Blog
Update on sports credentialing
- By: ASNE staff
- On: 10/01/2012 13:19:36
- In: Sports
A few weeks ago, we mentioned that the NCAA's Southeastern Conference had issued its credentials for the 2012-13 school year that will govern the media's access to and use of information from SEC sporting events (though we all know the main focus is on coverage of the vaunted football programs). Though we noted some questionable provisions, we are unaware of any major conflicts between the conference/schools/teams and media entities.
The same appears to be true with regard to the Big Ten, which also issued credentials at the beginning of the season. Standing alone, the one-page credentials aren't terrible. There are a few problematic provisions (for instance, the credentials allow use of no more than 2 minutes of video, prohibit the posting of any video to Internet websites, and prohibit any secondary use of just about any content). But most of the document is rather open ended, leaving room for significant access and coverage; this, however, could be walked back by a reference to the general “Big Ten Media Credential Criteria and Policies,” a document that has not been widely distributed or otherwise made available.
A few weeks ago, we mentioned that the NCAA's Southeastern Conference had issued its credentials for the 2012-13 school year that will govern the media's access to and use of information from SEC sporting events (though we all know the main focus is on coverage of the vaunted football programs). Though we noted some questionable provisions, we are unaware of any major conflicts between the conference/schools/teams and media entities.
The same appears to be true with regard to the Big Ten, which also issued credentials at the beginning of the season. Standing alone, the one-page credentials aren't terrible. There are a few problematic provisions (for instance, the credentials allow use of no more than 2 minutes of video, prohibit the posting of any video to Internet websites, and prohibit any secondary use of just about any content). But most of the document is rather open ended, leaving room for significant access and coverage; this, however, could be walked back by a reference to the general “Big Ten Media Credential Criteria and Policies,” a document that has not been widely distributed or otherwise made available.
But just when we thought that credentialing season would be a quiet one, disturbing reports came out of California where Scott Wolf, a reporter for the Los Angeles Daily News was reportedly banned from attending two weeks of USC's football practice and the team's home game against conference rival California on September 22. The ban, which was later rescinded, was imposed after the reporter was accused of violating a ban on disclosing injuries or in-practice strategies, even though he really reported that the team's punter would miss three weeks due to an injury suffered in a game.
ASNE has always been concerned about restrictive credentialing provisions, especially when already-dangerous language is applied broadly or arbitrarily, as it was by USC staff. We remain available to assist ASNE members who find themselves subjected to unduly restrictive provisions or the enforcement of those provisions. Just a reminder that you can always contact ASNE Legal Counsel Kevin M. Goldberg at goldberg@fhhlaw.com or 703-812-0462 if you have any problems with language in issued credentials or actions taken by sports, teams, leagues or venues. ASNE Freedom of Information Co-Chairs Tim Franklin and Andy Alexander are also working in several events (first and foremost a webinar for ASNE members) designed to shed more light on this issue and further equip ASNE members to fight back on their own.