University Southern California Trojans
USC FOOTBALL MEDIA POLICY
Our goal, in alignment with the vision of head coach Lincoln Riley, is to remain among the most media friendly athletic programs in the nation and to provide the media with practice/game viewing opportunities and coach/player interview availabilities needed to properly cover USC football and deliver steady content. We believe the access and policies outlined below accomplishes those objectives.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation. We look forward to working with you this season!
Credential Information
- Credentials (press and photography passes) issued by the University of Southern California are required to cover USC Football at all regular season events which take place on the USC campus or an event in which USC has been assigned to distribute credentials, including but not limited to games, scrimmages, practices, media availabilities and press conferences.
- Credentials are provided to working members of the media to assist in the coverage of USC Football. Credentials do not imply any guarantee to access, are of limited duration, are not transferable, and are revocable in the sole discretion of USC.
- Loaning or transferring credentials to another may result in immediate permanent revocation of media credentials and ejection from the event of the original holder and unauthorized holder of the credentials.
- Failure to adhere to the requirements of this policy may result in revocation of credentials for the representative and their entire media outlet.
- Media outlets will be held accountable for the actions, conduct and professionalism of all their credentialed personnel.
- All credentials are subject to space availability restrictions in working media areas and facilities.
- Credentials must be displayed at all times during the media event.
Credential Application
Requests for credentials shall be directed to the Director of Football Communications where they will be reviewed. Each application will stand on its own merits. Membership in a writers’ or broadcasters’ association does not automatically qualify a media outlet or individual for credentials. Having been credentialed for other college football games or major events does not automatically qualify an agency or individual for credentials.
To request a USC football practice and/or game credential, visit: sportssystems.com/uscfootball
Credential Eligibility
- Media credentials may be issued to working members of the media representing recognized media outlets in the business of news gathering/sports reporting as a primary function of their business.
- The types of media outlets eligible for credentials include: newspapers, websites, magazines, wire services, college football publications, television and radio.
- The dissemination of editorial content must be a primary purpose of the media outlet and the outlet must demonstrate a record of sustained, original coverage of college football on a regular basis (at least weekly).
- Factors which will be considered in determining if an outlet is eligible for credentials include but are not limited to audience size, market share and editorial structure.
- Credentials will not typically be issued to representative whose outlet exists solely as a platform for distributing unoriginal content (press releases, aggregate news sites, etc.).
- Online outlets should typically (a) be affiliated with a national or regional media organization; or (b) host a website that provides substantial coverage of college football and/or USC Football, and employs at least one full-time, permanent employee responsible for producing the site’s content. Outlets which are message boards without regular, substantial news/editorial/feature coverage by a full-time writer may be denied credentials.
- Credentials will not be issued for representatives from an outlet that does not have its own dedicated medium of distribution (e.g. outlets that primarily originate from a YouTube, X, Instagram, TikTok or Facebook account) unless approved by USC Football Communications.
- Outlets whose working function is limited primarily to the recording and posting of full media availability sessions without any produced news/editorial/feature content may be denied.
- Representatives should be on assignment for the media outlet. Passes used by any member of a credentialed outlet without specific editorial assignment or by non-working members of the outlet are subject to revocation and will affect all future credentialing decisions by USC Football Communications for that outlet.
- Representatives should be affiliated with a lawful working business or enterprise with a Federal Tax ID/Employer Identification Number.
- Media outlets must certify that their representatives seeking credentials have completed a background check and that the outlet does not reasonably believe those representatives pose a threat to property or persons. USC Football Communications reserves the right to verify compliance by the outlet.
- Priority will be given to media outlets that have staffed and reported all home games of USC or the visiting institution, though this does not guarantee credentials.
- A business enterprise which is involved in the dissemination of college football news on a weekly basis or more frequently to audiences from ethnically, socially or culturally diverse backgrounds may be eligible for credentials if space is available.
- Freelance reporters or photographers will not be credentialed unless they are working under a specific assignment for an approved media outlet.
Credential Policies
Failure to comply with the outlined credential policies may result in the revocation of the credential.
Interviews
- All football media interviews must be arranged through the Director of Football Communications (Katie Ryan).
- Except for those with prior approval, all coach and player interviews are to be conducted on the football practice field along the east wall next to the entrance of the facility immediately after practice. Once back inside the facility, photographing, recording (video or audio) or reporting of on-field post-practice activities is prohibited.
- Coaches, players and athletic department officials are not to be interviewed at any other locations, unless approved by USC Football Communications. Please note that the John McKay Center is a non-public facility; media are not allowed entry unless accompanied by a member of USC Football Communications.
- Players who do not practice, or who do not finish practice because of injury, will not be available to the media that day.
- Freshmen football players will not have the opportunity to be made available to the media until after they have played in a game. Once a freshman has played in a game, their media availability will be at the discretion of the head coach.
- All post-practice interview requests must be submitted at the start of each week for both practices (Tuesday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday). The requests must be submitted in advance to the Director of Football Communications each Monday by 10 a.m. PT. It is possible some requested players will not be available.
- Media members should refrain from requesting family contact information from student-athletes for interviews. Please work through the Director of Football Communications for family related interview requests.
Recruitment
- Other than confirming the recruitment of a prospect, NCAA rules prohibit USC (e.g. staff, coaches and student-athletes) from commenting on the recruitment of a prospective student-athlete before his or her signing of a national letter of intent or offer of admission/financial aid. This also includes members of the media soliciting information from USC sources including staff, coaches and current student-athletes regarding the recruiting of prospective student athletes.
- Media members may not interview prospective student-athletes during their campus visits. Media coverage of contact made between a PSA (a recruit) and USC's coaching staff members on a visit is prohibited.
