Veteran (Bronze)

Description

VETERAN – Journalist BRONZE Card

Function:
Honouring retired or semi-retired professionals with significant editorial contributions.

Color:
Bronze

Symbolism:
Bronze evokes strength, legacy, and foundation. Like the Bronze Age, it marks a time when tools were built to last. These cardholders may no longer work full-time, but their contributions remain etched in the profession’s collective memory. This card recognises not just past service, but continued relevance — whether through mentoring, occasional writing, or maintaining a visible editorial presence.

Typical Cardholders:

• Retired war correspondents
• Former newspaper editors or sub-editors
• Longtime freelancers no longer working full-time
• Journalism professors or trainers with significant field careers
• Ex-photographers from major agencies
• Authors of investigative books with journalism backgrounds
• Award-winning reporters from earlier decades
• Individuals recognised for landmark stories or whistleblowing
• Semi-retired media figures still advising or writing occasionally
• Former fixers or producers with decades of service

Editorial Definition:
Veteran cardholders are respected figures whose editorial track record spans years — often decades. They have earned their place in journalism’s institutional memory and continue to hold influence, whether through reflection, teaching, or selective contribution. Their lived experience enriches the present, even as their peak activity lies in the past.

Editorial Privileges:
Bronze cardholders retain significant editorial privileges in recognition of their career achievements and continued ability to contribute:

• ✅ Free access to conferences, exhibitions, and public events
• ✅ Access to courtrooms, tribunals, and public inquiries
• ✅ Entry to press conferences and media briefings
• ✅ Right to apply for press passes at both public and private events
• ✅ Eligibility to submit content for syndication or licensing
• ✅ Access to archives and academic events
• ✅ Access for book/research projects
• ✅ Eligibility for op-eds and guest columns
• ✅ Liaison with public officials or PR officers on editorial matters
• ✅ Rights to mentor or collaborate on field assignments
• ✅ Access to restricted protest/safety zones
• ✅ Recognition by embassies or consulates for accreditation
• ✅ Use in support of immigration or work permit documentation
• ✅ Eligibility for journalist insurance or risk-related paperwork
• ✅ Use to justify safe passage during crises
• ⚠️ Conditional privileges in some areas depending on current activity level (e.g., interviews, exclusive briefings)

(Source: “Editorial Privileges by Press Card Category” matrix, page 1)Editorial_Privileges_Pr…

Cardholder Responsibility:
While this card honours past achievement, it also carries forward a commitment to professional standards:
▶️ When editorial privileges are granted, the cardholder must still contribute meaningful work or guidance in return — whether through content, commentary, or mentorship.
▶️ Their newsX directory profile must reflect their career history and be updated with any new contributions, so that requests for access or accreditation can be professionally verified.

The Bronze card is a mark of honour — not retirement from purpose, but recognition of ongoing relevance.