Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State Football: Media Credential Requests/Media Policy
Fresno State Athletics Media Credential Policy
Purpose and General Policy
Media credentials, including press, photography and videography passes, are required to cover Fresno State Athletics events held on the Fresno State campus or at events for which Fresno State has been assigned responsibility for credential distribution.
Credentials are issued to working media members solely to facilitate legitimate editorial coverage of Fresno State Athletics. Unless otherwise approved by the Fresno State Athletics Strategic Communications Department, credentials will be issued on a single-event basis.
All credentials:
- Are subject to approval and space availability
- Provide access only to the areas designated on the credential
- Are non-transferable
- Remain the property of Fresno State Athletics
- Must be worn and clearly visible while inside the venue
- May be suspended or revoked for violation of this policy, sport-specific policies, venue rules or applicable laws and regulations
Possession of a credential does not guarantee seating, workspace, parking or access to every area of an athletic venue.
Fresno State Athletics reserves the right to approve, deny, limit or revoke credential access based on available space, professional and editorial need, previous compliance with credential policies and the best interests of event operations and safety.
Credential Holder Responsibilities
By accepting and using a Fresno State Athletics media credential, the credential holder agrees to:
- Display the credential at all times while inside the venue.
- Use the credential only for legitimate working media purposes.
- Access only the areas authorized by the credential.
- Follow all instructions provided by Fresno State Athletics personnel, game officials, security personnel and event staff.
- Remain outside team benches, locker rooms and other restricted team areas unless specifically authorized.
- Refrain from contacting coaches or student-athletes during competition.
- Conduct themselves professionally and avoid cheering, disruptive behavior or conduct that interferes with other working media members.
- Comply with all general and sport-specific credential policies.
Credential holders may not arrange, provide or promise benefits to current or prospective Fresno State student-athletes, or their relatives or friends, except for items or services approved in advance as part of a legitimate media or broadcast activity.
Credential holders are also prohibited from requesting autographs, personal photographs or videos, equipment, apparel or other items from Fresno State coaches or student-athletes while using a media credential. Such conduct is inconsistent with the professional purpose of the credential and may result in the suspension or revocation of credential privileges.
Credential Use and Transfer
Credentials may be used only by the individual whose name appears on the credential. Requests submitted under nameless or generic designations will not be accepted unless advance approval is provided for an established production or broadcast crew.
Any individual using a credential issued to another person may be removed from the venue. Loaning, transferring, reproducing or otherwise misusing a credential may result in ejection and the suspension or revocation of credential privileges for the individuals and/or media outlets involved.
Representatives must be on assignment for the outlet listed in their credential application. Credentials may be revoked if a representative is not performing work for the approved outlet or uses the credential for purposes unrelated to the approved assignment.
Application and Approval
Media representatives must submit credential requests by email to the Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communications.
Applications should include:
- The applicant’s full name
- The applicant’s role
- The name of the media outlet
- The event being requested
- The nature of the editorial or production assignment
- The type of credential requested
- Contact information for an assigning editor, producer or outlet representative, when applicable
Submitting an application does not guarantee approval. Credential decisions are made on an event-by-event basis and are subject to available seating and workspace.
Media Eligibility
Media credentials may be issued to individuals on assignment for established media outlets whose primary purpose includes original news gathering, sports reporting or live event production.
Eligible outlets may include:
- Newspapers and wire services
- Magazines and other regularly published periodicals
- Television and radio stations
- Websites and digital publications
- Podcasts
- College and student media organizations
- Approved broadcast and production organizations
Applicants and their outlets should demonstrate a consistent record of producing original editorial coverage of college athletics, Fresno State Athletics or other relevant sports.
Credential decisions may consider:
- The outlet’s history of sustained and original coverage
- The applicant’s specific editorial or production assignment
- The frequency and quality of the outlet’s coverage
- The outlet’s audience and established distribution platform
- Available media seating and workspace
- The applicant’s previous compliance with Fresno State Athletics policies
- The professional and operational needs of the event
Outlets primarily devoted to republishing news releases, aggregating content, posting unedited press conference footage or operating message boards without regular original reporting generally will not qualify for credentials.
Publishing through YouTube, X, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook or another third-party platform does not automatically qualify or disqualify an outlet. Applicants using those platforms as their primary method of distribution must demonstrate a consistent record of substantial, original editorial coverage and may be asked to provide additional information about their assignment and outlet.
Freelance reporters, photographers and videographers will be considered only when working under a specific assignment for an approved media outlet. Verification from an assigning editor or outlet representative may be required.
Fresno State Athletics Strategic Communications may make exceptions when circumstances warrant.
Football Credential Priority
Because seating and workspace at Valley Children’s Stadium are limited, credential requests for Fresno State football will generally be considered in the following order:
- Originating television and radio personnel directly involved in a live broadcast of the competition.
