Ever wonder why law enforcement in some localities issue media credentials? (even though some journalism instructors will argue constitutional theory and freedom of the press rights regarding their existence).

The press originally in some cases demanded them. Case in point of an anonymous editorial that appeared in 1939 begging for the Los Angeles County Sheriff to issue the newsreeler crews recognized credentials so they don’t get pushed around at and away from stories.

There is a desperate need in Los Angeles for a properly supervised and a recognized police credential for newsreel cameramen, their assistants and soundmen. Several half-hearted attempts have been made from time to time to provide newsreel cameramen with badges, cards, et al., only to have them become issued by the thousands. As a result of this loose distribution their value becomes nil and in times of stress, when minutes are precious, the newsreel cameramen find their every move hindered by the police. During the recent opening of Santa Claus Lane the merchants of Hollywood suffered inestimable loss in valuable publicity due to the ill-advised efforts of the police who forcibly took the camera cars off the line of march. As a result, nary a foot of film exposed on the parade saw the light of day in the newsreel. A suggestion-issue police and fire line cards good for only three month periods. Have a picture at least two by three inches of the licensee glued firmly to it and make each applicant appear at headquarters in person to sign for and receive his card. Applications for the card should be approved by the news editor of each company and instances of willful lending of such a card to another would constitute a revocation of the card for the remainder of that period. Such restrictions would result in a fine spirit of cooperation between the city and the newsreel.