Bishop McDevitt Athletic Department Media Guidelines
The goal of the Bishop McDevitt Athletic Department is to provide accredited media with the best working environment it can, in order to facilitate the timely, fair, and accurate reporting of PIAA events hosted by Bishop McDevitt. We respect our media partners and appreciate the coverage that you provide. We expect the same mutual respect from our student-athletes, coaches, athletic staff, student body, and administrators by following these guidelines and contacting the Bishop McDevitt Athletic Staff directly for any clarification.
Media Guidelines
Bishop McDevitt Athletics has developed these guidelines based on industry standards used in similar organizations and at the collegiate level. These guidelines apply to all Bishop McDevitt PIAA-sanctioned sports. These guidelines are expected to be followed when covering all sporting events on Bishop McDevitt property.
Bishop McDevitt reserves the right to deny access to outlets based on circumstances and space.
These guidelines apply to all Bishop McDevitt facilities, including all locations owned and operated by Bishop McDevitt High School.
For the purposes of this document, news, traditional, or mainstream media is defined as outlets that have a centralized newsroom with a professional editorial staff involved in content creation, review, editing, or approval before it is printed, broadcast, or posted on a digital platform. They include TV and radio stations (both local, regional, state, national, and international), newspapers, and news magazines.
“New” media tend to be one-person operations and don’t follow an editorial process. “New” media doesn’t typically have a centralized editorial staff involved in content creation, review, editing, or approval. Content is often user-generated, enabling individuals to become creators and influencers.
“Commercial” media is defined as solely Profit-Driven, where the outlet’s business model is advertising-dependent; revenue is primarily generated through advertisements, sponsorships, and product placements, making audience size a critical factor. Content is secondary.
“Freelance” photographers and videographers are defined as independent professionals who are hired on a project basis and are not employed by a media outlet.
Bishop McDevitt High School reserves the right to deny media access to any organization that produces photos or videos primarily for profit, such as for commercial, marketing, or promotional purposes. We do not knowingly support or allow organizations to capture or use the likeness of student-athletes for their personal promotion.
Event Coverage
- Sports Journalists representing approved TV, newspaper, radio, or magazine outlets are asked to contact the Bishop McDevitt Athletic Department with credential requests at least 24 hours in advance of a Bishop McDevitt athletic-hosted event to plan for press box/press table seating. Contact Athletic Director, Connor Marsico – cmarsico@bishopmcdevitt.org
- Sports Journalists (videographers, photographers, reporters) with a press pass issued by an approved news media outlet may check-in on the day of the event without advance notice.
- Media Area on the Field during the game: stay in the designated area marked in the graphic below.
- “New” media outlets that reach out for credential access will be reviewed for consideration on a case-by-case basis. Factors that will be considered in the decision: content focused on covering high school athletics, editorial practices, for profit sales, and space availability. Priority will be given to approved outlets.
- “Freelance” photographers/videographers will only be credentialed for Bishop McDevitt home athletic events if an approved media outlet has contacted Bishop McDevitt Athletics 24 hours prior with a credential request for that specific “Freelance” photographer/videographer.
- Bishop McDevitt student media must be approved by an administrator or athletic director to issue a Bishop McDevitt student credential. The yearbook advisor may request that the administration issue a Bishop McDevitt student credential. Visiting school media requests will be reviewed, considered, and decided on a case-by-case basis, and may depend on space availability.
- Team locker rooms are off-limits to media representatives at all times.
Media Coverage of Practices
- Members of the media must request access to attend practice through the Athletic Department.
- All interview requests will be arranged before the start of, or at the end of practice, per the discretion of the head coach.
- Non-Bishop McDevitt personnel are strictly prohibited from flying drones over Bishop McDevitt Athletic fields of competition, stands, and spectators, and in accordance with PIAA rules.
- Media requesting a live video telecast (livestream or broadcast) of a Bishop McDevitt regular-season event must contact Bishop McDevitt Athletic Director Connor Marsico – cmarsico@bishopmcdevitt.org at least 10 days before the desired event they wish to telecast. The decision is solely at the discretion of Bishop McDevitt’s Athletic Director.
- Bishop McDevitt High School does not provide reserved media parking.
