Press and Credential Policies
Athletics Communications Staff Directory
Media Working Areas at Eagle Sporting Venues
Media interested in Georgia Southern Athletics, be it an interview or press credential request, must contact the Athletics Communications Office. Eagle coaches and student-athletes work closely with the communications staff in servicing media requests. Please, don't hesitate to give us a call or drop us a text or email.
All interview requests for Georgia Southern coaches, student-athletes and administrators should be directed to an appropriate member of the Athletics Communications staff. Repeated violation of this procedure could result in revocation of access and/or credential privileges for the individual or outlet.
The Athletics Communications Office is located in the Dan J. Parrish Sr. Building off of Fair Road.
All media members coming to campus during business hours of the workweek need to stop by the Parking & Transportation Office to obtain a parking pass. There is no charge for visitor parking permits. Media members will be responsible for paying any fines they incur while on campus.
Use of a credential implies acknowledgment and acceptance of all rules and policies printed on the pass and on this policy page. The sidelines at every venue are designated as working areas. Georgia Southern Athletics is committed to providing a safe, professional and organized environment for credentialed media while ensuring the safety of student-athletes, coaches, officials and game personnel. Failure to comply with these policies or directions from Athletics Communications, Event Management, Security or Game Operations personnel may result in immediate removal from the field and the loss of future credential privileges. Only credentialed working media approved by Georgia Southern Athletics Communications will be granted field-level access to cover the game. Sideline access for media is limited to:
• Photographers and videographers
• Television camera operators
• Approved digital content creators (internal and external)
• Broadcast and radio sideline announcers
• Georgia Southern Athletics personnel
Equipment carriers, runners, family members, guests and non-working media are not permitted on the sidelines with media credentials.
• Spouses, dates, children, equipment carriers and non-workers are restricted from the press area, sidelines and locker rooms. Any abuse of a working credential will result in the media agency losing credential privileges. Credentials will not be issued to any person under the age of 18.
• In some instances, due to space limitations, meeting the identified criteria does not guarantee credentials.
• Space for the working press, radio and television is allocated by the Georgia Southern Athletics Communications Office, which reserves the right to deny credentials to any outlet.
• Due to space restrictions, Georgia Southern does not allow radio stations to broadcast live shows or segments from the press area of the press box – before, during or after a game.
Guidelines
1. Traditionally, season media credentials are issued to those organizations that report on Georgia Southern intercollegiate athletics on a regular and substantial basis.
2. With the exception of Eagle beat reporters reporting on the team on a daily basis and producing daily reports, all passes are approved and issued on a game-by-game basis. The Athletics Department also reserves the right to credential all media on a game-by-game basis if deemed necessary.
3. All passes and credentials are non-transferable without prior approval from the Georgia Southern Athletics Communications Office. Passes used by any member of a credentialed outlet without a specific editorial assignment or by non-working members of the organization are subject to revocation upon University request.
4. Due to limited space and to ensure compliance with NCAA guidelines, credentials for "freelance" writers or photographers will not be considered without a specific assignment received in writing by the assigning organization.
5. Georgia Southern and the NCAA prohibit the issuance of credentials to representatives of an organization that regularly publishes gambling information, such as "tout sheets" or "tip sheets." Georgia Southern will not issue credentials to organizations whose primary function is to deliver news related to the recruitment of student-athletes unless owned and operated under a national parent company.
6. No credentials will be issued to individuals under the age of 18. Admission to media facilities is for working media only. The locker room is off-limits to members of the media at all times.
7. Credentials may be requested, but are not guaranteed for approval, for online entities that host a website that regularly and substantially reports on GS intercollegiate athletics.
8. University personnel may deny or revoke credentials without notice and an individual shall surrender his/her credential upon request for noncompliance with the priorities or guidelines set out in this policy; noncompliance with health, safety, or security directives issued regarding University athletic events; violations of University, Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, NCAA, or Sun Belt policies; and for conduct for which there are reasonable grounds to believe violate state or federal law, or constitute a breach of professional ethics, including inappropriate dress and/or intoxication.
9. The Georgia Southern Athletics Communications Office reserves the right to change this policy at any time.
Independent Creators and Social Media Freelancers
To ensure robust coverage of our team and stadium events, credential access is prioritized for accredited media outlets, rights-holders, and established editorial organizations. We recognize the growing role of independent content creators and freelance digital journalists. While requests for credentials intended solely for personal social media channels, blogs or vlogs are not automatically declined, they are evaluated under specific guidelines outlined below. Credentials requested by creatives of a Georgia Southern student-athlete for the purpose of gathering content to post on said student-athlete's social media will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis with available space being a high determining factor.
Key Guidelines for Personal Social Media Requests
- Secondary Priority: Freelancers and personal social media creators are considered on a game-by-game basis and are secondary to traditional broadcast, print and digital media organizations.
- Space Constraints: Credential approval is strictly subject to press box, media workroom and sideline capacity limits for each specific game.
- Content Portfolio Review: Every request will undergo a review of the applicant's existing platform(s). Approvals are heavily influenced by:
- Quality & Professionalism: High-production value and alignment with community standards.
- Relevance & Engagement: Consistent, active coverage of football, sports, or relevant local event content.
- Audience Authenticity: Genuine audience engagement and established reach.
