A/PPS 06.01 - Athletics Media Relations and Communications Policy

POLICY STATEMENT

Texas State University is committed to fostering relationships with media outlets to ensure proper representation of the university.

1. SCOPE

   1. As an intercollegiate National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision institution, the events and activities of the Texas State University Department of Athletics are of special interest to the public. The Department of Athletics depends upon the Communications Office to publicize information regarding all intercollegiate sports teams in a professional manner, creating both interest and support for the intercollegiate athletics program.

      The Communications Office serves as the intermediary between the university’s athletic teams and local, regional, and national media outlets.

2. INTERVIEW REQUESTS PROCEDURES

   1. The Department of Athletics will make every effort to coordinate interviews between the media and its student-athletes, coaching staff, and administrative personnel. Dependent on practice schedules, student-athletes and coaches will be available prior to or at the conclusion of practice.

      Interviews can also be set up during the day, when possible, around the student-athletes’ and coaches’ class and meeting schedules.

      Phone interviews with student athletes and coaches can also be arranged around class and meeting schedules and should be requested well in advance. No telephone interviews are permitted on game days.

      Following events, each sport’s coach and selected student athletes will be made available to answer questions from the media after a brief 10-minute cooling off period. Efforts will be made to honor specific requests for student-athletes and coaches.

3. ISSUANCE OF EVENT CREDENTIALS

   1. Credentials for Texas State home games will be issued for working media and legitimate news organizations. Credentials should be requested 72 hours prior to an event. The Communications staff will adhere to established departmental policies that align with Sun Belt Conference and NCAA policies and procedures. Credentials for athletic events will be granted to those members of the media (reporters, photographers, or videographers) from the following:

      1. daily newspaper and radio or television station which cover Texas State Athletics or a visiting team on a daily basis;

      2. specialty publication on Texas State or visiting teams;

      3. Texas State students enrolled full-time and are members of a university recognized student media organization;

      4. website of participating institutions;

      5. agencies engaged by Texas State to record the event;

      6. representatives of radio, television, and cablecast networks given rights to televise a contest on a national or regional basis; and

      7. other media outlets approved based upon proximity to the Texas State campus, circulation, subject to availability, or a member of Texas State Athletics.

      Credentials will not be issued to any individual not serving in an assigned working capacity for a legitimate news organization

      Photographers and videographers are expected to follow NCAA guidelines for capturing photos and video at events. They will be informed of restricted areas such as team locker rooms, offices, training rooms, and other designated team spaces and must avoid these locations.

      Requests made for scouting purposes should be made in advance to the Communications Office and must conform with NCAA policies.

4. RADIO BROADCASTS

   1. Learfield’s Texas State Sports Properties owns the media rights for Texas State Athletics. The official flagship radio station is KTSW (89.9 FM), and the official audio streaming platform is The Varsity Network.

      Visiting radio contacts should be directed to the Communications Office. Stations designated as official by visiting opponents will be provided with a courtesy telephone line, ISDN line, or ethernet connection on press row or in the press box. Additional broadcast needs are dependent on availability, and charges may apply.

5. PROCEDURE FOR PUBLICATIONS

   1. The Communications Office will coordinate, edit, and distribute publications and news releases to both print and electronic media. All media guides and brochures are the copyrighted property of the Department of Athletics, and the associate Athletics Director, Communications has final authority on all brochures and publications. All media guides and other departmental publications should be approved by the associate Athletics Director, Compliance and each team’s sport administrator before going to print.

6. CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND SPECIAL ISSUES

   1. The director of Athletics is the front-line spokesperson on any athletics department issue which may become public through media coverage. All Department of Athletics administrative staff and coaches should first direct any media to the director of Athletics via the Communications Office. Under no circumstances should an Athletics staff member, head coach, or student-athlete make any sort of comment regarding a crisis without direction from the director of Athletics.

7. REVIEWERS OF THIS PPS

   1. Reviewers of this PPS include the following:

      Position	Date
      Associate Athletics Director, Communications	May 1 E7Y
      External Senior Associate Athletics Director, External Operations & Brand Strategy	May 1 E7Y

8. CERTIFICATION STATEMENT

   This PPS has been approved by the following individuals in their official capacities and represents Texas State Athletics policy and procedure from the date of this document until superseded.

   Associate Athletics Director, Communications; senior reviewer of this PPS

   External Senior Associate Athletics Director, External Operations & Brand Strategy

   Director, Athletics