- All PIAA regulations regarding media coverage, photo/video guidelines and live broadcasting (including on social media) are in effect for regular season and postseason events: PIAA Broadcast Policy
- Professional conduct, as detailed in the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics , is expected and required. The Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics also asks that journalists, “Use heightened sensitivity when dealing with juveniles…”
- Expectations for working media – sourced from the Baseball Writers Association of America, the Basketball Writers Association of America, and the Football Writers Association of America – Include:
- Being respectful to all around you, including fans, officials, coaches, student-athletes, support staff, administrators, and fellow members of the media.
- Staying clear of team benches, sidelines, and restricted areas during contests to ensure the safety of student-athletes, coaches, officials, and members of the media.
- Not distracting those around you, including fans, officials, coaches, student-athletes, support staff, administrators, and fellow members of the media.
- Refraining from cheering while attending an event in an official media capacity.
- Not blocking the view of fans.
- Be mindful of the workspaces, including taking care of food and beverage containers and not spreading out to take up too much space.
- Contacting a member of the Bishop McDevitt Athletic Department to deal with any issues that concern coverage of the event, ranging from fan behavior to media accommodations.
- Not bringing ‘guests’ who are not credentialed media to the event with the expectation that they will receive free admission or privileges accorded to the media.
Photography/Video Guidelines
Photographers from accredited media and Bishop McDevitt team-approved photographers must have media credentials present upon request, or have previously arranged for photo credentials from the Bishop McDevitt High School Athletic Department.
Photographers are not allowed in the line of play and may not be in the way of officials, coaches, or student-athletes.
The use of flash photography is not allowed.
Drones are not allowed anywhere on the Bishop McDevitt campus except for use by Athletic Staff.
For the safety of the media and student-athletes, the media need to be able to react quickly if the game of play comes in their direction. For that reason, each photographer will be permitted to use one monopod, and videographers need to shoot handheld. No seats other than “lawn-type” photographer seats will be permitted.
Stand-alone remote units will not be permitted at any time on or around the goal posts, baskets, net stanchions, or other equipment essential to any sport. Units mounted outside of the field of play will be permitted at the discretion of the site administrator, provided the equipment does not interfere with the clear display of scoreboards, affect fan viewing, and does not impede the operation of broadcast equipment.
VIOLATION OF ANY OF THE POLICIES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS/VIDEOGRAPHERS AT BISHOP MCDEVITT HIGH SCHOOL EVENTS IS GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL FROM THE FIELD AND/OR THE BISHOP MCDEVITT HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS, AND/OR FUTURE ATHLETICS EVENTS.
Sport Specific Guidelines
CROSS COUNTRY: Photographers may not be in the way of timing equipment, officials, coaches or student-athletes.
BASEBALL: Photographers are not allowed on the field of play and must be on the outside of the fence.
BASKETBALL: Photographers are not allowed on the court (including the painted baseline area) and are not allowed to shoot in front of or behind team benches, the scorer’s table or press row. Photographers should not affect the view of fans.
FOOTBALL: Photographers are not permitted inside the 25-yard lines on each side (those are the team areas) and must remain outside the restraining lines surrounding the field.
GOLF: Photographers are not allowed in any areas in which they are in the line of play, or would interfere with officials, coaches, or student-athletes.
LACROSSE: Photographers are not permitted in the team bench areas and must remain outside the restraining lines surrounding the field.
SOCCER: Photographers are not permitted in the team bench areas and must remain outside the restraining lines surrounding the field.
SOFTBALL: Photographers are not allowed on the field of play and must be on the outside of the fence.
SWIMMING: Photographers are allowed on the pool deck, but may not be in the way of the timing equipment, officials, coaches, or student-athletes. (This may vary depending on host site).
TENNIS: Photographers must be outside the fence and may not be in the way of coaches. Photographers should not obstruct the view of fans.
TRACK: Photographers are not allowed in any areas in which they would interfere with the running of an event, and must be out of the way of timing equipment, officials, coaches and student-athletes.
VOLLEYBALL: Photographers are not allowed on the court (including the painted baseline area) and are not allowed to shoot in front of or behind team benches, the scorer’s table or press row. Photographers should not affect the view of fans.
WRESTLING: Photographers are not allowed on the mat and are not allowed to be in the way of officials, coaches or student-athletes. Photographers should not affect the view of fans.
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