wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

By Amy Eddings

The New York Police Department has finally relented, and has issued press credentials to three bloggers. Two months after they had filed a federal lawsuit, Rafael Martinez Alequin, David Wallis and Ralph Smith were given press identification cards. Their attorney, Norman Siegel, was with them at One Police Plaza.

SIEGEL: They had their pictures taken, they were given press credentials and the smiles on the faces of the journalists was worth it in themselves, because they had struggled for two years to get their press credentials.

REPORTER: Siegel says the NYPD has finally recognized that bloggers are 21st Century journalists. He says he'll press ahead with the lawsuit, because further reforms are needed in the way the NYPD decides who gets media credentials.