press accreditation for atp/wta tournaments

Sheddie · administrator

press accreditation for atp/wta tournaments

Joe Bateman · Social player

Good to see you are trying to get access to the events. Have you spoken with anyone about Wimbledon though? From the experiences others have had, and from what I have heard, Wimbledon is like a fortress to get into... unless you are with a top agency/newspaper you can't get in. I would be curious to know if this has changed and hear a little more. Have always wanted to cover Wimbledon, but never had the connections.

Sheddie · administrator

I'm employed as a writer by the online magazine www.tennistalk.com and they would have got me accreditation to Wimbledon this year but I didn't let them know my plans in enough time unfortunately :(

However it is a massive site, well over a million hits after just a few months.....its setting out to challenge the atp as people's main port of call

If you want to get accreditation to wimbledon or another atp feel free to apply through britishtennis .net.....as long as we can use your photos of the Brit players on our site

Joe Bateman · Social player

Sheddie wrote:

I'm employed as a writer by the online magazine www.tennistalk.com and they would have got me accreditation to Wimbledon this year but I didn't let them know my plans in enough time unfortunately :(

However it is a massive site, well over a million hits after just a few months.....its setting out to challenge the atp as people's main port of call

If you want to get accreditation to wimbledon or another atp feel free to apply through britishtennis .net.....as long as we can use your photos of the Brit players on our site

Well I'm currently accredited for a few events this year for Inside-Tennis.net

Surbiton and Eastbourne, but its very nice to hear you got in at Wimbledon. I wonder if its the same for photographers, or thats who are they more strict on. I mean because of the limited space for photographers, as opposed to reporters not requiring court locations.

But next year, I would be happy to apply for Wimbledon. Do tennistalk have any interest in photographers, or is it purely a report based website? Couldn't see any photos myself.

PS I would be happy to share some photos with you from Surbiton. I have a few British players images which I can upload, both men and women.

-- Edited by Joe Bateman at 22:41, 2008-06-03

Drew · Jun 3, 2008

Its great that Sheddie has given this opportunity to apply for media acreditation through bt.net.

For most big events yes you need to apply 2-3 months in advance. For Davis Cup its a slightly different form which again comes out 2-3 months before. You apply through the LTA and not the Davis Cup.

Just a few tips for those thinking of applying for Press credentials :

1. Be professional in all you do. This may be obvious but as a tennis fan first you may have that urge to chase down you hero in the hallway and scream 'please Boggo can I get your autograph'. That does not go down well.

2. ASK questions in PCs. Have a few jotted down in advance. If you quoting stats / info make sure you are right ! Get your voice recorder / dictophone on the table quick.

3. Most press centres will have wireless networks for you to join so get a decent laptop !

4. Dont take notice of the dinosaur press when they look down their nose at you. No matter how professional you are some of them will think you dont deserve to be there.

5. We do have some younger members here. I think they would reject younger people..what that age is I cant say but I would expect 18 as a minimum perhaps even 21. Others may comment on this.

6. Look out for TV crews at PC's they dont like heads bobbing up and down...especially the 'newbies'

If people are up for the events Sheddie has indicated above or others then rather than 10 people apply all at once (which would make us look at tad silly) perhaps a PM to Sheddie or a mod to let people know your intentions then we could be organised.

I have bt.net buisness cards and flyers designed which I took to both Aberdeen Cups and to the DC tie v Holland. We could get these re-printed properly and perhap have a bt.bet press pack for would be reporters.

I just feel if we go about this in a professional manner then we will enjoy years of support from the LTA.

Comments welcomed.

(For info I have the nod from the LTA on the DC tie in September representing bt.net. Forms out early July. Flights and hotel booked !)

Joe Bateman · Social player

Drew wrote:

Its great that Sheddie has given this opportunity to apply for media acreditation through bt.net.

For most big events yes you need to apply 2-3 months in advance. For Davis Cup its a slightly different form which again comes out 2-3 months before. You apply through the LTA and not the Davis Cup.