- Daily newspapers, wire services, and regional or national publications that regularly and substantially cover Fresno State Athletics.
- Non-originating television and radio personnel producing editorial reports about the competition.
Local radio stations requesting non-originating credentials should have an established sports programming presence and provide regular, substantial coverage of Fresno State Athletics. - Officially recognized Fresno State student publications and student electronic media outlets that regularly and substantially cover Fresno State Athletics.
- Non-daily newspapers, magazines, websites, podcasts and other publications that regularly produce substantial, original coverage of Fresno State Athletics.
- Approved independent or platform-based outlets that demonstrate a consistent record of substantial, original editorial coverage.
- Freelance reporters, photographers and videographers working under a verified assignment for an approved media outlet.
Priority order does not guarantee approval. Fresno State Athletics may consider additional factors, including space limitations, assignment needs, previous attendance and the applicant’s history of compliance with credential policies.
Football Credential Requests and Distribution
Single-game football credential requests should be submitted no later than 5 p.m. PT on the Tuesday of game week. Late requests may not be considered.
Approved credentials will be available at Media Will Call beginning three hours before kickoff unless otherwise communicated by Fresno State Athletics Strategic Communications.
Photographers and videographers with approved field access are required to wear a Fresno State-issued vest while on the field. Vests will be distributed at Media Will Call and must be returned as directed following the game.
Press Box Access and Conduct
The Valley Children’s Stadium press box is located on the west side of the stadium and opens three hours before kickoff.
Access is restricted to credentialed media members and authorized personnel. The press box is a professional working environment. Cheering, disruptive behavior or conduct that interferes with the work of others will not be permitted.
Credentialed media members must remain in their assigned seats or designated working areas unless otherwise authorized. Press box seating and workspace may not be reassigned without approval from Fresno State Athletics Strategic Communications.
Fresno State Athletics will provide a game-day meal, beverages and snacks for approved working media. Wi-Fi network and password information will be available in the press box.
Field and Sideline Access
Only photographers, videographers and other media members with the appropriate sideline credential may access the field at Valley Children’s Stadium.
All credentialed sideline media must remain within designated working areas and comply with instructions from Fresno State Athletics personnel, security staff and game officials.
Photographers and videographers may work along approved portions of the sideline but are prohibited from working between the 25-yard lines. Additional restrictions may be implemented based on game operations, television requirements, team areas, safety considerations or applicable conference and NCAA policies.
Credentialed photographers and videographers must conduct themselves professionally and courteously. They may not:
- Obstruct the view of another working media member
- Stand directly in front of another photographer’s established shooting position
- Enter restricted team or bench areas
- Interfere with game operations, officials, student-athletes or event personnel
- Disregard instructions from Fresno State Athletics or stadium staff
Sideline space is limited, and all credentialed media members are expected to share available working areas respectfully. Violations may result in removal from the sideline and the suspension or revocation of future credential privileges.
Media Workroom
The football media workroom is located in the Richiutti Academic Center inside the Student-Athlete Village.
Access is limited to credentialed media members and authorized personnel. Wi-Fi network and password information will be available in the workroom.
Postgame Interviews
Postgame interviews with Fresno State Head Coach Matt Entz and selected student-athletes will take place in the Josephine Theatre inside the Duncan Athletic Building unless otherwise announced.
On-field interviews with Fresno State coaches or student-athletes are prohibited unless specifically arranged or approved by Fresno State Athletics Strategic Communications.
Media members must follow all postgame access instructions and may not enter locker rooms, team hallways or other restricted areas without authorization.
Additional Interview Requests
All requests to interview Fresno State coaches, staff members or student-athletes must be coordinated through the Fresno State Athletics Strategic Communications Office.
Credentialed media members may not use their access to directly arrange interviews with student-athletes outside the established media-relations process. Failure to follow the interview-request process may result in limitations on access or future credential privileges.
Media members seeking Fresno State’s assistance in arranging interviews with family members of student-athletes are asked to coordinate those requests through the Strategic Communications Office.
Violations and Revocation
Failure to comply with this policy may result in one or more of the following:
- A warning
- Removal from a restricted or designated working area
- Ejection from the venue
- Revocation of the credential for the event
- Suspension or revocation of future credential privileges
- Review of credential access for the representative’s media outlet
The appropriate response will be determined by Fresno State Athletics based on the nature, severity and frequency of the violation.
These policies are intended to maintain a safe, professional and equitable working environment. All credentialed media members are expected to follow them respectfully and in good faith.
Contact Information
Questions regarding credentials, media access or interview requests should be directed to:
Savannah Stoeckle
Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communications
Fresno State Athletics
sstoeckle@mail.fresnostate.edu