Media Access to GCPS Athletic Events

For the purpose of these guidelines, the phrase “Recognized Traditional Media Organizations” refers to media outlets that produce and broadcast news programming and/or newspapers in traditional print and digital form to a mass audience, such as:

• 11Alive [NBC]
• WSB TV [ABC]
• Atlanta News First [CBS]
• Fox 5 [Fox]
• Georgia Public Broadcasting [GPB]
• My ATL TV
• ESPN
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• Gwinnett Daily Post
• Max Preps

The list above is not exhaustive. It is an example of the media organizations that fit in the “Recognized Traditional Media Organizations” category.

For the purpose of these guidelines, the phrase “Non-Traditional/New Media” refers to independent reporters, bloggers, photographers, and videographers whose work primarily appears on the internet or social media platforms such as:

• X
• Instagram
• Tik Tok
• Snapchat
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Vimeo
• Hudl

The list above is not exhaustive. It is an example of the media platforms that fall into the “Non-Traditional/New Media” category.

The following guidelines apply to all GCPS high school varsity athletic events (excluding GHSA Region Tournaments and State Playoff events) to ensure the safety of student-athletes, coaches, referees, and accredited media representatives and to provide appropriate access and working space for qualified media.

• Members of recognized traditional or new media must complete a one-time GCPS orientation on game day rules, behavior expectations, and approved media zones before receiving a Game Day Media Pass.
  • The credentialing process is only open to working media from recognized outlets and select “Non-Traditional/New Media” members.
    • (Students, parents, GCPS staff, and freelance photographers are ineligible).
  • Must be 19 years old or older.
  • Applicants must provide proof of employment.
     
• GCPS will offer two orientation sessions per school year.
  • Media Passes may be denied to individuals who do not complete the required training.
     
• Media Passes are issued at the discretion of the “home” school.
• Priority is given to outlets that have consistently covered the school’s home games/matches/contests.
  • Note: Meeting this threshold does not guarantee a Media Pass.
     
• Media Pass requests must be emailed to the home school’s athletic director at least 48 hours before the event.
  • Access is granted on a first-come, first-served basis due to capacity limits.

A maximum of eight (8) Media Passes will be issued for indoor sporting events (Boys & Girls Basketball, Swimming & Diving, Volleyball, and Wrestling). Media Passes will be allocated in the following manner on a first-come, first-served basis:

• 4 - Broadcast media outlets in the Recognized Traditional Media Organizations category
• 2 - Print (AJC & Gwinnett Daily Post) media outlets in the Recognized Traditional Media Organizations category
• 1 - Non-Traditional/New Media outlets
• 1 - Visiting teams from schools located more than 100 miles from the host school shall be granted one media pass.

GCPS reserves the right to reduce the number of available Media Passes at its discretion.

A maximum of ten (10) Media Passes will be issued for outdoor sporting events (Varsity Football, Boys and Girls Soccer, Track & Field, Lacrosse, and Baseball). Media Passes will be allocated in the following manner on a first-come, first-served basis:

• 4 - Broadcast media outlets in the Recognized Traditional Media Organizations category
• 2 - Print (AJC & Gwinnett Daily Post) media outlets in the Recognized Traditional Media Organizations category
• 2 - Non-Traditional/New Media outlets
• 2 - Visiting teams from schools located more than 100 miles from the host school shall be granted two media passes.

GCPS reserves the right to reduce the number of available Media Passes at its discretion.