9 minutes ago, theguru said:

Right, the school has free will in the moment (just like a human being) but that doesn't make it legal to discriminate based on an arbitrary opinion.  Furthermore, this is why I said earlier in the thread that the proper recourse for anyone that thinks they are being discriminated against is to take legal action against the school and the school employee that denied them access.  In other words, make the school put big money where there mouth is and then see how they act. 

Just because you are refused access doesn't constitute discrimination.   Yes, take that legal action for not being allowed onto the field and watch a judge immediately dismiss your case.  

Once again, nobody has a right to be on the field.  That's where the legal action would come into place.   Since no rights were violated, you have no case.

Just now, ProblemChild said:

True, I’m just playing devils advocate. Way in the weeds.   Videographers can film from stands too, then it really shouldn’t be a problem then, correct?

We are talking about two different things.  Ground level coverage is much different than elevated at a distance.  And this is one of the "excuses" some schools/organizations like to use, well you can just film from the stands blah blah blah.

Just now, New Colonel said:

Just because you are refused access doesn't constitute discrimination.   Yes, take that legal action for not being allowed onto the field and watch a judge immediately dismiss your case.  

Once again, nobody has a right to be on the field.  That's where the legal action would come into place.   Since no rights were violated, you have no case.

A school allows photographers A and B and denies photographers C and D.   I wouldn't want to be tasked with defending those actions by a school.

As far as not having a case, we can agree to disagree on that one. 

2 minutes ago, theguru said:

A school allows photographers A and B and denies photographers C and D.   I wouldn't want to be tasked with defending those actions by a school.

As far as not having a case, we can agree to disagree on that one. 

Stuff like that happens all the time.  They don't need a reason.  It's like allowing certain people into your home and not allowing others.  You don't need a reason because there's no right for people to be in your living room, just like there's no right for people being on the field. 

There's a fence or barrier around the field for a reason. Otherwise, everyone in the stands would be allowed on the field.

Just now, New Colonel said:

Stuff like that happens all the time.  They don't need a reason.  It's like allowing certain people into your home and not allowing others.  You don't need a reason because there's no right for people to be in your living room, just like there's no right for people being on the field. 

There's a fence or barrier around the field for a reason. Otherwise, everyone in the stands would be allowed on the field.

You are cracking me up now, comparing a public event funded with our money to our rights as homeowners. ?

5 minutes ago, theguru said:

A school allows photographers A and B and denies photographers C and D.   I wouldn't want to be tasked with defending those actions by a school.

As far as not having a case, we can agree to disagree on that one. 

I agree that would be tough. However, what happens if A and B followed school policy and asked for access. While C and D just showed up without asking? The school should then be able to say no correct?
 

Schools need to know each week who is on the sidelines. So definitely should have to reach out to a school each week to ask for access, so the school knows. 

18 minutes ago, theguru said:

A school allows photographers A and B and denies photographers C and D.   I wouldn't want to be tasked with defending those actions by a school.

As far as not having a case, we can agree to disagree on that one. 

So for discussion's sake, what would you be suing for? What rights would be violated?

12 minutes ago, theguru said:

You are cracking me up now, comparing a public event funded with our money to our rights as homeowners. ?

Property rights are property rights.  The public is allowed in the stands, not the field.  

9 minutes ago, futurecoach said:

I agree that would be tough. However, what happens if A and B followed school policy and asked for access. While C and D just showed up without asking? The school should then be able to say no correct?
 

Schools need to know each week who is on the sidelines. So definitely should have to reach out to a school each week to ask for access, so the school knows. 

Right it would be tough but if you add to it like that of course it is not tough, lol. 

I’ll chime in here.

Last year, a student asked if I could do some graphic and video work for him for baseball. Video wasn’t really my lane, but I agreed — and told him I’d come to a few football games to practice and get a feel for it.

I cleared it with the head coach, who connected me with the athletic director. They approved it and gave me a season pass. Once I started filming, I was told I could move around as needed, so long as it didn’t interfere with officials. I was on the sidelines, talking with players, and before long more of them were asking me to film their plays. Eventually, I was filming every game and putting together highlight reels.

The players loved it. The school loved it. Alumni loved it. I didn’t make a dime, but the feedback and excitement it created kept me going. I even invested in better equipment out of my own pocket. The work gained enough traction that other schools reached out, asking for the same.

Now, I’ve built an outlet — one I won’t plug here — and while I still don’t profit, I’ve picked up a few sponsors to offset costs so I’m not going broke doing it. Every school and program I work with has given me the same guidance: I have access as long as I’m not a distraction and I keep things positive.

I get into games for free, sometimes get concessions or merch, and I’m open to eventually finding a way to generate some income. But right now, my goal is simple — to elevate the experience for kids in a region that doesn’t have TV crews or high-level coverage.

The key has been communication. I work closely with coaches and athletic directors to earn the access I have. The work is respected and appreciated, especially since traditional print media often lags behind. Does it take a lot of my free time? Absolutely. Have I lost more money than I’ve made? Without question. But I believe if you’re doing quality work, staying professional, and keeping lines of communication open, you won’t have any issues — and the impact you can make is worth it.

23 hours ago, fifthregionathletics said:

I’ll chime in here.

Last year, a student asked if I could do some graphic and video work for him for baseball. Video wasn’t really my lane, but I agreed — and told him I’d come to a few football games to practice and get a feel for it.

I cleared it with the head coach, who connected me with the athletic director. They approved it and gave me a season pass. Once I started filming, I was told I could move around as needed, so long as it didn’t interfere with officials. I was on the sidelines, talking with players, and before long more of them were asking me to film their plays. Eventually, I was filming every game and putting together highlight reels.

The players loved it. The school loved it. Alumni loved it. I didn’t make a dime, but the feedback and excitement it created kept me going. I even invested in better equipment out of my own pocket. The work gained enough traction that other schools reached out, asking for the same.

Now, I’ve built an outlet — one I won’t plug here — and while I still don’t profit, I’ve picked up a few sponsors to offset costs so I’m not going broke doing it. Every school and program I work with has given me the same guidance: I have access as long as I’m not a distraction and I keep things positive.

I get into games for free, sometimes get concessions or merch, and I’m open to eventually finding a way to generate some income. But right now, my goal is simple — to elevate the experience for kids in a region that doesn’t have TV crews or high-level coverage.

The key has been communication. I work closely with coaches and athletic directors to earn the access I have. The work is respected and appreciated, especially since traditional print media often lags behind. Does it take a lot of my free time? Absolutely. Have I lost more money than I’ve made? Without question. But I believe if you’re doing quality work, staying professional, and keeping lines of communication open, you won’t have any issues — and the impact you can make is worth it.

In an ideal world, yes.  

4 minutes ago, New Colonel said:

So for discussion's sake, what would you be suing for? What rights would be violated?

Equal access among other things but we are way out in the weeds now.

2 minutes ago, theguru said:

Equal access among other things but we are way out in the weeds now.

There is no equal access to football fields law, so that's why it would be thrown out.  I don't think we are in the weeds, I personally think this is great discussion over a very relevant topic.

1 minute ago, New Colonel said:

There is no equal access to football fields law, so that's why it would be thrown out.  I don't think we are in the weeds, I personally think this is great discussion over a very relevant topic.

Again, when you allow some and not others in a public venue there is an equal access issue.

30 minutes ago, New Colonel said:

Property rights are property rights.  The public is allowed in the stands, not the field.  

You keep twisting the context here.  We are talking about a school arbitrarily granting or denying media access based on a whim.

And homeowner private property rights are much more robust than the rights of individual school employee's opinions.