Press Credentials for Bloggers?

The sports industry has always been a very difficult industry for many to break into. With very few opportunities and numerous job hunters willing to work for less, it is nearly impossible for many to even dream of having a job in sports. While most want to become sports agents or front office personnel, others are seeking to enter the media realm of sports. Photographers, writers, and even bloggers are beginning to seek press credentials with very little experience in the field. Who wouldn’t want access to pregame activities, locker-rooms or their favorite athletes while the rest of sports fans have to wait in long lines, pay expensive ticket prices, and never get to see their favorite athletes up close? Recently, bloggers have been getting press credentials, which now makes it seem like almost anyone can get them.

Recently, Peter Robert Casey has received press credentials as a micro-blogger. Casey has one of the top ten most followed basketball-related Twitter accounts. He is also the most followed user in the basketball field that isn’t a professional player, coach, or team. As a micro-blogger, Casey’s works are less than 140 characters long. Will this type of micro-blogger become the new fad and will even more micro-bloggers gain press credentials?

While Casey’s credentials may seem acceptable to most, many other bloggers and micro-bloggers seek press credentials without nearly the following Casey has. Where should teams, leagues, and sports venues draw the line? In the past, the NHL has issued press credentials to over one hundred bloggers. Some teams welcome bloggers into their locker rooms while others shun them. Should a visiting team that doesn’t allow bloggers into their home locker rooms be forced to allow credentialed bloggers into their locker rooms on the road? Some cities that are traditional sports cities such as Chicago, St. Louis, New York, Boston, and Los Angeles will find it very difficult to accommodate bloggers in addition to their already sizable media personnel. Other non-traditional sports cities such as San Antonio, San Diego, and Washington may find it advantageous to provide popular bloggers and micro-bloggers with press credentials.

As the popularity of blogs continues to grow, so will the number of bloggers seeking press credentials. Leagues may try to set rules to prohibit or accommodate bloggers but I believe it should be left up to each individual team. Smaller market teams or teams in non-traditional markets such as the Phoenix Coyotes can benefit greatly from bloggers while big market teams have no room to further accommodate these same bloggers.