists.
A cyber journalist
or photographer is now recognized with the same rights and benefits
as a traditional photographer or journalist.
Having access is the key to obtaining news worthy
and commercial photos and stories. As an IPA Staff
Photographer or Journalist you are authorized
to obtain stories or photos for our web site.
Our IPA Press ID should never be used in
a false or fraudulent manner. Although our ID
and our right to issue it is legal, certain use
of the ID might not be.
5
How
do I use my IPA Credentials for access to
events, shows, attractions, etc.?
Many organizations seek press coverage or free
publicity for the events or shows. As a freelance
photographer, videographer or correspondent
for IPA you are authorized by us, to seek out
web worthy news photos and stories for submission
to our web site. You should call, wrote or fax
the Press Office or Public Relations Office
of the event you are interested in attending.
Identify yourself as a freelance photographer,
videographer or correspondent on assignment
for IPA. Let them know you will post the information
about their event on our web site. This is done
by going to Add Event on our web site where
you can submit all the information on this event.
You should request a press pass or press credentials
for their event. They may require you to send
or fax them a letter of authorization (which
you will receive with your membership kit),
or require you to present your Press Card and/or
business card at their Press Office or ticket
window. You may also direct them to your profile
on the IPA web site to show them your work.
This is the best way to gain credibility and
assure them you are a legitimate photographer
or journalist.
If you do not have our Business
Cards, we suggest
you order some today, they will prove invaluable
as your back up ID especially for any trade
shows that might require them.
6
Will
I be able to publish my work on the IPA
web site?
Yes,
on completion of your freelance assignment you
should upload the story or photos in your Profile
Management section. We review
all uploads and will include many articles
or photos in our Showcase
areas of the site. By consistently uploading
your new articles and photos you will gain the
credibility you will need for many other assignments.
Often the press officer, editor of a publication,
etc. wants to see your work in print, so it
is important to make submissions to our web
site.
7
What
is the difference between a Independent Press ID
and a Working Press ID?
There is a big difference between the two. The definition of
"Working Press" means a person able
to cross police or fire lines and one that makes
his living covering news breaking stories. This
type of individual will usually apply to the local
police for a "Working Press Card" issued
by that authority and will also have a Press ID
from his employer.
A freelance photographer or journalist
cannot obtain this Police ID as Working Press,
unless he is actually on assignment for a publication,
television or radio station and his editor verifies
that he is on a special assignment for them.
So what does the IPA Independent Press ID do. Well
for one, it will establish all other photographers
and journalists as those that have their work
published in one form of media or another. Other
then the ability to cross a police line, our ID
will identify you as a working photographer or
journalist.
Today you must have some sort of legitimate Press
ID to gain access to gather news about events,
products, fashion, entertainment, etc. Without
any form of ID and not having your work published
in the media makes this access almost impossible.
IPA will give you the necessary tools to gain
the access you need and get your work published.
8
If
I have an IPA Press Pass can I be guaranteed
to get Press access and will IPA verify
that I am on assignment?
A
Press Pass can be a valuable tool for gaining
access to many news worthy events. It can also
help you earn substantial amounts of money as
a result of this access. To be successful in this
business, you must be able to deal with people
politely and with a degree of professionalism.
Remember no one can promise or guarantee that
anyone with any Press ID will gain access or special
privileges, but as a member of IPA, we can only
give you some of the tools you will need to do
so.
For over 19 years, our members have gained
access to sporting events, shows of all sorts,
attractions, news worthy events, disasters, and
much more. Many have sold their work to publications
nationally and others have been able to gain valuable
experience that they could have never gotten otherwise.
One of our members entered the borders of Afghanistan
and Pakistan to report stories from the front
lines using only his IPA credentials. You may
read some of his work on this site.
Anyone that asks to verify your membership in
our organization or see your work can now do
so. All they need to do is register
as a visitor on our web site and then they will
be able to do a member search and view a members
profile. This will of course, be verification
that you are current IPA member. They will also
be able to see your work published on our web
site to verify you are a legitimate photographer,
videographer or journalist. It is a good idea
to provide them with links to our web site and
your member ID number so they may locate the
information they need. In your members profile
area you can also include links to your published
works on other web sites and this will provide
people additional information about you.
