Athletics Communications

Mission Statement: To publicize the University’s NCAA sanctioned athletic programs through internal avenues (website, social media, etc.). To assist media outlets (local, regional, national; print, television, radio, web) with information, interview requests and story ideas to help them factually report stories about these programs and the entire athletic department. To protect the privacy of the University’s student-athletes, coaches, support personnel and administrators when needed as well as the brand/reputation of the University.

Morgan State University Media Information and Guidelines
Thank you for your interest in covering Morgan State University athletics. Below is a listing of services provided by the Morgan State University Athletics Communications Office to aid media members in their coverage of Bear athletics, and a list of a guidelines that media are asked to follow.

Media Credentials
Credentials for Morgan State home games and media gatherings are issued to professional working media only and should be requested as early as possible due to space limitations and demand. To apply for credentials for football, wrestling, and men’s and women’s basketball, please click the following link for the 2024-25 Media Credential Request Form. Media organizations covering Morgan State and the visiting school on a regular basis will receive top priority. Requests should be made at least 48 hours in advance of each home game.

Season passes will be provided prior to the season for all those who cover the Bears throughout the entire season. Other credentials will be issued on a game-by-game basis.

Media credentials are issued solely to the person identified on it. It may not be transferred or used by any other person. Acceptance of a media credential requires compliance with all Morgan State University and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rules and regulations applicable to the media credential. Any breach or failure to comply with these terms, conditions, rules and/or regulations may result in the cancelation and withdrawal of the media credential, including but not limited to expulsion from the athletics event for which it was issued, and denial of a media credential for any and all future athletics events. Credentials and working space for media members are issued at the exclusive discretion of the Morgan State Athletics Communications Office.

Issuance of credentials may be based on the following priorities and guidelines: (1) Originating radio and television personnel involved in a live broadcast; (2) Daily newspapers regularly covering Morgan State or the current game opponent. Wire services, regional and national publications are also afforded this priority; (3) Non-originating radio and television personnel producing reports on the game. Only local radio stations with a full-time sports director conducting a regular sports show receive consideration for credentials; (4) Officially recognized Morgan State University daily student publications or student electronic media outlets with daily sports reports; (5) Non-daily newspapers or publications reporting on the game; (6) All digital-only media outlets will be evaluated based on: a) purpose (e.g. newsgathering), b) news process/operation c) editorial oversight and d) traffic.

Due to limited space and to ensure compliance with NCAA guidelines, no credentials will be issued to "free-lance" writers, photographers, videographers and bloggers without a specific assignment received in writing by the assigning organization.

No credentials will be granted for Internet-only outlets, unless they are affiliated with a regional or national news-gathering organization.

Media Parking
Parking is available upon request on a first-come, first-served basis.

A credentialed photographer MAY NOT ...

Sell photographs of student-athletes with remaining athletic eligibility for private use (NCAA Bylaw 12.5.2.2), including parents or other relatives or acquaintances of the student-athlete;
Post photographs of student-athletes with remaining eligibility on social media accounts;
Post a portfolio to a commercial web site that contains information about a photographer's business, or either advertises or promotes the services of the photographer;
Place a student-athlete's name or photo on commercial items (t-shirts, posters, etc.) that are produced by a commercial agency.

A credentialed photographer MAY ...

Provide photos of the student-athletes to the athletic department, provided the photographs do not contain a watermark or logo of the commercial entity or photographer;
Post photographs of student-athletes with remaining eligibility to a web site for "newsworthy" or "informational" purposes as long as there is no link to a commercial web site or social media page that advertises the services of the photographer;
Post photographs of student-athletes whose eligibility has expired.

Hughes Stadium Press Box
The Hughes Stadium press box is located on the third floor of the stadium on the home side of the field. Gate 12 affords the most convenient access to the press box. Proper credentials must be presented in order to gain entry to the press box. The press box is for media on assignment, statistical crews, the public address announcers, and television and radio broadcast crews. Press box telephone lines, Ethernet outlets, wireless internet and electrical outlets are available when not in use. Please remember that the press box is a working press room, and our guidelines are set in accordance with the working press code of the Football Writers Association of America.

Hill Field House Press Row
Press row is located on the east side of the basketball court at Hill Field House. The official scorer, timekeeper, statistical crew, public address announcer and both teams are located opposite press row. Press members will have access to electrical outlets and wireless internet and may have access to telephone lines on a space-available basis.

Media Services
Working members of the press will be supplied with rosters and notes. Statistics will be available at the end of each quarter (football) or half (basketball) and following the game. Internal public address will be provided to update information, notes and elements of the play-by-play action throughout the game.

Post-Game Interviews
After the coaching staff addresses the team following a cooling-off period at the conclusion of the game, players and coaches will be made available to the media at a location to be determined by the Athletics Communications staff. The Athletics Communications staff will consult working media members in compiling a list of interview requests prior to the conclusion of each game.

Other Interviews
All interview requests for Morgan State student-athletes, coaches (head, assistant, strength and conditioning), support personnel and administrators and any requests for information from any of these individuals pertaining to Morgan State Athletics MUST go through the appropriate channels within the MSU Athletics Communications Office. Media wishing to schedule interviews with players are asked to contact the Athletics Communications office at least 24 hours prior to the preferred interview time.

PHOTOGRAPHER CREDENTIALS
Credentials will be issued only to accredited media photographers who regularly cover the Bears. Photo credentials must be requested at least 48 hours in advance of each home game.

Please note policies may be adjusted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting protocols/procedures.