NPPA Objects To Major League Baseball's Credential Terms

 

DURHAM, NC (February 27, 2008) - The National Press Photographers Association today delivered a letter to Major League Baseball Commissioner Allan H. "Bud" Selig objecting to new restrictions that are in the 2008 credential application photographers and news organizations must submit in order to cover MLB games, workouts, activities, and events.

"The historic and statistical nature of baseball requires that its photographic coverage often deals with contextual issues, not specific games. Your new terms impose a form of prior restraint on the use of visual images (both still and video) that will negatively impact the editorial independence of our members and the press as a whole," NPPA president Tony Overman wrote to Selig.

Responding to the wording in the credential agreement, Overman wrote:

We believe that the overall language in paragraph four (4) is unduly restrictive, overly broad and vague. It is open to misinterpretation, selective enforcement and may result in arbitrary and capricious enforcement that will have a detrimental effect on news coverage in general and photojournalism in particular. Requiring that photojournalists agree to limit the transmittal or on-line display to no more than seven (7) photographs from any one game would restrict a publication’s ability to completely illustrate an event, particularly a significant or historic one. Prohibiting the on-line use of images for no longer than seventy-two (72) hours after that game unless they are presented in connection with an article about said game limits the media’s ability to post stories of general interest and places editorial control of news content in the wrong hands.

Overman also wrote:

To then ban the use of photos in a photo gallery is nothing short of draconian. Granting sole discretion to the Baseball Office of the Commissioner as to what constitutes a photo gallery is a final affront to our professionalism as it holds photographers accountable for a misuse that is not defined. This is to say nothing of the similarly onerous restrictions on the use of video.

Overman told Selig that it's unfortunate the MLB has decided to unilaterally change the credential language that's been acceptable and in place for the past seven years.

"This issue has caused great concern among photojournalists with whom we have been in contact nationwide. We firmly believe that great moments in baseball have as much to do with their iconic images as with the game itself," Overman said.

"While baseball may be as American as apple pie, a free press is one of the cornerstones of this country. We firmly believe that great moments in baseball have as much to do with their iconic images as with the game itself. It is in that complementary nature of both professions that we respectfully request that you reconsider this ill-conceived change in policy."

NPPA's general legal counsel, Mickey H. Osterreicher, worked with Overman and NPPA Advocacy Committee chair Alicia Wagner Calzada and NPPA executive director Jim Straight to draft the letter. Osterreicher is also working with other press groups to organize media objections to MLB's credential agreement.

 

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