BLUFFTON ATHLETICS MEDIA POLICY
The Bluffton University Sports Information and Public Relations Offices are here to meet the needs of the media, opposing sports information offices, as well as Bluffton alumni, parents, students and fans. The sports information office carries out the daily maintenance of the official Bluffton University athletics website and, when possible, provides live coverage of home athletics events. Members of the sports information office coordinate photography and video, provide in-game statistics, write game releases and special features, produce athletics publications, promote the Beavers through various social media outlets and assist the media in its coverage of Bluffton athletics.
GUIDELINES
Media Credentials - All credential requests must be requested ahead of time via the online form (MEDIA CREDENTIAL FORM). Credentials are limited to professionals working in the print, broadcast, or electronic media, and their issuance is at the discretion of the sports information director. Please make requests for credentials at least two days in advance of game day.
Visiting Radio - Please contact the sports information office at least two days in advance of the game which you would like to broadcast.
Player/Coach Interviews - All athletic media interview requests must be made through the sports information office. Please be advised that student-athletes will not be asked to miss classes or practices for any reason. If you are requesting interviews after athletics contests, the NCAA mandates a 10-minute 'cooling off period' after events. Interviews can be conducted with the assistance of the sports information office after the cooling off period has expired. Interviews may be held on the field, court or in the press box. Interviews may not be conducted in the locker rooms.
Photography/Videographer – Photographers and videographers shooting from the playing field level must submit a request for media credentials at least two days ahead of time and must follow all NCAA guidelines concerning in-game athletics photography. Please be advised that photographers assume all risk if entering the playing area of an athletics event. Please see the PHOTO/VIDEO POLICY below for more detailed information concerning coverage of Bluffton athletics events.
Image Requests - If you would like to obtain an image seen on the Bluffton Athletics website or social media outlet, please contact the sports information office for arrangements.
LIVE STATS
Live statistics will be provided by the sports information staff for all home games, when possible. Opposing sports information offices looking for Bluffton Beavers rosters, should contact a member of the sports information department. Most live stat productions can be viewed through the links on the Bluffton Athletics website.
LIVE VIDEO/AUDIO
The sports information office provides live video and/or audio services to many of its varsity programs when weather and scheduling conflicts do not arise. Visit each team's respective schedule to view individual games that will have broadcasts and/or live video. All video and audio broadcasts are run by the sports information staff with help from student assistants.
LOGO USAGE
Use of Bluffton University's Institutional or Athletic branding and/or intellectual property without expressed written consent of the University is prohibited. For access to logo use and brand guidelines, please contact the Public Relations Office at news@bluffton.edu. Final decisions on brand usage are at the discretion of the Vice President of Advancement and Enrollment Management.
PHOTO/VIDEO POLICY
Bluffton welcomes photography of athletics events provided the photographer is within the general spectator seating area and the photographer understands that images taken at Bluffton athletics events are intended for personal use and not commercial use.
Still photography and video from the playing field area require a Bluffton-issued credential. Requests for credentials can be made through the sports information office (link request form). Generally, credentials are issued to news photographers and videographers, as well as professionals hired by one of the competing teams' sports information offices and/or athletics departments. Members of the general public, including students, are not permitted to photograph from the playing field. Additionally, NCAA rules prohibit the use of flash photography.
Credentials are also required if spectators plan to do still and/or video photography with professional-quality equipment from the spectator area, due to potential disruption and visual obstruction to other spectators. Point-and-shoot cameras, smart phone cameras and small video cameras usually do not require a credential when used in the spectator seating area, although flash and video lights are not permitted.
Requests for photography credentials will be considered on a case-by-case basis and their issuance is at the discretion of the sports information office.
As a general rule, freelance, commercial and amateur photography, as well as students hired by other students, are not permitted on the playing level at Bluffton athletics events. Parents wishing to photograph their son/daughter will have to do so from the general spectator area.
Requests for all athletics photography credentials must be submitted to the sports information director at least two days prior to the athletics event. These requests can be submitted via the online form (MEDIA CREDENTIAL FORM).
Please be advised that photographers assume all risk if entering the playing area of an athletics event.
Bluffton reserves the right to place further restrictions on access to athletics facilities and events when necessary to protect the safety and security of the campus community.
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