YES! WE'RE BACK! The 2022 CA State Fair & Food Festival media credential online application process has officially started. The 2022 CA State Fair & Food Festival opens on Friday, July 15 and runs through Sunday, July 31.
Media Credential Criteria
To qualify for media credentials, applicant must be a working journalist at a bona fide newsgathering outlet including publicly read newspapers, news services, websites, radio, and television stations. Applicants must cover State Fair-related issues (i.e. agriculture, cuisine, business/economics, entertainment, tech, community interests, etc.) on a regular basis or be working on special assignment.
Bloggers and freelancers, please visit www.calexpostatefair.com/media/ for more details about media credential criteria.
Applying for Media Credentials
The application process is completely online, including a section to upload all supporting documents. Please provide and upload a valid, government issued photo ID of each individual planning to use the media credentials. All Media Credential holders are subject to a Megan's Law check and a valid, government issued photo ID is the ONLY form that will be accepted. If proper ID is not submitted, your application will be rejected.
All forms, instructions, and media credential guidelines can be found at www.calexpostatefair.com/media/
Reminder: Credentials are assigned to a media organization and can only be shared with approved members of your organization. When requesting a specific number of media credentials please refer to the guide below:
Television - maximum of 10
Radio - maximum of 8
Print - maximum of 4
Photography - maximum of 2
Online - maximum of 2
Receiving Your Credentials
Upon receiving an email confirmation of approval, your media credentials must be picked up no later than Monday, July 11 at the CA State Fair Media Center, located on the right side of the Cal Expo Administration Building. Enter the fairgrounds at Blue Gate (Exposition Boulevard & Challenge Way) and follow the signs to the Administration Building.
Click here to view a grounds map.
Currently, Media Center hours are 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Monday - Friday.
During the Fair (July 15 - 31), Media Center hours are 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM daily.
Protocol for Using Media Credentials
- Call the Media Director, Darla Givens, at 916-263-3108 in advance of coming to the fairgrounds
- Enter the Fair through Lot C (the Administration Center)
- Always check-in at the Media Center; you will be assigned an escort and will need to stay with the escort at all times
- Check out at the Media Center when you are done with your assignment
Please note: Media credentials are for working media only. Cal Expo reserves the right to verify the validity of any media organization in advance of providing credentials. No complimentary credentials or tickets will be extended to family or guests of the media. Failure to comply with any of these procedures or unauthorized use of a credential may result in refusal, forfeiture of credential privileges, and/or removal from the premises or prosecution.
If you have any questions, contact the CA State Fair & Food Festival Media Director, Darla Givens, at 916-263-3108
