New York City Council leaders are seeking changes to the city’s press-credentialing system following controversy over the issuance of official media passes to individuals associated with the public campaign supporting Luigi Mangione.
Council Speaker Julie Menin and Deputy Leader Chris Banks introduced a proposal intended to strengthen the procedures for issuing, suspending and revoking press credentials. The proposed amendment would make it easier for the city to withdraw a credential when officials determine that its holder has violated applicable rules.
Under the current system, the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment must provide “clear and convincing” evidence before suspending or revoking a press pass. The proposed legislation would lower that threshold to a “preponderance of the evidence,” meaning officials would need to show that a violation was more likely than not to have occurred.
The controversy emerged after three self-described Mangione supporters were granted New York City press credentials and used them while attending proceedings connected to his criminal case. Their conduct and public comments outside a Manhattan courthouse drew criticism from journalists, elected officials and members of the public.
Mangione is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan in December 2024. He has pleaded not guilty to the remaining charges against him.
Critics of the credentialing decisions argue that the city failed to distinguish adequately between journalists covering a major public-interest case and activists seeking privileged access to promote a particular cause. However, defenders of independent media warn that any reform must not create barriers for freelancers, small publications, citizen journalists and emerging digital outlets.
A city-issued press card does not certify that its holder works for a major news organization or indicate official approval of the person’s reporting. It gives qualified media workers access to restricted press areas, certain emergency scenes, official events and some court proceedings where space may be limited.
Responsibility for issuing the credentials shifted from the New York Police Department to the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment in 2021. The change was intended to separate press access from direct police control and establish a process more protective of journalistic independence.
The proposed amendment would also require the media office to review its broader rules governing applications, suspensions and revocations. Council leaders said any revised system must balance freedom of the press with safety, accountability and the practical need to manage access to restricted locations.
The legislation will now move through the City Council’s normal review process, where journalists, press-freedom organizations and other stakeholders may provide testimony. Its language could be amended before a final vote.
The debate presents the city with a difficult question: how to prevent misuse of official credentials without allowing the government to decide who qualifies as a legitimate journalist based on viewpoint, affiliation or popularity.
