What does a “Media Pass” do? at Riuva : Research Institute for Unicultural Visual Arts

What does a “Media Pass” do?

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Popularity: 8% [?] Published by tj_han October 22nd, 2008 in Culture

Amidst the hoo-ha over whether the organisers of AFA08 are giving out "media passes" to "anime bloggers", I find myself pondering the fundamental question of "What the fuck does it do anyway?"

According to my observations from my work as a magazine writer who covered plenty of events, a typical media pass merely identifies you as a member of the press. You get access to the place of course, and the "right" to talk to random strangers and "interview" them to ask how they feel about the event, who they are and of course, ask for their picture/contacts. You also get the right to eat free food at the reception, generally.

There are cons as well, some people just hate the mass media or are afraid of embarrassment or leaking sensitive information, and shoo you away.

Now as "anime bloggers", how will having a "media pass" benefit us, when it comes to an anime convention? I notice the American conventions do give out media passes, and the likes of Danny Choo and other Japanese bloggers who are big enough receive them as well.

According to Danny, exhibits that were off limits to photography were magically given the clear for those from the media. I don’t foresee any off-limits exhibits for AFA08, but this could be a good point. It probably is more applicable to cutting edge industry/trade shows like Tokyo Anime Festival, where new stuff are actually introduced.

I also read Anime Diet, where the authors tote a HD video camera around with media passes and interview guest seiyuu. Perhaps a "media pass" will allow "anime bloggers" to interview the invited guests, such as the Gundam designer, May’n and erm cosplayers. However, the organisers have already stated that there would be no such interviews, so the point is moot. Even Jesus Darkmirage can only do grunt work for May’n.

Free admission is a boon of course. You get to not pay the 8 dollars. WOO HOO! You get to buy a McDonalds’ meal with the money saved!

There is also a big sense of identity. It’s the "hey we are reporters! Professionals! We are famous!" ego trip, where the guy with the pass feels like he has been given a godly right to swagger around "covering the event". It’s a big confidence booster to the otherwise shy otaku who wouldn’t dare to be bold without the backing of a piece of plastic that spells "MEDIA PASS".

Personally, I think it does make a difference. I went to Australia for some event coverage twice - the first I went without any passes. 2nd time, I made and printed my own name card and big red MEDIA pass (DIY) and the shocking thing was, people actually took note of me and proactively came forth to talk and be interviewed, and also saving me tonnes of time from having to prove my identity. It’s amazing what a self-printed piece of paper can do. I am media because I have a card that says MEDIA.

Unfortunately, I hear the organisers, Dentsu, are "reviewing" their stand on giving out media passes to bloggers (read: fake journalists with no reach). This has gotten some otakus very hot under the collar.

These otaku feel entitled to a pass because they attended press conferences. These otaku secretly want the pass because it gives them an ego boost, free admission, and most of all, they want the perceived VIP treatment that members of the media receive. VIP treatment as in the chance to interview and get up close to the celebs without having to stand in the queue with the "regular otaku losers". Yup, these media passes are super artifacts that boost regular otaku losers to "esteemed members of the Singaporean anime culture high council".

As evidence of their haughtiness, I purposely left the line in the previous article saying I didn’t have any pass and lo behold, I got laughed at with the likes of "haha he didn’t get any passes and is sour graping" or something. The awesome part is we got LianYL to go down and get the pass, which he did. And the even more awesome part is that there won’t be anymore passes for everyone!

Fucking pay the 8 bucks fellows and join the queue.

Popularity: 8% [?]

19 Responses to “What does a “Media Pass” do?”

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1 LianYL 785 comments Oct 22nd, 2008 at 1:21 am

I see you yearn for more dorama flame. What a weak attempt.
2 omo 137 comments Oct 22nd, 2008 at 4:50 am

Dude you’re awesome TJ.

I almost wrote something like what you did here but I’d have come off as a condescending elitist jerk or something.

In America, anime cons have different standards for MEDIA PASS or PRESS BADGE or whatever. New, small conventions have nothing to lose so they give them out liberally. Big anime cons with big guests are more careful.

I think, when they give you a “media pass” at a paid event for free because you are press, I am obligated to write about the events. But if I pay my way in like everyone else I am not. Granted I write about the events I attend anyways, but I don’t like having that extra “IOU” thing. It’s like selling out, but not really.

