The New York Press Club rebukes the three advocates supporting Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024 for their statements outside the Manhattan Criminal Courts building on Monday. The club supports the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) in its commitment to reexamine the process of issuing press credentials. The three, Ashley Rojas, Abril Rios, and Lina Weissbrot were apparently issued official New York City press credentials through MOME.
“The New York Press Club has members and officers — established journalists — who cannot receive press credentials because of standards that are constantly shifting and may be subject to political influence. That’s unacceptable,” said David Cruz, president of the New York Press Club.
The New York City press credential system began in the late 19th century when the NYPD started issuing press passes to journalists, primarily to grant them access to crime scenes and police lines.
As the media landscape grew and changed and the need for credentials extended beyond police matters to city hall, public events, and emergencies, the NYC City Council passed a bill in March 2021 transferring press credential authority and oversight from the NYPD to MOME, which now administers the official NYC Press Credential program.
Today, MOME issues credentials to working journalists who meet certain standards, granting them access to breaking news scenes, city-run press conferences, and other restricted areas.
“Press credentialing has become a pendulum in New York City. Years ago, the police controlled the credentials and we ran into issues regarding freedom of the press. Now that pendulum has swung too far in the opposite direction,” Cruz said.
“More and more journalists have become independent because of changing dynamics and funding of news outlets. Independent journalists deserve credentials, but they should follow rules and norms. The people speaking on Monday with press credentials around their necks ignored those journalistic rules and norms. That’s what we want to prevent,” Cruz continued.
The New York Press Club calls on MOME and the New York City Council to consult with us to revise the current policy to create opportunities for all journalists who want to report facts to the public.