HIES Athletics External Media Credential Policy
HIES Athletics welcomes photographers, videographers, and other media creators interested in covering our home athletic events. To help protect our student-athletes, coaches, teams, and working media, all external creators who are not hired by HIES Athletics must request and receive approval before receiving media access.
Requesting Access
All external creators must complete the HIES Athletics Media Credential Request Form prior to the event they wish to cover.
Credentials must be requested for each individual event. Approval for one event does not guarantee access to future events.
Media access is limited and will be determined based on available space, event needs, and the number of credentials already issued. Submission of a request does not guarantee approval.
Approved creators will receive confirmation from the HIES Athletics communications staff and will be provided a media wristband or credential for the approved event.
Event Access
A HIES Athletics media credential provides access to approved media areas for the purpose of covering the credentialed event.
External creators are not permitted in team benches, dugouts, huddles, coaching areas, locker rooms, training rooms, team meeting spaces, or other restricted team areas.
Any request for additional access must be approved in writing prior to the event by both the team's Head Coach and the HIES Sports Information Director.
Instructions from HIES Athletics staff, coaches, administrators, officials, security, or event personnel must be followed at all times.
Media access should never interfere with competition, coaching, team operations, student-athletes, or the work of other credentialed media.
Sharing Content
In exchange for media access, external creators agree to provide HIES Athletics with usable content created while covering the credentialed event.
Usable edited photos and/or video should be shared with the HIES Athletics communications staff following the event. Creators may use their preferred file-sharing or delivery platform as long as HIES Athletics is able to access and download the submitted files.
Content should not be submitted through social media direct messages.
HIES Athletics may use submitted content across its website, social media, digital displays, publications, graphics, marketing materials, and other athletics communications. Creator credit will be provided on the HIES Athletics website when applicable.
Social Media
Receiving a HIES Athletics media credential does not represent employment, endorsement, partnership, or official affiliation with HIES Athletics.
HIES Athletics may not accept social media collaboration requests from photographers, videographers, or other creators who were not hired by the HIES Athletic Department.
External creators may publish their own work through their own platforms, provided their content and conduct follow the expectations outlined in this policy.
Professional Expectations
Creators receiving a HIES Athletics credential are expected to conduct themselves professionally and respect our student-athletes, coaches, officials, spectators, staff, and other working media.
Credentialed creators are expected to remain aware of their surroundings and follow all instructions regarding media locations, field access, safety, and event operations.
HIES Athletics reserves the right to limit or revoke media access at any time when these expectations are not followed.
Credential Terms
By requesting and accepting a HIES Athletics media credential, the creator acknowledges that:
- Access is granted for the approved event only.
- Credentials are limited and access is not guaranteed.
- Restricted team areas require prior written approval from both the Head Coach and HIES Sports Information Director.
- Directions from HIES Athletics and event personnel must be followed.
- Usable content from the credentialed event must be shared with HIES Athletics through an accessible file-delivery method.
- HIES Athletics may use submitted content across its athletics communications platforms.
- A media credential does not include social media collaboration with official HIES Athletics accounts.
- Receiving a credential does not establish employment, endorsement, partnership, or official affiliation with HIES Athletics.
- Failure to follow these guidelines may result in removal from the event and/or denial of future credential requests.
