UTSA Athletics Credential Criteria
(revised: July 1, 2025)

A media agency wishing to cover any or all of UTSA Athletics’ 17 intercollegiate sports shall apply for a credential by using the online form located on goUTSA.com. The preferred deadline varies by sport but typically is one week prior to the season or 48 hours prior to the event you wish to cover.

A “media agency” for purpose of these criteria shall mean a daily, weekly or monthly publication, online entity, cable system, radio station, television station or television network requiring immediate news coverage.

Authorized media agencies are established, active, legitimate journalistic endeavors with a proven history of comprehensive coverage.

Credential requests shall be made by editors or directors when possible.

More than one representative per media agency may be authorized for a credential.

Membership in a writers’ or broadcasters’ association (i.e., Football Writers Association of America) and/or inclusion on an email distribution list does not automatically qualify an agency for credentials.

Subject to limitations of space, credentials shall be assigned in accordance with the following guidelines:

  1. A media agency that regularly covers UTSA Athletics or the visiting team.
  2. A national media agency that regularly covers collegiate athletics.
  3. A media agency from the hometown of a participating student-athlete.
  4. A media agency in the Greater San Antonio area.
  5. The designated representative of a daily, weekly or monthly publication, online entity, cable system, radio station, television station or television network that do not otherwise meet the aforementioned criteria.

Separate media agencies, sharing common ownership, may not be combined for the purpose of meeting criteria.

Additional requests for credentials will be evaluated by the Athletics Communications Office on a case-by-case basis.

A breakdown of specific criteria for each type of media agency follows.

 

Print

  • Credentials shall be granted to an established daily, weekly or monthly publication that regularly covers sports. 
  • Representatives from non-established publications or those that do not regularly cover sports will be considered for a credential on a case-by-case basis by the Athletics Communications Office.

 

Television

  • Credentials shall be granted to representatives from an established television station, television network or cable system. All stations must have regular sports segments with a full-time sports director/talent.
  • Credentials shall be granted to each participating team’s coaches or magazine show and/or a campus-related entity at the discretion of the institution’s sports information office.
  • Representatives from non-established television stations, television networks or cable systems will be considered for a credential on a case-by-case basis by the Athletics Communications Office.

 

Radio

  • Credentials shall be granted to radio stations with a full-time sports director that provide regularly occurring sports talk shows and/or updates.
  • Radio stations without regularly occurring sports talk shows or updates that primarily air music or specialize in news talk will be considered for a credential on a case-by-case basis by the Athletics Communications Office.
  • Radio shows and podcasts that do not fall in any of the above categories will be considered for a credential on a case-by-case basis by the Athletics Communications Office.

  

Online Entities

  • An online entity may receive a credential if it has professional editorial control over its content and is not intended primarily for the purpose of delivering news related to the recruitment of student-athletes or sports wagering. It must show intent to be viable news organization, not a fan-centric site. Content cannot be inflammatory toward others schools or media outlets.
  • An online entity with an emphasis on the recruitment of student-athletes can request a credential(s) for the purpose of writing a game/event recap. 
  • An online entity may receive a credential if its full-time staff writes an overwhelming percentage of its material.
  • An online entity may receive a credential if the majority of its content is not satirical/fan-related posts or re-posts of non-original news from other media outlets.
  • Agencies that do not meet the above criteria for online entities, including podcasts, will be considered for a credential by the Athletics Communications Office on a case-by-case basis.

 

Photographers

  • Photos are for editorial use by the credentialed organization only. Images or prints of UTSA student-athletes may not be sold.
  • A daily, weekly or monthly publication or online entity may receive an additional credential for a photographer(s) at the discretion of the Athletics Communications Office.
  • Freelance/independent photographers, unless hired by one of the participating teams, will NOT be issued a credential.
  • Photographers who are requesting to shoot for the sole purpose of providing Name, Image and Likeness content will NOT be granted access.
  • All credentialed photographers must utilize professional photography equipment and adhere by all regulations and policies in place during a contest.
  • Except with the prior written approval of UTSA Athletics, no photographer, online entity, media agency or other individual receiving a credential hereunder may sell photos of UTSA Athletics events and/or student-athletes. 

 

Agencies Not Eligible

  1. Credentials shall not be issued to representatives of publications normally identified as “tout sheets” or to any other agencies devoted solely to sports wagering.
  2. Credentials shall not be issued to any online/scouting service that is recognized as an outlet intended primarily for the purpose of delivering news related to the recruitment of student-athletes.
  3. Credentials shall not be issued to an individual or agency whose sole intention is to provide updates or recaps via social media, message boards or forums.
  4. Credentials shall not be issued to agencies whose sole purpose is to aggregate news stories and that do not provide their own original content.
  5. Credentials will not be granted to "fan-submitted" or un-edited sites that are not affiliated with an established news-gathering organization and/or sites whose sole entity is fan-generated message boards that allow the posting of anonymous comments.

 

Terms & Conditions for Credential Use

Each individual (“Bearer”) using this credential for access to any UTSA Athletics game or related events requiring such special clearance including, without limitation a practice, press conference, interview, or other activity associated with UTSA Athletics (the “Events”), on behalf of his or her employer or assigning news organization (“Employer”), agrees to the following:

Each Bearer must be and hereby represents that he or she is acting on a specific assignment for an accredited media agency and has a legitimate working function in conjunction with the Event attended. The credential is not transferable and may be revoked at any time for any reason.

The rights and privileges granted to Bearer shall automatically terminate if any term of this credential shall be breached. The unauthorized use of this credential subjects the Bearer and his or her Employer to ejection from the facility and possible prosecution for criminal trespass, without limiting any other rights and remedies at law or in equity. Bearer shall display the issued credentials at all times and consents to the reasonable inspection of his or her person and property before entering the venue and/or during an Event. While within the venue, Bearer shall, at all times, adhere to the policies in place for the Event, as well as access limitations, and direction provided by UTSA Athletics and its designated agents.

Bearer assumes all risks incidental to the performance by the Bearer of Bearer’s services in connection with the Events and assumes all risks incidental to the Events, whether occurring before, during or after the actual playing of the Events, and agrees that UTSA Athletics and its respective employees, directors, officers, student-athletes, coaches, and contractors shall not be liable for injuries or loss of personal property or equipment connection therewith.

Bearer further agrees to release UTSA Athletics and all persons involved in the management or production of the competition from any claim or liability arising from failure to provide space for telecasting/broadcasting, or other facilities for the television/radio station, Internet media, network, cable system, or other media entity.

Bearer agrees to indemnify UTSA Athletics and save harmless its officers, agents, contractors and employees of and from any and all claims, demands, causes of actions, liabilities, damages and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of anything done or purported to have been done by Bearer or his/her Employer, including but not limited to Bearer’s breach of any term of the credential. With respect to any claim that might give rise to liability of the Bearer as an indemnitor, UTSA Athletics shall: (a) have the right to fully participate in the litigation of such claim with counsel selected by Bearer and approved by UTSA Athletics at the sole expense of the Bearer; and (b) not be obligated, without its consent, to participate in any settlement of such claim.

Credentials are NON-TRANSFERABLE.