WFISD Athletics Media Credential Guidelines

Wichita Falls ISD Athletics welcomes and appreciates professional media coverage of our student-athletes and athletic events held at Joe Golding Field at Memorial Stadium, Legacy High School, and Memorial High School.

To promote student safety, maintain secure sidelines and press areas, and support efficient game operations, access to the field, courts, playing areas and press box is limited to approved working media and school-authorized personnel.

Media credentials are considered on a game-by-game basis for qualifying media representatives who are actively covering the requested event.

Submitting a request does not guarantee approval, and approval for one event does not guarantee approval for future events. WFISD Athletics will limit credentials based on safety, security, available space, expected attendance, and operational needs.

Request Deadlines

Varsity Football: Media credential requests may be submitted beginning Monday of game week and must be received by 5:00 p.m. Wednesday of game week.

Other Events: Requests should be submitted as early as possible. Deadlines and available media access may vary depending on the event.

All credential requests will be notified by email whether their credential request has been approved or denied.

Approved media will receive specific event information in their confirmation email, including:

  • Media parking
  • Credential pickup
  • Stadium or venue entry
  • Sideline, field or court access
  • Press box or designated media area access
  • Any additional event-specific instructions

Please do not report to an athletic event expecting media access unless you have received confirmation that your request has been approved.

Who May Request Media Credentials?

Media credentials are intended for working media representatives affiliated with established media organizations who are covering the requested event for legitimate news, sports or editorial purposes.

Qualifying organizations may include:

  • Newspapers, television and radio outlets
  • Established news and sports publications
  • Recognized digital media organizations
  • Professional photographers or videographers covering an event on assignment for a qualifying media organization
  • Other established media organizations approved by WFISD Athletics

WFISD Athletics may request additional information or documentation to verify a media affiliation or assignment before approving credentials.

Independent Media Outlets & Background Checks

Individuals representing independent media outlets, freelance media organizations or other non-traditional media entities may be required to successfully complete a background check as part of the media credential approval process.

WFISD Athletics reserves the right to determine when a background check is necessary based on the nature of the requested access, the event, and district safety requirements.

Failure to complete or successfully pass a required background check may result in the denial or revocation of media credentials.

Media Credentials Are Generally Not Issued To:

  • Parents, relatives, friends or spectators seeking sideline, field, court or press box access.
  • Personal social media accounts, fan pages or individual content channels that do not operate as an established news, sports or editorial publication.
  • Commercial or private photographers and videographers whose primary purpose is creating or selling content for individual athletes, families or clients.
  • Individual-player promotional or recruiting content providers seeking restricted-area access primarily to create content for a specific athlete.
  • Individuals seeking access primarily to build a personal portfolio, social media following or photography business.
  • Individuals who cannot verify a legitimate media affiliation, publication or assignment when requested.

Being listed as a contributor, partner photographer or freelance photographer for a recognized media organization does not by itself qualify an individual for credentials. The individual must be covering the requested event on assignment for that organization or representing an established qualifying publication.

Professional equipment, a business name, social media following or previous access to another event or venue does not by itself establish media status.

WFISD Athletics reserves the right to determine whether an individual or organization qualifies for media credentials and may request additional documentation to verify an applicant's media affiliation or assignment.

SUBMIT A MEDIA CREDENTIAL REQUEST

Media Guidelines

All approved media representatives are expected to follow WFISD policies and venue guidelines.

  • Media credentials must be visibly displayed while in restricted media areas.
  • Credentials are valid only for the event for which they were issued and are not transferable.
  • Credentialed media must remain outside team areas, locker rooms, dugouts, team benches, team boxes and other restricted areas unless specifically authorized by WFISD Athletics.
  • Credentialed media must remain alert to players, officials, and activity in the playing area at all times.
  • Credentialed media must follow all instructions provided by WFISD administrators, athletic staff, venue personnel, security, and law enforcement.
  • Press box, sideline, field, court and other media access may be limited based on available space, safety considerations, and event needs.
  • Approval for one media area does not automatically grant access to another.
  • WFISD Athletics reserves the right to deny or revoke credentials or remove an individual from restricted areas for failure to follow district policies, venue rules, or staff instructions.

Photography, Video & Commercial Use

WFISD Athletics recognizes that credentialed photographers and videographers may produce and sell photographs, video or other content from athletic events.

Credentialed access to WFISD restricted areas is a privilege granted by WFISD Athletics and is subject to all district credential requirements and event-specific restrictions.

WFISD Athletics reserves the right to establish additional conditions for commercial photography or videography conducted through credentialed access.

As a condition of credentialed access, photographers and videographers who are not representing a recognized news organization may be required to grant WFISD and WFISD Athletics a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use selected photographs or video produced through that credentialed access for district and school informational, educational and promotional purposes.

Request Media Credentials

All media credential requests for events at Joe Golding Field at Memorial Stadium, Legacy High School and Memorial High School must be submitted through the WFISD Athletics Media Credential Request Form.

Approved applicants will receive their event-specific instructions by email.

By accepting and using a WFISD credential, the credential holder agrees to comply with all WFISD Athletics credential requirements and event-specific instructions.

SUBMIT A MEDIA CREDENTIAL REQUEST

Submitting the request form does not constitute credential approval.