Just a few tips for those thinking of applying for Press credentials :

1. Be professional in all you do. This may be obvious but as a tennis fan first you may have that urge to chase down you hero in the hallway and scream 'please Boggo can I get your autograph'. That does not go down well.

2. ASK questions in PCs. Have a few jotted down in advance. If you quoting stats / info make sure you are right ! Get your voice recorder / dictophone on the table quick.

3. Most press centres will have wireless networks for you to join so get a decent laptop !

4. Dont take notice of the dinosaur press when they look down their nose at you. No matter how professional you are some of them will think you dont deserve to be there.

5. We do have some younger members here. I think they would reject younger people..what that age is I cant say but I would expect 18 as a minimum perhaps even 21. Others may comment on this.

6. Look out for TV crews at PC's they dont like heads bobbing up and down...especially the 'newbies'

If people are up for the events Sheddie has indicated above or others then rather than 10 people apply all at once (which would make us look at tad silly) perhaps a PM to Sheddie or a mod to let people know your intentions then we could be organised.

I have bt.net buisness cards and flyers designed which I took to both Aberdeen Cups and to the DC tie v Holland. We could get these re-printed properly and perhap have a bt.bet press pack for would be reporters.

I just feel if we go about this in a professional manner then we will enjoy years of support from the LTA.

Comments welcomed.

(For info I have the nod from the LTA on the DC tie in September representing bt.net. Forms out early July. Flights and hotel booked !)

Don't think there is an issue with age to be honest, I'm 21 and have been covering Eastbourne since I was about 18-19 and the press guys have been nothing but friendly to me. Also seen one other younger photographer who probably was 18 or so. In fact, they don't even ask for your age on applications. Of course, general age I would guess is between 30-50.

Drew · Jun 3, 2008

Joe said :

Don't think there is an issue with age to be honest, I'm 21 and have been covering Eastbourne since I was about 18-19 and the press guys have been nothing but friendly to me. Also seen one other younger photographer who probably was 18 or so. In fact, they don't even ask for your age on applications. Of course, general age I would guess is between 30-50.

I agree dont think it should be an issue. They do though ask for a photo when you apply for Davis Cup though !

The reported / photographer from HEAD that I met in Birmingham was really helpful and he even said he got grieff at times from the older brigade. He was 20-21 from memory. The folks from the Beeb have always been good as well.

DJ · County player

What's the situation in respect of Futures events? I've attended the last two Sunderland events and the Edinburgh Scottish Open, and have subsequently submitted reports to our site. I would very much have liked to approach some of our players for 'informal interviews', especially the more articulate such as Ken Skupski. Could I reasonably suggest that I'm a representative of britishtennis.net? If so, is there any form of identification I would need - other than my free bus pass!? Age, incidentally, would likely not be an issue!

steven · Tennis legend

Great tips from Drew I think (especially the bits about being as professional as possible, even if on the inside you feel like a little kid in a sweetshop the first time you do it, wink

and that if you are there for genuine reasons, not to let any contempt shown by the established media faze you), and I agree with him, this does have to be at least loosely organised and not allowed to be used as a free-for-all for those who want to get in behind the scenes just for the sake of it.

I just am saying that because if half a dozen people apply for the same event saying they are all from BT without realising that the others are applying too, we could soon lose much of the credibility that has been built up so far.

So, David, I suggest you change the first post to insist that people pm you for clearance before they apply (or pm someone else who replies to pms faster wink

) and that you make sure they are an established member who has written at least a little bit of reasonable stuff on the site before giving them clearance. (I'm not saying it needs to be much, just enough for you to trust them not to lose any of BT.net's credibility)

That won't stop someone applying for media credentials and saying they are from BT.net, but at least that way it can't end up seeming like your responsibility if someone does that and the people granting the credentials don't check with you whether or not they are bona fide.

