Media objects to IPL restrictions

"Contracts to gain media access stipulate that photo news material cannot be distributed for use by certain cricket news websites," the SA National Editors' Forum (Sanef) and the

international press freedom body, the News Media Coalition, said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

"Sanef is concerned that to agree to such a clause discriminates against news subscribers of both newspaper syndication and news agency services, is against the interests of freedom to inform and is a bad precedent that could become the norm for other upcoming major events in South Africa and elsewhere."

It was this clause which prevented all major international news and photo agencies from attending the inaugural IPL in India last year, they said.

Sanef has invited the country's editors to give serious consideration to the issue before authorising staff to take up accreditation and cover the event.

The IPL, which began on April 10 and will run until May 24, was moved to South Africa because of security concerns. It is scheduled to return to India next season.

Source: Sapa

Published courtesy of
.