- Once inside the practice facility, no photos may be taken of a PSA.
Games
- Media credentials for USC home football games will be available for pick-up on game days at the Coliseum media gate (located at Gate 14 on the west side of the Coliseum), generally 3 hours before kickoff. Credentials are issued on a game-by-game basis.
- Game credentials must be requested online by 2 p.m. on Thursday prior to each game.
- A valid identification that matches the submitted name must be shown, and credentials must be picked up in person.
- Media with “Media Field," “Photo” and “Broadcast” passes will be given vests to designate pre-game, in-game and post-game field access; those with “Media Press Box” passes will not be allowed onto the field until 5 minutes remain in the game (that includes no pre-game field access). No one under the age of 18 is allowed on the field at any time.
- Players, coaches and staff members have a reasonable expectation of privacy when they are on the field of play, the bench and the sideline to communicate with each other in regard to strategy, tactics and team morale. With that in mind, USC is glad to provide access, but at a certain time, place and manner.
- Media must always remain outside the dotted line that encircles the field. A “photo alley” is drawn between the end zones and 25-yard lines on both sides of the field and behind both end zones; photographers only are permitted inside this “alley” if they kneel. Photographers who choose not to kneel must stand behind the alley.
- Media should refrain from conducting post-game USC player or coach interviews on the field before the team enters the locker room, unless approved by Director of Football Communications.
- USC’s post-game locker room is closed, including to the media. Coach Riley and several players will be brought to the post-game press room for the press conference. At the conclusion of the press conference, additional players may be made available for interviews in the press room. All interviews must take place exclusively in the press room.
- Should the Credential Holder not wish to participate in the additional interviews, they must go back to the press box by way of the field. Media members are not permitted to wait outside the locker room or at the top of the ramp. No interaction with USC players, coaches, staff or PSAs is permitted outside of the press room.
- Trojan coaches and players are not available to the media while on the road prior to games, unless approved by Director of Football Communications.
Practice
- For practices held on Howard Jones Field, media must stay in between the markers designated by the Director of Football Communications. Media members are not permitted to go beyond the designated markers.
- Players, coaches and staff members have a reasonable expectation of privacy when they are inside the practice facility to communicate with each other in regard to strategy, tactics and team morale. With that in mind, USC is glad to provide access, but at a certain time, place and manner.
- Video (non-live) and still photography are allowed during the stretch and individual portions of practice. The remainder of the media viewing portion of practice will be strictly for observation, and all camera equipment must be put away or turned off and facing the wall of the facility.
- In-practice live posting (social media or otherwise) and reporting is not allowed.
- Media must not report on or photograph injured players or players in non-contact jerseys.
- A maximum of 3 minutes of video from any practice may be aired.
- At the conclusion of the viewing period, media must exit the facility (time will vary based on the day’s practice script).
Student Media
- USC students enrolled full-time and are members of a University recognized student media organization (such as the Daily Trojan or Annenberg News) who are assigned to cover USC Football are eligible to apply for media credentials under this policy. All other undergraduate students seeking media credentials must be affiliated with an approved media outlet and serve in a working role.
- USC will aim to foster an environment conducive to the career growth of student media by providing students with first-hand experience in working with an athletic organization. As such student journalists will be subject to this policy. Students are strongly encouraged to connect with USC Football Communications to ask questions regarding protocols relating to media availability and conduct to ensure their seamless integration into this professional environment.
- Due to the large number of requests received daily for USC football players and staff from both the national media and those that cover us on a beat basis, USC Football Communications does not facilitate interviews for class projects.
Credential Holder Requirements and Limitations
- Credentialed media representatives and their outlets, including student representatives and their outlets (“Credential Holders”), are asked to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with professional codes of conduct and ethics (such as one provided by the Society of Professional Journalists) in terms of their actions, decorum, dress, etc.
- Credential Holders are expected to adhere to all requirements of this policy, the applicable rules, regulations and policies of USC including venue specific rules and all applicable local, federal and state laws. Failure to do so may result in revocation of credentials.
- Credential Holders are not permitted to seek autographs, request personal photographs/videos, solicit/take equipment, etc. from USC student-athletes or coaches. Such actions or request will be viewed as a breach of professional conduct and are grounds for credential revocation.
- Credential Holders are responsible for the conduct of their representatives including any damage caused by the negligent, reckless or malicious act of their representative.
- Credentials issued hereunder authorize the use by the Credential Holders of any descriptions, accounts, photographs, films, audio/video recordings or drawings of the USC football event solely for news and editorial coverage of the event in accordance with this policy. Any other use or attempted use of any coverage of the USC football event by the Credential Holder is prohibited, unless the Credential Holder has obtained the prior specific written permission of the Big Ten Conference for such other use. Any secondary or commercial use of any descriptions, accounts, photographs, films, audio/video recordings or drawings of any USC football events taken or made by the Credential Holder (including but not limited to use in delayed editorial, advertising, sales promotion or merchandising) is prohibited without prior specific approval of USC.
- Unless otherwise expressly stated, all locker room or private team areas occupied by the team at all home and away venues are off limits to the media, unless approved by USC Football Communications.
Risks
By applying for credentials, outlets and their representatives acknowledge and assume the risks that come from viewing USC football practice and/or games, including being struck or injured by participants, flying objects such as balls and other sports equipment.
Access, Issuance and Revocation
USC reserves the right to deny or revoke credentials at any time in its sole discretion. No guarantee of availability of credentials, space, viewing, telephone or internet access is made. Scheduled events may be canceled or rescheduled in USC’s sole discretion.