OldEchoMan · Social player

From a Dinosaur! - It is important to remember that Wimbledon does not accredit web-sites as a matter of tournament policy and shows no sign of relenting. Quite rightly, accreditation for ATP and WTA tournaments is only going to become more rigorous as tennis gets to grips with its integrity issues and seeks to limit the ways anything can happen at their events that might undermine the credibility of the sport, so I would be prepared to be disappointed if you cannot pass certain stringent tests as to the bone fide nature of your work and that of the organisation you are representing.
PS - I was a young reporter myself once and one of the greatest thrills of my life was working alongside the venerable giants of the writing world. It is something I have never forgotten and I am always open to offer advice/assistance to anyone wanting to become a serious reporter.

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Can I 'second' and 'third' Drew and Steven's comments. I think its really important given some of the ideas we have for live scores/streaming/radio etc that we make an excellent impression on not only the LTA but torunaments, players and other members of the press.

I also agree with you Joe. You should never let anyone look dowen on you because you are young. Remember you are valid and enthusiastic and have a lot to give. I think the difference is perhaps that you have to act and hold yourself as if you are 21 or over if you get what I mean. WHich I'm sure you do.

Thanks "Old Echo Man" for your comment too. I think its only fair that Wimbledon doesn't accredit random web sites to be honest. BBC pays a lot for coverage and they have an all singing and dancing site, and there are so many web sites out there which with usernames etc are very hard to be transparent and professional.

Also, this is still primarily a forum for chat, opinion and fast relay of scores. We would have to be quite careful and clever about seperating the journalistic fonrt page andnews page on BT.net and the frank discussions and opinions of AMMB imo.

Having said all that, I can't wait for the British grass Court Season proper (ie. not being played on outdoor hard!) to begin and to read all the BT.net coverage of it and the Davis Cup to come!

gazzpash · Club Coach

Thanks for this Sheddie. I am hoping to have the cast off my leg at the end of next week and will be free to walk again (hopefully) and having lost my job during this cast time I will be free to go to most tournaments so if the site needs a reporter I will be there.

I went to Manchester last year, but only for 2 days. This year I could take my laptop and help this site and any other if need be. If I can assist anyone please let me know.

steven · Tennis legend

Good point about separating the journalistic content on the home page from the sometimes frank comments on here, JL. I realise a lot of what is posted here feeds the homepage news (which is how it should be), but it does need to be filtered a bit! I'm very impressed with the amount of effort made on the home page whenever I look at it.

Re. Old Echo Man's comments, if I was deciding on press accreditation for Wimby, I'd probably refuse accreditation to random web-sites too! In any case, whatever the kudos of gaining accreditation from Wimby might be, it's the smaller tournaments and lower-ranked players that don't tend to get covered by the mainstream media (*) where we can add the most value, not a tournament like Wimby which has blanket coverage already.

The point is though that gaining press accreditation is a massive privilege that some people here have the initiative to get in the first place and to make good use of. No doubt they have added to BT.net's reputation too as a result, but sadly it probably only takes one loose cannon to go along and make an ass of themselves (not that I think any of the regulars here would, but that's why I think Sheddie shouldn't give the impression that it's a free for all) for all that good work to be undone.

Going back to Wimby, of course some people here could probably ask much better questions (especially of the GB WCs, and write more thoroughly-researched articles about those players too) than some of the mainstream journalists who only 'do' tennis for Wimbledon and cover other things the rest of the year, but if we want to ever get someone in there, we're going to need to have built up a top-class reputation by the time (if ever) they decide to let any websites in.

(*) apart from the excellent coverage in the Times, with features like the Jamie Baker diaries and some of the Challenger level players often getting at least a mention, somewhat excessive worldwide coverage of Rob Dee, and the odd story elsewhere, like the Morgan Phillips article recently.

-- Edited by steven at 12:02, 2008-06-04

Count Zero · Tennis legend

steven wrote:

......not that I think any of the regulars here would.....

does that include me

good points by drew, and i agree sheddies post should be edited.

Drew · Jun 4, 2008

So we await the return of the Shedman to edit or not to edit that is burning question...!

To be fair he did say in his post "If you plan to do this, please let me know to avoid any possible confusion etc".

I am more than happy to co-ordintate PM requests for bt.net Press authority.

Sheddie can let me know.