- Advance Notice: Requests must be submitted at least 72 hours prior to kickoff. Walk-up or day-of requests will not be accommodated.
- Non-Transferable: Approved credentials are valid only for the named individual and specified game.
- Commercial & Branding Restrictions: Credentials do not grant rights to produce sponsored content, branded tie-ins, or monetized personal ads from restricted media areas without prior written approval.
- Access Rights: Personal social media credentials generally grant access to standard press areas and are treated as such as all media. Failure to follow the posted media guidelines below for covering the Eagles and sideline policies will lead to a revocation of credential.
FOOTBALL
• Valid credentials must be visible in order to gain entry to Allen E. Paulson Stadium and access to the field and/or press box. Credentials must be in plain sight at all times.
• Credentialed photographers must stay outside of the team box (20-yard line to 20-yard line) and behind the dotted white line at all times unless given prior permission from Bryan Johnston, Senior Associate AD for Communications. No member of the media shall linger behind the team benches at any time.
• Roof access atop the press is also permitted, provided the maximum number of occupants has not been met. While tripods are allowed on the roof, no tents or other unsecured items are allowed at any time. The broadcasting network and team videographers have priority for all spots and power outlets.
• No flash photography allowed while the game is being played.
• No tripods, monopods or chairs are allowed to be set up on the playing surface or sidelines while the game is being played.
• All photographers/videographers on the sideline must be in attendance in a working capacity with proper equipment and must check-out a media vest from the press box pre-game. It must be returned before leaving the stadium in order to be credentialed for future games.
• No credentials will be issued to freelance photographers, equipment carriers or radio station representatives, except for each team's broadcast originating networks.
• No one under 18 years of age will be issued a credential for sideline access.
• Photographers or videographers are considered working members of the media, and they are to refrain from cheering or talking to players, coaches or officials.
• Photographers may send photos from the press box of Allen E. Paulson Stadium.
• Due to NCAA eligibility issues, photographs may not be sold in any way, shape or form.
• There will be no interviews with players or coaches on the field without prior approval from the athletics communications office. The post-game press conference takes place in the weight room on the bottom floor of the Ted Smith Family Football Center.
• Not conforming to any of the above-listed guidelines will result in immediate dismissal from the stadium by event management staff.
• These policies can be modified without prior notice if deemed necessary and Georgia Southern officials have the final say in enforcing these rules.
MEDIA VESTS
All credentialed media members working on the sidelines at football are required to wear an official Georgia Southern-issued media vest.
• Vests are available for pickup in the press box beginning two (2) hours prior to kickoff.
• A valid government-issued photo ID will be required to check out a vest.
• The vest must be worn and visible at all times while on the field. External media will be in tan vests; internal media in gray.
• Media members are responsible for the vest assigned to them.
• Vests must be returned immediately following the game before leaving the stadium to either the press box or the home press conference.
• Lost, unreturned or ruined (as determined by the SID) vests will result in replacement charges ($30 per vest) and suspension of future field-level credential privileges until the vest is returned or replaced.
• Failure to return a vest or repeated violations of vest policies may result in replacement charges and/or suspension of future sideline access.
Possession of a media credential does not authorize field access without an issued media vest.
FIELD POSITIONING
Media members must:
• Stay outside the NCAA limit lines at all times. These areas are marked by dotted, white lines around the entire field, including in the end zones.
• Remain outside both team bench areas (20-yard line to 20-yard line). There is also no stopping behind either team bench for photo or video.
• Never enter the playing field during live action.
• Remain clear of officials, chain crews, ball personnel and medical staff.
• Follow all instructions from game management personnel immediately.
BASKETBALL
• Valid credentials must be visible in order to gain entry to the Jack and Ruth Anne Hill Convocation Center and access to the court. Credentials must be in plain sight at all times.
• Photographers and videographers are restricted to the baselines behind the dotted line on the court from the beginning of warm-ups to the end of the contest. Space is limited to the baseline and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Depending on the amount of media in attendance, outlets may be limited to one photographer on each end of the court.
• A photographer shooting on the court must sit on the floor. Camping style and/or inflatable chairs with backs can be used, provided they have no legs. No tripods, monopods or stools may be placed on or beside the playing floor.
• Shooting on the court during timeouts is not permitted, and at no time may photographers or videographers work from directly behind the official scorer's table, media table or team benches.
• A still photographer shall not use a flash attached to the camera or attached to any other courtside location to shoot game action. On-camera flashes may be used during celebrations and presentations.
• There will be no interviews with players or coaches on the court without prior approval from the athletics communications office. The post-game press conference is held in the media room located in the back area of the Hill Convocation Center.
• Not conforming to any of the above-listed guidelines will result in immediate dismissal from the stadium by event management staff.
• These policies can be modified without prior notice if deemed necessary and Georgia Southern officials have the final say in enforcing these rules.
ALL OTHER SPORTS
• Valid credentials must be visible in order to gain access to the facility and the playing surface. Credentials must be in plain sight at all times.
• The Athletics Communications contact for the sport or a member of the athletics creative services staff will be in charge of setting and disseminating the photography policies for the respective facility.
• Failure to comply with the above policies or directions of any member or representative of the Athletics Department could result in the removal from the press area and a revocation of press credentials for future sporting events.
