General Press Release No. 276 (December 2006)

Access of journalists to sports events

The Australian Press Council strongly supports the free access of all journalists to the reporting of news, whether it be political economic or sports. In the light of that support, the Council is concerned that some sporting bodies are seeking to restrict the access of journalists, particularly those reporting for on-line news outlets, to events and to news conferences preceding and following events.

The Council's Chairman, Professor Ken McKinnon, says, "The Press Council regards reporting of sports events as legitimate news.

"It is alarmed that sports organisations, both locally and internationally, are attempting to limit coverage of events, and of press conferences, as part of agreements with broadcast (and on-line) partners.

"Our general and strong position is that there should be minimum interference with the collection and reporting of news, in words and images, whatever the form that news takes."

While the Council's concerns are to ensure the access of journalists to public events, it noted a particular concern with the actions of Cricket Australia, which is attempting to limit access for on-line journalists and limit the way in which newspaper's on-line sites report the news on the current Test series.

"Its threat to remove the accreditations of press journalists covering the Third Test in Perth as a ploy to force newspapers to curtail their on-line news coverage is totally unacceptable.

"Cricket Australia has not been reticent in using the print media to promote its own commercial interests and is now seeking to limit the ability of Australians to view, and receive updates on, news events. Perhaps sports organisations should consider how much they have benefited from the free coverage they have received in the print media.

"Journalists should be allowed to do their job, no matter what medium they report in," Professor McKinnon concluded.

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