Media Credentials

GENERAL CREDENTIAL ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION POLICIES

• Credentials will be provided to established and recognized media outlets that cover high school athletics on a regular basis (including, but not limited to, timely reports of regular season competitions);
• In all cases where there is consideration as to whether or not to credential an outlet, the level of regular season interscholastic coverage will be considered when applications are reviewed;
• The distribution of credentials is conducted using the following priorities:
  • Daily newspapers and wire services;
  • Statewide media (TV, etc.);
  • Media covering specific teams on a regular basis;
  • Regional media;
  • All other outlets (non-broadcast radio, weekly media, etc.).
• Due to space limitations, full tournament credentials are not issued to non-daily newspapers or to non-broadcasting radio stations with no specific coverage teams;
• Non-originating radio stations from the markets of participating teams will be issued a maximum of two credentials and will be assigned to the auxiliary media seating area;
• At any time, the KHSAA may request proof of a media outlets’ legitimacy. To help the KHSAA protect access to its events, media members applying for credentials may be asked to provide samples of their work as well as information such as circulation numbers (newspapers/magazines), Nielsen Audio (formerly Arbitron) ratings numbers or similar information (broadcast), page views/hits (online entities);
• Credentials may be issued on a limited basis to valid websites that report timely results and have regularly covered and promoted interscholastic events.
• Credentials are not issued to message board websites or to websites that do not regularly contain Kentucky-based high school regular season content throughout the year;
• Athletic recruiting promotion organizations or media outlets that can be construed as primarily recruiting publications will not be issued media credentials;
• A credential grants the bearer, and only the bearer, access to KHSAA events, and does not include admission for children and family members;
• Media passes will not be issued to persons under 18 years of age (with the exception of the single school media pass issued in compliance with student media policies as detailed);
• Credentials may be revoked at any time for behavior deemed inappropriate for the intended use of the pass, including transferring a credential to someone other than its intended recipient, or using the pass to help others gain access to an event;
• Media members are expected to act professionally and objectively at all times, and cheering or cheerleading during an event is strictly prohibited and can result in removal from the press area;
• Freelance photographers not working for an accredited media outlet will be treated as commercial photographers and will only gain access to an event by paying the media rights fee for the event in question in compliance with published guidelines;
• Each team advancing to a state championship event can be represented by one broadcast team (radio or online), which will be designated by the participating school’s principal and will be considered TEAM RADIO in accordance with these policies;
• Media members may be held responsible for any lost or damaged KHSAA property issued to credentialed media at events (e.g., media vests); 
• The KHSAA reserves the right to grant or deny any requests on an individual basis;
• By accepting your credential you agree to all KHSAA terms and conditions.

MEDIA OUTLET PHOTOGRAPHY AND PHOTOGRAPHERS

• Photography passes are provided to accredited news media outlets that meet the credentialing policies in conjunction with print and television outlets and their directly affiliated websites.
• Media outlet photography passes do not include the rights to sell the photographs unless sold by the outlet as part of its normal business procedures.

COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY AND PHOTOGRAPHERS

• Commercial and freelance photographers can obtain fee-based credentials, space permitting, by purchasing a limited rights license.
• Information regarding rights fee payments will be confirmed through the online credentialing system.
• While photographers own the intellectual rights to individual photos, the KHSAA owns the intellectual property rights to all state championship events; therefore, photos taken during these games are not for resale by individuals unless the requisite media rights fee has been paid by commercial photographers.
• By accepting your credential, you agree to all KHSAA terms and conditions.
• The KHSAA reserves the right to deny credentials to commercial and freelance photographers who do not agree to these terms and conditions.
• Failure to abide by the KHSAA’s policies and procedures could result in having your credential revoked and a loss of access to future events.