The News Media Coalition, whose members have contributed significantly to the formulation of the Code of Practice for Sports News Reporting, today (Tuesday March 30) congratulated the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission and the Australian government's communications minister Senator Stephen Conroy for efforts in seeking to identify a balance between the needs of commercialised sport and vital press freedom of news organisations to cover major sporting events.

 Throughout the deliberations of firstly the Senate Inquiry and the subsequent mediation sessions under the auspices of the ACCC, news organisations have sought to protect the interests of the public in accessing independent and topical journalistic coverage, including photography. We trust that the Code will enable this fundamental function of the independent news media to continue to operate without the fear of unnecessary or arbitrary restrictions on their operations.

News organisations look forward to working with those sporting organisations which recognise the importance and benefits of a strong media sector and the Code looks to be a welcome and constructive basis for this.

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Note to NMC statement:

The News Media Coalition is an international organisation which seeks to protect the ability of news organisations to cover major events such as sporting competitions without restrictions on the way the public can obtain independent and topical journalist material. News agency and newspaper organisation members include Associated Press, the World Association of Newspapers (WAN-IFRA), Thomson Reuters, Agence France-Presse, Getty Images and national  and regional newspaper trade associations.

NMC Contacts:

Andrew Moger
Executive Director
News Media Coalition