News Releases

RTNDA Asks Big Ten Conference Commissioner to Meet to Discuss Restrictions on Coverage

Contact: Stacey Staniak, 202-467-5214 or staceys@rtnda.org

For Immediate Release: September 4, 2009

WASHINGTON -- The Radio Television News Directors Association has written a letter to the commissioner of the Big Ten Conference requesting a meeting to discuss the restrictive nature of the 2009 Big Ten Press credentials that have been issued.    RTNDA, along with five other media organizations, argue that the credentials impinge on the media's ability to provide necessary news and sports coverage that readers and viewers expect.  A copy of the letter can be found here. 

Among the most egregious provisions:

--an absolute ban on the secondary use of content in any format for any purpose.

--game footage restrictions on broadcast media to 2 minutes of video, only to be used the week after the event and without audio.

--works created by news photographers, videographers or reporters fall under the copyrighted content of the Big Ten Conference.   

RTNDA maintains that the coverage of Big Ten events benefits the conference and its member institutions, as well as the general public.  By changing the way these particular sports events are covered will create a disservice to the Big Ten conference, news organizations and the general public. 

Stacey Woelfel, RTNDA Chairman, noted, "By creating such restrictive credentials for covering events, the Big Ten conference and its member institutions are creating a situation where the fans and the conference itself will suffer.  Unfettered coverage is what build sports franchises and conference popularity, and RTNDA hopes that the commissioner will take this opportunity to address these concerns and help create a set of credentials that will allow coverage of Big Ten events that will encourage fans to continue to follow the conference." 

About RTNDA

RTNDA  is the world’s largest professional organization devoted exclusively to electronic journalism. RTNDA  represents local and network journalists in broadcasting, cable and other electronic media in more than 30 countries. Along with the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation, RTNDA sponsors scholarships, fellowships, training seminars, mentoring programs and more as part of its diversity efforts.