Your letter of authorization
is also a great tool to verify your membership
and your status with our organization. Above all
please remember that Publication of your work
on our web site will be an invaluable tool to
your success.
9
I
understand that some attractions, shows,
etc. will offer the press complementary
or discount passes is this true?
Good
press relations is a desire of every public relations,
press officer or owner/manager of a business.
Although it may be considered bad etiquette to
ask for a "Freebie" in some press circles,
(a member of the press should not be biased in
writing an article), we feel it is acceptable
to call and ask if they offer members of the press
discounts or complimentary passes for their attraction
or event.
Even if you are not on assignment or don't intend
to photograph or write about them, they may still
extend this courtesy to you. They may even "comp"
your companion too, if you ask them. Remember,
this is strictly a courtesy and they are doing
it as a "Good Will" gesture, so once
again be professional and polite when you make
your request. It is a good idea, however to try
to publish an article or images of the event as
a way of thanking the company for their courtesy.
Your IPA membership will allow you to do this
through your Profile
Management area.
10
Can
I sell my work to other publications or
do I have to offer my work to IPA?
As
a staff member of IPA, you have the freedom
of offering your work to any publication, television,
radio station, magazine, etc. that would be interested
in purchasing your it. With the valuable links
on our site you can obtain contact information
and find out how to submit your work for publication.
Since your IPA membership enables you to publish
your work on our web site (in your Members Profile
area), you may be selected to be featured on our
site. By submitting your work to our web site,
you authorize us to select your articles or images
for inclusion in our various sections of our web
site as we see fit. You will own the copyright
for your work and give us the permission to publish
it on our web site or in the promotion of our
web site.
11
What
type of Membership Discounts and Benefits
can I get as a member in IPA?
You will find many companies will offer free or discounted benefits to members of the media. Many museums around the world offer free admission to the press. Many major attractions like Universal Studios in California and others also offer a number of free passes to the press.
If you want to travel and make a hotel reservation, check to see if they offer discounts to members of the media, many do. Always take your Press card with you and business cards if you have them and call before you go and find out from their Press Office or Public Relations office if they offer any complimentary or discount passes for their facility. You will be surprised how many do.
12
How
can I get in touch with other IPA members?
Now it is easier then ever before.
Our ranks are growing and we now have members
in over 100 countries. Now any registered member
or visitor to our site, will be able to do a Member
Search and locate a member using various criteria.
A member of visitor will also
be able to review the members profile, email
them and even share knowledge and experiences
with those members. Another wonderful way of
meeting our members is through our Forum.
Remember IPA has groups on many of the popular networking sites, so join us there and reach over 5,000 hand selected affiliate members to contact and discuss photography, journalism or just about anything. See our Network page on our web site and join us there as well.
13
I
would like to cross
link to from my companies web site,
or have my companies product reviewed,
how do I do this?
To have a company's product considered for review you should email us and give us the details of what you would like reviewed.
For other companies that have a site
of interest to our members, we also offer a
simple cross link program and you can find
more information here.
14
Does
IPA need volunteers to help work on the
IPA web site?
You bet we do. The strength of any organization is the people
that make up its membership. Since we are a small
volunteer organization, it is important for us
to harness the creative talents of our members
to make our organization and web site a better
place for all of our members.
If you have the skills to help
us write product reviews, articles on how to
succeed in this business, tips and tricks in
using equipment, and have graphic and/or web
design skills, marketing or member recruitment
ability, let us know.
As the new site develops their will be many areas
we will want to add, so if you have any ideas,
or some free time to donate to us, let us know.
Please email
Len Rapoport our founder and let him know
how you would like to help.
The claims and statements, expressed, implied
or posted by members and non-members on this site, are the sole responsibility
of those individuals. All information and its accuracy, copyright credits,
image copyrights and usage, and other forms of information are the sole
responsibility of each member or individual posting to the site. By posting
on our web site, you agree to let us use your photo, articles and information
for use on our site or in promotions for our site. International Press
Association, LLC and internationalpress.com does not guarantee, warrant,
or confirm information or accuracy of statements posted to profile display
pages or to the messages boards of this site.
See Our Terms of Membership.
