How To Get A Press Pass As A Freelance Journalist

Whether you’re interested in covering entertainment, sports, video games, or food, chances are that as a freelance journalist, at some point in your career you will need to secure a press pass to attend an event. If you’re just starting out, however, the whole process may seem opaque. 

Here’s a step by step guide on securing a press pass.

Find The Proper Contact 

First things first, you will need to get connected with the proper person who is in charge of the event. Usually, on the event’s website, this person will be labeled as the media or PR contact.  Marley Lumbard, the founder and executive director of Qulture Media, notes that “some of those smaller festivals might not have that person specifically so you can just reach out to whatever contact information that they have on the website.”   

Jessica Farthing, a freelance writer, says that some events have specific tabs on their respective websites in which journalists can reach out for press passes. However, she says when dealing with restaurants or other establishments, it may take some digging. As such, she advises that, in those scenarios, writers give themselves enough time to find the contact through utilizing LinkedIn, other social media platforms, or more general emails.  

Write A Compelling Email 

“I treat it the same way that I treat a pitch to a magazine,” Farthing says. 

In your email to the event’s publicist, you should include a portfolio and your prospective game plan for what you want to cover, who you want to talk to, and general scope of the piece. 

Lumbard stresses that it’s crucial to show the PR person that you have prior clips. 

“Whoever you reach out to, they’re gonna want to know that you are legitimate and that you’re actively involved and you’ve been published and you’ve been doing the work,” Lumbard says. 

Amelia Merrill, a theater reporter, says that since “not every festival is very freelance friendly,” in this initial contact email, you should have an assignment letter from an editor. 

“Keeping the email short will help the publicist on the receiving end as well,” Dominic Polsinelli, a former music journalist, says.

Amelia Merrill, a theater reporter, says that since “not every festival is very freelance friendly,” in this initial contact email, you should have an assignment letter from an editor. 

“Keeping the email short will help the publicist on the receiving end as well,” Dominic Polsinelli, a former music journalist, says. 

Be Gracious At The Event

Especially if you’re at your first event as a journalist, you will want to make a good impression.

“You just want to be polite,” Lumbard says.  “You want to stay out of the way as best as you can while also trying to get the information that you need.” 

Remember that you’re there to report on an event, and so try to make the most of your time by prioritizing interviews with sources, talent, and attendees. 

However, don’t forget that this can be an enjoyable experience as well. 

“As a journalist it’s your job to be professional at an event,” Polsinelli says, “But you should also experience it through the eyes of any other attendee. You should be having fun.” 

Keep In Touch With The PR After The Event

Going to an event at a professional capacity as a freelance journalist can be the start of new gigs and opportunities. Ideally, you will be added to a PR list moving forward, making future opportunities easier to secure. 

Lumbard says that after the event and you’ve published your piece, you should send it to the PR person who assisted with securing you a press pass.

“If you do publish any kind of article from the event, no matter how small the link from the event,  send them a link to it,” Farthing echoes. 

When it comes down to it, the publicist would like to see that you made the most of your time at the event. Even if the coverage wasn’t entirely favorable, the event’s organizers would like to know that the press pass was put to good use. 

Brandon Sward, a writer, says you can go on social media platforms to promote your work.

“Tag them,” he says. “Make their jobs easier.” 

“Publicists like a journalist who is a dependable communicator and who follows through with their work,” Polsinelli says.

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