Media Coverage Notice
Little Miami Schools and its Athletic Department welcome media coverage of Little Miami athletic events and recognize the important role that professional, school-affiliated, and approved media organizations play in covering our student-athletes, coaches, and programs.
At the same time, facility and participant access is a working media privilege—not a spectator benefit. Due to safety, space limitations, and the need to maintain clear working areas for athletes, coaches, officials, athletic trainers, and event personnel, access to fields, courts, sidelines, team areas, and other restricted areas is limited to individuals who have been approved and properly credentialed.
Recently, high school athletics have seen an increase in independent individuals and freelancers seeking access to restricted participation areas, particularly with the introduction and growth of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities and other social media revenue-generating activities.
Little Miami Schools recognizes that the media, content, and NIL landscape surrounding high school athletics continues to evolve. However, changes in the landscape of interscholastic athletics do not create an automatic right or entitlement to access school facilities, restricted areas, teams, coaches, or student-athletes. Access remains subject to school policies, event operations, safety considerations, and approval by the Little Miami Athletic Department.
Possession of a camera or recording device, school identification, or a personal relationship with a student-athlete does not, by itself, authorize sideline or restricted-area access.
Individuals wishing to provide media coverage, photography, videography, broadcasting, or other content-related services must receive approval and the appropriate credentials from the Little Miami Athletic Department before entering restricted areas.
Who May Qualify for Media Credentials
The following types of organizations or individuals may qualify for media credentials, subject to Athletic Department approval:
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Daily, weekly, semi-weekly, or community newspapers and recognized publications.
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Television stations, radio stations, and established news organizations.
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Established digital news or sports outlets that consistently publish original reporting under identifiable editorial leadership.
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Official Little Miami Schools or participating-school communications departments.
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Approved school journalism programs, yearbooks, and supervised student media groups.
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Separately authorized broadcast organizations or individuals specifically approved by Little Miami Athletics.
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Other media or content organizations that, in the judgment of the Athletic Department, demonstrate a legitimate and documented working purpose related to the event.
Meeting one of the categories above does not guarantee credential approval. The Athletic Department may consider the nature and purpose of the coverage, the individual's or organization's working relationship with the event, available space, safety requirements, and other event-specific considerations.
Who Does Not Qualify for General Media Access
The following generally do not qualify for media or restricted-area credentials solely by virtue of their relationship to the school, a student-athlete, or the event:
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Parents, family members, or spectators photographing or recording for personal use.
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Personal social-media accounts, fan pages, or individual content-creator accounts.
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Unaffiliated freelance reporters, photographers, or videographers without an approved assignment or established media affiliation.
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Booster-club members or volunteers without a documented and approved working assignment.
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Commercial photographers or videographers whose primary purpose involves direct sales, recruiting, merchandise, or other commercial activity, unless separately authorized.
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Recruiting, scouting, athlete-evaluation, or similar services, unless specifically authorized by the Athletic Department.
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Sponsors, guests, or additional crew members who do not have a documented working role and appropriate approval.
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Any individual who has not completed the required credentialing process.
Possession of a camera or recording device, school identification, or a personal relationship with a student-athlete does not, by itself, authorize access to restricted areas.
Questions to Consider Before Requesting Department Approval
Before requesting media credentials, applicants should be prepared to answer the following:
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Do you meet one of the qualifying categories outlined above?
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Have you completed the Little Miami Athletic Department's Media Credential Request Form and submitted it for approval?
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Can you provide a current Certificate of Insurance (COI) demonstrating appropriate liability coverage for you or your organization, if requested?
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Can you provide valid identification and documentation establishing your organization, assignment, or working purpose?
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Do you understand that equipment, bags, and other items may be subject to inspection and tagging in accordance with event and facility security procedures?
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Do you agree to remain in designated areas and follow all instructions provided by Athletic Department personnel, event staff, officials, and facility personnel?
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Do you understand that credentials are a privilege and may be limited, denied, suspended, or revoked based on safety, space limitations, event operations, policy violations, or other legitimate administrative considerations?
Credentialing and Access
Approved media personnel must display their credentials as directed and remain within designated working areas. Credentialed individuals may not enter team areas, locker rooms, benches, playing surfaces, or other restricted locations unless specifically authorized.
Media personnel are expected to conduct themselves professionally and in a manner that does not interfere with competition, team operations, officials, athletic trainers, or event personnel.
Credentials are issued for a specific event, season, or period as determined by the Athletic Department. Approval for one event does not automatically establish access for future events.
Little Miami Athletics reserves the right to establish additional event-specific requirements based on the venue, sport, anticipated attendance, available space, security considerations, or other operational needs.
The goal of this policy is not to prevent legitimate coverage of Little Miami student-athletes and athletic programs. Rather, it is intended to ensure that media access is organized, accountable, and consistent with the safety, privacy, and operational needs of interscholastic athletics.
Little Miami Schools appreciates the interest of professional media, school-affiliated organizations, and members of the community in supporting and covering our student-athletes and programs. We ask all individuals seeking access to respect the credentialing process and the responsibilities that accompany access to restricted areas.
