Can I make my own press pass? Can I make my own press badge? We actually get these questions quite a bit from either prospective members or others that are simply curious about being able to cover an event they may be interested in. 

It's really not a difficult question to answer or to understand. 

While you may have the chops to create a really good looking press badge of sorts, the question is "what good will it really do"? Your press ID, press badge, press pass itself is not really what is going to get you considered for things like being able to photograph a concert or event. The question those decision makers are primarily concerned with is, "what website or publication are you part of" and "what is the number of daily/monthly viewers or readers"? If you have some slick looking press badge that you've created but no website or a website with 400 monthly visitors, chances are you're not going to be considered or receive a media pass for that particular venue or event, as they are looking for a larger number of viewers. Of course, if it is a relatively small or local gathering, there could be other considerations.

When it comes to the type of press pass that will be given to you if you are accepted for credentials, that would be a design that is unique to either the venue, event or management. And the answer to whether or not you can "make one of those" is NO. That is forgery and it is illegal. It would be blatant misrepresentation and unauthorized use of any trademarked or copyrighted names, art, symbols or material. Keep in mind too, that there is also a significant difference between the credentials that are issued to photographers, writers, bloggers and other types of "all access" passes (backstage passes) etc. Attempting to forge one of those could land you in some serious trouble as well.

So to sum it up, sure you can create your own badge of sorts but you do not want to misrepresent yourself, anyone or anything else. 

If you have a website, use the name of your website on your homemade badge.

Under no circumstances should you use the name, logo, symbol, artwork or anything else that does not belong to you.

When it comes to the primary consideration of most decision makers "the number of website visitors or viewers you have" see how the US Press Association can help you satisfy general requirements. The US Press Association can also customize business ID’s, press passes, press badges, event credentials, venue credentials, backstage passes, VIP passes for your business or event. Let us put two decades of experience making, issuing and tracking credentials to work for you.

Find out more HERE

September Sparks awareness for many wonderful health iand social justice nitiatives including Suicide Prevention, Ovarian and Prostate Cancers, Food Safety plus money others.
 
The return to Fall starts an active calendar of monthly and weekly health and social issue initiatives all designed to make an impact for progress, finding cures and social change

September brings National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to share resources and stories in an effort to shed light on this highly stigmatized topic. The month focuses on reaching out to those affected by suicide, raising awareness and connecting individuals with suicidal ideation to treatment services.

Each year, more than 41,000 individuals die by suicide, leaving behind their friends and family members to navigate the tragedy of loss. In many cases, friends and families affected by a suicide loss are left in the dark. Too often the feelings of shame and stigma prevent them from talking openly. 

With the back to back recent tragic suicide deaths this summer by two of the music industry’s beloved musicians — Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell, the conversations were put front and center – hopefully as a reminder of the importance of recognizing signs and seeking help. If you are in crisis or know someone who is, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741.

September 10 -16: NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION WEEK – September 10-16 is National Suicide Prevention Week. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention offers an easy way to show your support for the fight to #StopSuicide by changing your profile picture and posting to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram all week. 

PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH – Go Blue this September. Prostate Cancer is the second-most common cancer in U.S men. The Step Up For Blue campaign empowers men to take control of their health — and encourages their loved ones to support them. There are 3 million U.S. men living with prostate cancer and countless families fighting this disease worldwide. 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed in their lifetimes. The good news is that prostate cancer is 99 percent treatable if detected early. Education and screening are key. 

Helpful Tips from The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF), and its Step Up For Blue campaign can be found at their website: www.pcf.org


OVARIAN CANCER MONTH – Go Teal this September to raise awareness for Ovarian Cancer. According to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC), one in 75 women will be diagnosed with the disease. More than 22,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, and over 14,000 women die from the disease. Unfortunately, most cases are diagnosed in later stages, when the prognosis is poor. However, if diagnosed and treated early, when the cancer is confined to the ovary, the five-year survival rate is over 90 percent. That is why it is imperative that the early signs and symptoms of the disease are recognized, not only by women, but by their families and the healthcare community. 


FOOD SAFETY EDUCATION MONTH – It’s National Food Safety Education Month and National Family Meals Month, an annual awareness initiative to educate the public on the preparation of safe and healthy family meals. The campaign began in 1994 by the Partnership for Food Safety Education.


There are many more wonderful awareness campaigns and coordinating events occurring this September nationally, locally and on the world stage including World Alzheimer’s Day, Out of the Darkness Walks for Suicide Awareness, and concerts for Prostate Cancer. 

