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General UIL 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. This policy applies to media outlets interested in cover UIL events in general, more specific information can be found on each sport's media page.

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 any state championship event (excluding golf), 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.
  • 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. (Click here for 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.  NEWSPAPERS MUST IDENTIFY SCHOOL(S) THEY ARE COVERING IN THEIR ONLINE MEDIA CREDENTIAL REQUEST.

Daily newspapers, weekly newspapers and publishing companies will be have different limits on the number of credentials they may be granted, these numbers differ by sport. Sport-specific credential limits may be found under each sport’s media page. 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.

Radio Stations

Radio stations providing a live broadcast of the event will be limited to two credentials in all sports except football. Radio stations doing a live broadcast of the football state championships may have seven credentials. Radio stations not doing a broadcast of the event will be limited to one credential. STATIONS WITH NO VESTED INTEREST IN THE EVENT WILL BE DENIED CREDENTIALS. Radio stations must identify school(s) they are covering in their online media credential request.

Radio stations must be in good standing with the school they are covering, and should have permission from that school to broadcast its game. Any disputes will be handled by the UIL Media Department.

Entities providing a live audio broadcast on the Internet are subject to the same fees and policies as radio stations.

Broadcast fees and required arrangements differ by sport. Sport-specific broadcast fees and additional requirements may be found under each sport’s media page.

Television

TV stations will be limited to three credentials in all sports except football. Television stations will be limited to four credentials for the football state championships. 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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. 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.

High School Media

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 a set number of credentials depending on event (see individual sport media policies) and facility size. The credentials are intended for use by students in their school’s journalism program or designated school photogrpahers/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
pr@uiltexas.org