Cross Country State Meet Media Policy
It is the goal of the University Interscholastic League to provide the media with comprehensive, hospitable services during state tournaments. We understand the difficulty of covering these state championships, and we appreciate the positive publicity our schools and athletes receive as a result of your work.
In formulating a media policy, we have tried to address as many media groups as possible. We understand that different media outlets have different needs, and we strive to meet the needs of everyone involved.
Only individuals with UIL-issued media credentials will be allowed access to UIL State Championships. In order to obtain media credentials to UIL State Championship events, certain protocol must be followed.
- To request media credentials for the Team Tennis State Tournament, you must fill out the online credential request form. Sport-specific credential request forms may be found under each sport’s media page.
- Media outlets must identify school(s) they are covering in their credential request.
- Each person, along with his or her duties (reporter or photographer), must be listed in the request.
- Requester must be employed by the media outlet requesting credentials. Requests submitted by freelancers will be denied.
- Requests via telephone or email will NOT be accepted.
- REQUESTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE DEADLINE FOR THE EVENT. LATE REQUESTS MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED. (View the event deadlines.)
- The UIL makes the final determination of whether or not media credential requests are granted. If your request is denied, the UIL will make every attempt at contacting your media outlet via the email provided in the online credential request. It is your responsibility to assure your credential request has been successfully received. All credentials will be placed on reserve at the state tournament site, and will not be mailed.
- You may check the status of your credential request via e-mail at: pr@uiltexas.org
*PLEASE NOTE*
Credentials or tickets for spouses, friends, children, etc. will not be provided.
Acceptance of the media credentials to a UIL championship event constitutes an agreement by the individual to abide by all media regulations of the UIL.
FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY: The use of electronic flash equipment, other than remote off-camera strobe flash, is prohibited at all indoor UIL State Championship events including volleyball and basketball.
The UIL prohibits the sale of photographs from UIL State Championship events, and will not credential any photographers whose photos will be used for any purpose other than media coverage.
Newspapers
Credentials will be provided only to reporters covering hometown or circulation-area teams. Reporters must present photo identification in order to claim credentials. NEWSPAPERS MUST IDENTIFY SCHOOL(S) THEY ARE COVERING IN THEIR ONLINE MEDIA CREDENTIAL REQUEST.
Daily newspapers may have up to four credentials. Weekly newspapers may have no more than two credentials. Publishing companies that publish weekly newspapers for more than one community will be considered a single weekly newspaper. The UIL must have names for all persons claiming passes, and all persons must bring photo identification. NEWSPAPERS WITH NO VESTED INTEREST IN THE EVENT WILL BE DENIED CREDENTIALS.
Statisticians
The UIL does not issue media credentials for statisticians.
Television
TV stations may reserve no more than three credentials. STATIONS WITH NO VESTED INTEREST IN THE EVENT WILL BE DENIED CREDENTIALS. Television stations must identify school(s) they are covering in their online media credential request.
Contests may not be filmed in their entirety and footage should be used for highlight purposes only. Highlight footage should be no more than two minutes in length for all footage combined.
Internet Sites
A representative from Internet sites interested in covering the tournament should request credentials prior to the deadline following the same protocol as other media outlets (see above).
Requests will be considered on an individual basis. Internet sites may have up to two credentials. INTERNET SITES WITH NO VESTED INTEREST IN THE EVENT WILL BE DENIED CREDENTIALS. Sites must identify school(s) they are covering in their online media credential request.
Websites will not be credentialed unless they meet specifications outlined below:
- Must be a legal corporate entity that has been in business for at least one full calendar year and has provided coverage of a UIL member school for at least one full year.
- Must provide original daily coverage of UIL athletic teams with its own staff of full-time reporters, photographers and equipment.
No credentials will be issued to any website that is not deemed by the University Interscholastic League Media Coordinator to have adequate editorial oversight.
The following Internet sites will not be granted credentials:
- Personal page Internet site publishers (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, etc.)
- Agate Internet sites
- Sites that do not produce original content on a daily basis will not be credentialed. Sites that do not update original content daily are up to the discretion of the UIL.
- Internet sites associated in any way with the promotion of alcohol, tobacco, gambling, political election issues/candidates or lewd subject matter as determined by the UIL
- Any other Internet site deemed in poor taste or not in compliance with the mission of Interscholastic athletics as determined by the UIL
Magazines
A representative from magazines interested in covering the tournament should request credentials prior to the deadline following the same protocol as other media outlets (see above).
Requests will be considered on an individual basis. Magazines may have up to two credentials. MAGAZINES WITH NO VESTED INTEREST IN THE EVENT WILL BE DENIED CREDENTIALS. Magazines must identify school(s) they are covering in their online media credential request.
The following Magazines will not be granted credentials:
- Magazines associated in any way with the promotion of alcohol, tobacco, gambling, political election issues/candidates or lewd subject matter as determined by the UIL
- Any other magazine deemed in poor taste or not in compliance with the mission of Interscholastic athletics as determined by the UIL
Magazines must furnish, upon request, samples of previous issues. Samples would need to be received before the deadline to request a credential has passed.
High School Media (School Designated)
Administrators of schools participating in the tournament should request credentials prior to the deadline following the same protocol as other media outlets (see above). SCHOOLS WITH NO VESTED INTEREST IN THE EVENT WILL BE DENIED CREDENTIALS—If your school is not participating as at the state event, you will not be granted credentials.
Each school will be issued three credentials. The credentials are intended for use by students in their school’s journalism program or designated school photographers/videographers. Only individuals with UIL-issued media credentials will be allowed access to the UIL State Championships.
Individuals issued school media credentials are not required to purchase a ticket to enter the event.
Contests may not be filmed in their entirety and footage should be used for highlight purposes only. Highlight footage should be no more than two minutes in length for all footage combined.
Photos and videos may not be sold or distributed, and may not be posted so they are available for high-resolution download.
Commercial Photographers
The UIL does not issue media credentials to commercial photographers. Media credentials are intended for media purposes only. The UIL prohibits the sale of photographs from State Championship events.
Recruiting Services/Scouts
The UIL does not issue media credentials to recruiting services or scouts.
Additional Information
The UIL’s goal is to provide the best service possible to the working media. Part of this responsibility is guaranteeing that services are available only to the working media. To request media credentials, please follow the protocol listed above by filling out the online credential request form.
We welcome your questions or comments regarding this matter.
Media Director
University Interscholastic League
(512) 471-5883
(512) 471-6589 FAX
pr@uiltexas.org