Press cards

We regularly receive questions from journalists in the RFG network about press cards. In the Netherlands, press cards are issued by the professional organisation for journalists, the NVJ.

The NVJ issues press cards that allow journalists to identify themselves at press stands, conferences and events, for example. Press card holders promise to abide by the NVJ Code: 10 ethical rules by which a journalist indicates to be trustworthy and verifiable. The NVJ Code is provided when NVJ press cards are issued.

Only members of the NVJ can apply for a press card. As an NVJ member, you do not automatically qualify for a press card; you must meet a number of conditions:

> You must be working in the Netherlands as a journalist with an employment contract of at least 16 hours a week.

> As a self-employed person, you must earn 75% of the minimum wage in annual income (turnover) from journalistic work and spend most of your time on journalistic work.

Because it is difficult for refugee journalists who have only been in the Netherlands for a short time to meet these conditions, the NVJ offers participants in RFG apprenticeships the opportunity to receive an NVJ press card for 2 years. There are no costs associated with this. After that period, the regular conditions for press cards apply.

To be clear, this scheme is only for journalists selected for New Voices, Reporter, or Newsroom. Also, the appointment applies only to the NVJ press pass, not to the IFJ Press Card and the Police press card, which are also published by the NVJ.

If you are an RFG participant and have questions about press passes, please send an email to redactie@rfgmedia.nl stating ‘Press card’.