Get your official NPPA i.d. and don't forget to open your wallet again!

Lensmith

Lensmith

Member
I had to smile reading this.

The NPPA now has a fancy i.d. for members...that costs you "less than $20"! Leave it to the NPPA to nickel and dime it's membership.

Be sure and read some of the member comments below this article.

http://nppa.org/news_and_events/news/2009/06/card.html
NPPA Offers New Personalized Photo ID Card

bob_carey_NPPA_credential.jpg


DURHAM, NC (June 19, 2009) – The National Press Photographers Association today announced the availability of a new inexpensive Photo ID Membership Card that can be purchased online by NPPA's active professional and Life members.

“We have a lot of our members looking for one more way to identify themselves as professional visual journalists. For some it may be the only official means they have to let people know they are on the job as a journalist," NPPA executive director Jim Straight said.

“I think there are more and more of our members who may be losing the staff credentials they once carried. These Photo ID Membership Cards are not credentials – but they are intended to help identify our members as professional journalists when they are out working.”

The new Photo ID Membership Cards are available in addition to the non-photo cards that all members already receive.

The new Photo ID Membership Card, which is 2-3/16” by 3-3/8”, is digitally printed directly on to high quality, water-resistant PVC in full color. NPPA members can upload a photograph of their own choosing and the ID card will display an expiration date that matches the date their NPPA membership expires.

“Our goal here is to give the members this option without charging a high price. At less than twenty dollars, including a neck lanyard and shipping, we kept the price down as low as we could. That price is all material, postage, and labor," Straight said.

And if you're ready to order...and pay...here's the web site to help you on your way to an official NPPA i.d. ;)

http://nppa.org/member_id/
 
this looks like an attempt to build their cash reserves as photogs flee the nppa in amazing numbers. good luck nppa..
 
These are a little expensive, yes. The NPPA doesn't make any money on these, believe it or not. You will still get a membership card with your membership, this is an optional card with your picture on it, on a lanyard.

Some members have been asking for something like this for some time now. Mostly freelance still people who don't have a company issued ID to wear. There are some law enforcement agencies who want something like this and it could become an actual credential in the future. I don't like the idea of being required to show proof you are a journalist but if this gets a goon with a badge out from in front of my camera then I'm all for it.
 
Lensmith said:
Be sure and read some of the member comments below this article.
Click to expand...

I especially liked this one from Sean Elliot, NPPA Vice President:

"the ID card is being offered at cost to members."

Really?

It costs the NPPA $20 to make an ID card?

Anybody with Photoshop, a laser printer and access to a laminating machine could make one of these for less than a dollar.

Who does Sean think he's fooling?

micaelb said:
The NPPA doesn't make any money on these, believe it or not.
Click to expand...

If the NPPA really doesn't make any money after charging $20 for a card that costs less than a dollar to produce, then they need to rethink how they manage money.
 
micaelb said:
These are a little expensive, yes. The NPPA doesn't make any money on these, believe it or not. You will still get a membership card with your membership, this is an optional card with your picture on it, on a lanyard.
Click to expand...

It it really costs the NPPA almost $20 to make and ship these, then they are more poorly run than I thought.


Edit: Whoops, didn't see Cameradog's post before I replied...he pretty much summed up my thoughts.
 
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I have always been a big believer in the NPPA, but it is unfortunate that the $110 membership fee can't include the ID. I just can't see where all the money goes.

I give my station credit that they still cover membership dues. (they stopped paying for all other memberships and award entries including Emmy's and APs)... But if it were my pockets $110 is an awful lot. I enjoy the quarterly clip contest and have attended the Workshop. But the QCC is completely volunteer (I do my share of judging every quarter) and I paid $600 to go to the Workshop. So my $110 goes towards the magazine which I skim through every month for 20 minutes.

Again, I'm a big fan of NPPA, I just wish they would lower the cost of membership to help encourage more people to join.
 
micaelb said:
These are a little expensive, yes. The NPPA doesn't make any money on these, believe it or not. You will still get a membership card with your membership, this is an optional card with your picture on it, on a lanyard.