[Submitted by Abbe Sparks]

Have you ever seen someone who thought they were ugly and thought them crazy for the thought?
Do you or have you ever considered yourself unattractive?  By what standard have we built to measure what is ugly?
When it comes to outer appearance the most famous line in history is that “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.” What that really means is that beauty and ugly can be tough to define.
What it is fascinating to me how we have allowed the appraisal of people who only view houses define the value of our beauty instead of the one who builds houses.
The origin of the word ugly comes from Scandinavian sources or old Norse, which meant to be dreadful or frightening.  It was often said of individuals with birth defects and disfigurements. Often related to the root of fear, for people in the 14th century had no point of reference for the unusual and like the old saying goes, they fear what do not understand.
But in the modern-day we seem to always describe what is ugly based on someone else’s idea of beauty in contrast or in comparison to.
 In this old book I like to read often, near the beginning of it, a voice asks some newlyweds, who told you that you were naked? See, these newlyweds were no idiots, they had perfect knowledge so they knew they were naked, however, the way they viewed it was different.
“Since the beginning of time eyes have only seen what they have been told to see”.
The newlyweds were indeed naked, but that was beautiful until someone told them it was something else. They immediately ran to cover themselves.
So, I pose the question who told you, that you were ugly? And why did you believe them?  The word ugly is a comparative word to begin with.
Meaning in order to be ugly it must be in comparison to, which asks the question which of those among us has created one human being from dust in order to say with absolute certainty of who is ugly?
Who did you see that you compared yourself to that made you believe you were ugly? One day I was going shopping in downtown Philadelphia and to park in the retailers parking lot you had to get your ticket validated before you leave the store. The valet in the parking lot says to me, “I see you here all the time I’ll validate it for you become you go in”. After sometime in the store, I am checking out and I say “oh I almost forgot could you validate my parking”. He sees my ticket and says to me “you don’t need my validation; you’ve been validated already.”
Let me tell you a little secret, your beauty had already been validated. But too often we are so quick to forget and end up doubting it and searching for it to be validated by others.
Let me tell you why you should not believe people if they call you ugly.
For starters, most people have terrible eyesight. We are almost as blind as bats. The percentage of those that can see sharply detailed along the entire electromagnetic spectrum is precisely 0%. And only a little more than half of Americans have 20/20. Why would you entrust the look of beauty to people that cannot see? 1 Samuel 16:7
the second reason you should not believe them is because they do not know what beauty is no way! 
They have allowed people with 14 hours of makeup on to shape their idea of beauty and try to measure everyone else to that.
See for yourself 1 Peter 3:3-4
Thirdly because you’re beautiful. And by mere definition, you technically cannot be ugly. 
Everyone might have something ugly about them but overall you are altogether beautiful, wonderfully made.  Songs of Solomon 4:7.
You have already been validated and appraised by the one who built everything.
Who are you going to believe the one who beholds with their imperfect eyes or the one who is all seeing? The ones that follow their deceitful hearts or the one who created the heart?  The goal is not to be found beautiful to everyone, but knowing that you are already beautiful so it’s no way that you can be ugly. So do not believe everything you hear, instead, believe what is already written
[Submitted by Dion Ringgold]

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https://dbc-mediagroup.com/life/20170510-who-told-you-you-were-ugly

March brings awareness for Women’s History, Music Education, Brain Injury, Reading and a host of other wonderful causes. Here are a few we highlight this month.

Writing Women Back into History

*]Women’s History Month 2017[/b] celebrates women and their accomplishments. Their tagline is “writing women back into history” This year’s theme: “Honoring Trailblazing Women in Labor and Business.” While the concept began in the 1970s, it wasn’t until 1980 when President Jimmy Carter declared a proclamation. By 1987, the advocacy efforts came to fruition when Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month in perpetuity. A special Presidential Proclamation is issued every year which honors the extraordinary achievements of American women. Mark your calendars for March 8th which is the annual International Day of the Woman.


Music In Our Schools Month (MIOSM®) is the National Association for Music Education’s (NAfME) annual celebration during March. MIOSM engages music educators, students and communities from around the country in promoting the benefits of high quality music education programs in schools. At a time when funding for the arts and school funding for arts programs looms large, advocacy initiatives like MIOSM could not be more important than now.

The month-long observance began in New York in 1973 as a single statewide Advocacy Day and celebration, which grew over the decades to become a month-long salute of school music in 1985. Music teachers celebrate MIOSM in many ways by offering special performances, lessons, sing-alongs and activities to bring their music programs to the attention of administrators, parents, colleagues, and communities to display the positive benefits that school music brings to students of all ages.

Ways to get involved: change your profile picture during the month of March. Share photos of how ‘Music Inspires’ you and if you’re a teacher, share how music inspires your students on Instagram using ‪#‎MIOSM and #MusicInspires and tag @NAfME.

Brain Injury Awareness Month – The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) leads the nation in observing the month by conducting an awareness campaign in March each year. The theme for the 2015 to 2017 campaign is: Not Alone.

The Not Alone Campaign provides a platform for educating the general public about the incidence of brain injury and the needs of people with brain injuries and their families. The campaign also acts as an outreach platform within the brain injury community to de-stigmatize the injury, empower those who have survived, and promote the many types of support that are available.

Founded in 1980, the Brain Injury Association of America is the oldest, largest and only nationwide brain injury advocacy organization in the U.S. As the voice of brain injury, BIAA provides help, hope and healing for the millions of Americans who sustain this life-altering, sometimes devastating, injury.

In honor of Brain Injury and The Not Alone theme, I leave you with an inspiring song written by singer/songwriter David George entitled “Shine” off his album Radiant Man. The song just happens to match this year’s theme “Not Alone.”


[Submitted by Abbe Sparks]

The most anticipated day of the year is celebrated at Times Square along the streets of New York City. Millions of revelers anticipate the crystal-covered ball to drop and countdown to a new year. A place not only natives of NYC celebrate their new year but millions travel from around the world to see.