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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
"Media Wranglers"
Eugene P. Tanner, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Honolulu | HI | USA | Posted: 10:35 PM on 04.17.09 |
->> The Redding Record Searchlight located in Redding, CA. has decided to not cover the local rodeo due to "ground rules" put forth by the organizers. Checkout the link...
http://tinyurl.com/c69bv8 |
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Dave Einsel, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Houston | TX | United States | Posted: 11:13 PM on 04.17.09 |
| ->> Props to the Redding Record Searchlight! |
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David Harpe, Photographer
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Louisville | KY | USA | Posted: 11:42 PM on 04.17.09 |
| ->> The comments below the article are a bit scary. |
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Byron Hetzler, Photographer
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Granby | CO | USA | Posted: 11:43 PM on 04.17.09 |
->> ->> The comments below the article are a bit scary.
David,
That's putting it mildly. |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Princeton | IN | USA | Posted: 1:48 AM on 04.18.09 |
->> It's not a taxpayer supported event, right? I guess they can make any rules they want. It doesn't mean you have to like it and it doesn't mean you have to agree with them. And, if you don't like the rules, it doesn't mean you have to cover the event.
I think the paper is doing the right thing. Give them no free publicity. Then see if they change their tune. |
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David Harpe, Photographer
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Louisville | KY | USA | Posted: 8:20 AM on 04.18.09 |
->> I know we all hope/expect a massive outpouring of support for the newspaper and journalistic principles in situations like this. But what if the public goes the other way? The comments below the article look to be about evenly split on the matter.
The promoter can easily hire a few freelancers and set up a kick butt web site with great photos, live streaming and all the coverage anyone could want, provided nothing bad happens. Newspapers can't compete with that...and since the public is still getting to see photos and coverage of the event, will they really care if the newspaper doesn't cover it?
More important - will TV back down as well?
Not that any of this changes what the paper SHOULD do...but it will be interesting to see what standing by their principles gets them. |
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Peter Wine, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Dayton | OH | USA | Posted: 9:10 AM on 04.18.09 |
->> I think this falls in the same catagory of a concert that requires, as a condition of a 'press pass' that they retain all copyrights.
If that isn't stricken, the newspaper I work with has the same policy I do. Walk away.
Is it going to hurt the concert? No, they'll still have the same number of people at the event. This time.
It's the people that weren't there, that might have seen the photos and read about the concert, the concert people will lose out on. So perhaps attendance might not be as good next time. Or maybe it won't suffer at all.
We don't do it to punish anyone.
I have covered a couple of rodeos in my area, and though I'm sure they aren't as large as this one is, I was able to go wherever I wanted to go to shoot from. |
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Kevin Leas, Photographer, Assistant
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Rochester | NY | USA | Posted: 11:51 AM on 04.18.09 |
->> "The Rodeo's ban on cameras is just plain BULL..."
Once in a blue moon, there's a reader comment that actually makes me smile. Most of them, however, make me want to gouge my eyes out with a melon baller so I don't accidentally read any more of them. Of course, then I wouldn't be able to shoot anymore - and would probably have to buy a new melon baller.
Back on the original topic: these articles always make me wonder. By making a big stink about not covering the event BEFORE it happens, they're still giving the event plenty of press. How many people may not have known about it before, know about it now, and couldn't care less about whether the newspaper is allowed to cover it? I'm guessing that number is higher than the number of people who say "oh, the paper can't cover it...I guess we won't go".
My suggestion to all papers/organizations who refuse to cover an event: where the photo and review would have been, put your article there. Don't advertise the show while people can still buy tickets. Wait until it's through, then replace your review with your explanation for why you didn't go. |
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David Harpe, Photographer
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Louisville | KY | USA | Posted: 3:47 AM on 04.19.09 |
| ->> The last time I checked, private individuals no matter who they are have absolutely NO RIGHT to "confiscate" anything. Police of course are a different story, but even if you're a property owner you don't have a right to take someone else's property. |
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Daniel Celvi, Student/Intern
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Carbondale | IL | | Posted: 4:34 AM on 04.19.09 |
->> I hate to chime in on things like this, but yes the rodeo technically does have the right to confiscate camera equipment at the door. Whereas police have, as far as I'm aware, no right at all to confiscate camera equipment. That's called stealing because usually they do it on public property, taking private property, with no legal reasoning other than "I was doing some stuff I probably shouldn't have, and they were taking pictures that would have shown that." Usually, there are of course exceptions, but most of the situations I've seen it's been more of a police abuse of power, or lack of any sort of knowledge of the law (please, please don't flame that comment, I know—there are a thousand examples of cops acting in their power, but there are just as many acting out of ignorance of the law).
But the problem isn't that. The problem is how will fans of the rodeo react when say, they try to take a picture as is described (fans taking a photo of a local favorite or whatever else) and a security guard comes up to them and says "You aren't allowed to do that, now either give me the cell phone or get out of here." I'm sure most of us out there have dealt with over-zealous security guards, dealing with ambiguous rules, trying to interpret said rules. Now imagine how the regular photo enthusiast, not used to such restrictions, will handle that. Being told, give me your cell phone (and I've seen cowboys riding, and roping, while talking on their cellphones, which was just freaking impressive actually) I'm sure will infuriate plenty of people. Wanting to keep people from bending the truth is one thing, inhibiting the experience of their own patrons is another. Unfortunately, it's a fine line, but one that is too easily abused when left to such wide interpretation for a guy making minimum wage that doesn't want to answer the question "you let that PETA guy take THAT picture!?" I get the feeling at some point there, a problem will arise that has nothing to do with the newspaper. |
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David Harpe, Photographer
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Louisville | KY | USA | Posted: 10:55 AM on 04.19.09 |
->> but yes the rodeo technically does have the right to confiscate camera equipment at the door.
The only "right" the venue owner has is to refuse admission if you don't agree to their terms (i.e. no admission if you have a camera), or ask you to leave if you don't abide by their rules (i.e. use a camera during the event). They do not have a right to take anything from you without your consent, period. They don't even have the right to search you unless you consent to it - again they can deny admission or ask you to leave if you refuse, but that's it.
If police detain you, they can take your equipment temporarily under the guise of "safety"...i.e. making sure you don't clobber them with the camera while detained. They do not have the right to keep it (as has been proven numerous times), but they do have the legal right to remove things from your person while you are being detained. Private individuals do not have that right.
If you are ever in a situation like this where a venue owner tries to "confiscate" your gear, do not let them do it. Offer to leave the grounds and if they won't let you go, tell them to call the police (or call them yourself) and agree to wait until they arrive. Take good notes, particularly if ANYONE puts a hand on you. Your lawyer will need this information later.
If you haven't read this before, please print out a copy and keep it with you. It's important:
http://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf |
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