Some members have been asking for something like this for some time now. Mostly freelance still people who don't have a company issued ID to wear. There are some law enforcement agencies who want something like this and it could become an actual credential in the future. I don't like the idea of being required to show proof you are a journalist but if this gets a goon with a badge out from in front of my camera then I'm all for it.
Click to expand...

Ok I know that I have been critical in the past but this actually is a positive step. I am not going into the issue of cost here as the value is in the eye of the beholder. But I can say from experience as a freelancer that I have done jobs where there were no company issued station credentials and I was pressured to prove who I am by law enforcement and the like. It will not be an end all but it will help in some instances also something like this is becoming increasingly valuable for those stories shot on school grounds.

Also while I like the other cards shown and don't doubt they would suffice for many events I would think that if they are spotted they could potentially set you up for a bad day of scrutiny.
 
My mistake I just did a web search and there is an actual American Press Association I had not heard of them before. Though this begs a bigger question of using these counterfeit APA cards and one of them is actually very convincing. Their membership with card included is $500 for the first year and $150 offer that. Actually not unreasonable in my mind for a professional organization if they are actually providing a tangible benefit.

P.S. This begs the question anybody ever heard of them what do you know about this organization.
 
I'm Done

After many years I have come to the realization that the NPPA is a rip-off just like the EMMYs. I have won three EMMYs and have been a member of the NPPA for awhile now and never once have I gotten a raise out of it. As a matter of fact, I have had to pay for every entry and membership renewal completely out of my own pocket.

It's tough for me to say this, but I am choosing not to renew my membership with NPPA this year. Also, I will not be submitting any entries for EMMY consideration. That is unless the station offers to pay for it... but since I work in GA that is HIGHLY unlikely.

Times change, and after years of being dedicated and not getting anything back in return other than my own enjoyment and feeding my ego, I'm done.
 
Well the one thing the NPPA card holds is that the people that beling are to subscribe to the ethics... so it may have soume clout... IF the pios on hand know about the NPPA
 
yea.... I can see someone doing that... an the pio laughing at them.....

cameradog said:
They don't.

And even if they do, they don't care.

I can just see some "freelance" stringer weenie trying to wave this in some cop's face. "But I'M with NPPA! Don't you know about NPPA?!"
Click to expand...

What are most freelancers doing currently for ID?
 
It's always fun to beat up on the NPPA. Most of you act like the $110 dollars a YEAR is so much money.... really.
To have a membership to NATAS is usually about $75 and all you get is the privlege of paying another $75 to enter for an award, which is all the Emmy regions provide every year, an awards ceremony.

The NPPA provides workshops and learning oppertunities for everyone. I was in Vegas this year and while I did not go to any of the workshops, many who did gained usefull knowledge beyond what they get at work. That stuff is not free for the NPPA to do. Do you think the NPPA is laundering money for Bob to buy a yacht in the French riviera???

And $20 for a picture ID card from an actual reputable group... A fair price. As a freelancer I spend thousands on union dues, gear insurance, liability insurance, protective gear... If I am going to bitch about $110 plus $20 for an ID card, I am the one mismanaging money.

As far as what do freelancers use for ID, if you are of any value and work for the networks they get you one. Usually a professional demeaner along with professional gear gets you whatever access you need. Clowns who shoot with Best Buy gear for there vlog or ireport and can't come up with 20 bones get what they get. And I have seen some jackasses with homemade ID cards, you fool no one.

Back to the NPPA, Scott Jensen and Merry Murry as well as the others do a great job, and really want to help. They do a lot on a small budget and are always trying to improve. If you don't like the NPPA then don't join, if you feel you don't need the NPPA then don't join. However if you just want to blame the NPPA for the downfall of news photography then I ask you to waste your hot air bitching about the actual reasons the craft is suffering and also why $110 dollars is a kings ransom in your eyes.

Beau
 
your boy said:
Most of you act like the $110 dollars a YEAR is so much money....
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It's not that much money. It's just too much money to spend on an NPPA membership. I wouldn't spend that much money on a Big Mac Value Meal either. But I would get more out of the Big Mac than I ever got out of an NPPA membership.
 
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