You do have one good point is that business/name cards are very helpful if you are looking to be SRSBZNS MEDIA PASS person. DIY or whatever, but it is good to have a bunch to give to people, even if it is just for giggles and all you put on it is your twitter and blog URL. I guess you can even use it to pick up girls.
3 Panther 59 comments Oct 22nd, 2008 at 10:11 am

See you there at 4 AM in the queue.
4 tragic comedy 24 comments Oct 22nd, 2008 at 10:21 am

A media pass is like a secret Quest item reward in an MMORPG.
do some shit and get it for bragging rights.

but its all good~
5 Soshi 93 comments Oct 22nd, 2008 at 12:07 pm

Hear hear!

Everyone and their grandmothers are “anime bloggers” now. :\

Media passes are overrated. Well it depends. Like you said, I doubt that there’ll be any highly exclusive not-for-the-public areas. Other than May’n’s dressing room. Which would be out of bounds to anyone anyway. =A=;;

Please come and laugh at me while I queue for my ticket.
6 Helix 72 comments Oct 22nd, 2008 at 12:12 pm

Sigh, give me a pass I also got no time to go.
7 alto 2 comments Oct 22nd, 2008 at 2:40 pm

Media passes can mean Diamonds, or rubbish. It depends on how individual look at it. It depends on how much you looking forward to that event and how valuable that event bring to the society, here in your land. Let’s cheer for the arrival of anime era in this tiny red dot island.
8 wyred 31 comments Oct 22nd, 2008 at 3:53 pm

The media pass will only mean something if it gives the bearer a chance to talk with May’N!
9 madeener 13 comments Oct 22nd, 2008 at 7:23 pm

COMPLETELY OFFTOPIC POST:

YAMAMURA KOJI IS COMING TO SINGAPORE!

http://sfs.org.sg/animation2008/seminars.html
10 CalAggie 5 comments Oct 22nd, 2008 at 8:06 pm

I concur with omo regarding the size of conventions determining how strict their press rules are. SacAnime (about 1,000) is relatively easy to obtain one from whereas Fanime is reportedly going to tighten their qualifications for 2009.

I have managed to cover conventions just fine without gaining special access by taking written notes and asking questions at exhibit booths like an interested attendee but being able to interview industry guests one-on-one in a quiet room would be a welcome bonus. I’m a pretty humble person so there would likely not be much bragging or self-conceit from me, though being in the situation could change things, and I guess I prefer being classified as ‘fan press’ to maintain a degree of separation between me and the high-profile outlets.
11 kokanaden 336 comments Oct 22nd, 2008 at 11:56 pm

Fail la.

What you should have done was to offer a bounty for anonymous people to reveal who the idiots kicking such a fuss up are.

Then we’ll really have a nice flaming contest.
12 omo 137 comments Oct 23rd, 2008 at 1:22 am

@madeener
Oh wow.
13 DarkMirage 44 comments Oct 23rd, 2008 at 1:25 am

Oh tj, you are just jealous!
14 e-jump 2 comments Oct 23rd, 2008 at 5:00 am

While media pass should give the bearer some advantage for coverage and better photograping positions, i’ll just queue myself and be the regular otaku fag.
Eventhough i have a dslr and a ‘coverage’ blog, i dont feel myself as ‘press’ category.
15 double 43 comments Oct 23rd, 2008 at 10:21 am

tj, I hope you stir up some quality drama. It’s been quite a while since something interesting actually happened.
16 Stifler 105 comments Oct 23rd, 2008 at 6:10 pm

What double said. Nothing is more entertaining than dorama.
17 TheBigN 75 comments Oct 25th, 2008 at 3:30 am

While that certainly isn’t the case for all, I can see it being what a lot of people do when they get a “media pass”. I don’t think I’ll ever aim on getting a media pass because it’s not what I do. I’m not a journalist, and I know that I’m not one. I guess the people that receive ones do feel so, and if they can back that up, then I have no problems with that.
18 Anthony 1 comment Jan 27th, 2009 at 12:07 am

But, no one has answered the question: What is the process of getting a media pass in the first place?

1 Omonomono » Digging at Anime Conventions Pingback on Oct 25th, 2008 at 12:12 am

Do not use any < and > for your own sake. It will end the comment there and then. Also, there is an automatic IQ filter which weeds out comments made by those who accidentally got transported from the stone age.

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