As Trask reported, he simply asked -- without identifying himself -- how to get in, was told to cough up $20, and when he pulled out his wallet with the driver's license, the doorman recognized him as a local, and let him in for free. For him to have identified himself as a reporter, as you suggested he did, would have undermined the intent Trask's night out. Duh.

You ought not make assumptions, GOD.