USA Wrestling opens online media accreditation process for late 2020 events, which will have pandemic restrictions
USA Wrestling has launched its media accreditation application process for its major national-level events to be held in late 2020. These events will have a number of restrictions and limitations due to safety measures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Journalists will be able to request media credentials for one event, or for multiple events, on the USA Wrestling schedule through an online form.
All journalists who wish to cover a USA Wrestling national or regional event must comply with USA Wrestling’s Athlete Safety Media Policy, which requires journalists to pass USA Wrestling’s background check and complete the U.S. Center for Safe Sport online education. The background check and Safe Sport training is free of charge to approved journalists.
Most journalists, including those who have been accredited in the past, may need to take the Safe Sport training again, as the new membership year has begun. The U.S. Center for Safe Sport has created new course materials, which are required even for those who have previously taken this training. Many others may have to take the background check again, as it only covers two seasons.
All USA Wrestling national events at this time will be conducted using the USA Wrestling Return to Events Guidelines, and complying with regulations from the state and local health and government officials.
At this time, USA Wrestling has announced three national-schedule events, including the Senior Nationals in Coralville, Iowa, Oct. 9-11.
For the Senior Nationals, the number of journalists who can be accommodated will be very limited, in order to allow for physical distancing and based upon health and safety measures for the event. The number of approved media will be much fewer than at any past Senior Nationals event.
In most cases, media outlets will be restricted to only one accreditation for the Senior Nationals. Accreditation for other outlets may not be approved due to limited space. Some applicants may be placed on a waiting list initially in order to evaluate availability. No media acceptances will be made prior to September 1, 2020.
In regards to access, the Senior Nationals will have no in-person interviews with athletes. Athletes will be made available through an on-line virtual platform such as Zoom. This system will be similar to how professional sports leagues and college athletic departments have handled media interview access from competitions during the pandemic.
There will be only a handful of photographers granted field-of-play access, with all other accredited media placed in press tribune seating that has no field-of-play access.
Media access for other USA Wrestling events will be handled on a case-by-case basis throughout the time
If you have any questions at all about this, contact Gary Abbott of USA Wrestling at gabbott@usawrestling.org or 719-659-9637 via cell.
How to apply for media accreditation
The media accreditation system is integrated with USA Wrestling’s membership system, which keeps a record of those who have passed the background check and have completed Safe Sport training. No journalist will be added to the media list of any USA Wrestling national or regional event until they have completed the Athlete Safety Media Policy procedures.
All journalists seeking credentials will need to have create an account at https://www.usawmembership.com
Once a journalist has signed into their existing account, or created a new account, they will be able to proceed with the media accreditation request process. Once in your account:
- Go to the top of the website and click the “USAW Events” scrollbar
- Scroll down and click “Media Credentials”
- Click the button in the upper right corner entitled “Create Media Pool Request” or by clicking the “Manage Requests” button in your media request list.
Journalists will be asked to provide information including email, phone, state, media outlet, media outlet website and job function (which includes print journalist, print photographer, internet reporter, Non-Rights Holder Broadcast, Rights Holder Broadcast or Press Attache/SID).
At this time, journalists can click their request from a list of events.
Journalists will receive an email with the status of their media request, and other instructions on the background check or Safe Sport training as necessary. (Please make sure to apply at least a week prior to an event, in order to allow enough time for the background check). The U.S. Center for Safe Sport training includes watching an online video and taking short tests on the topics covered.
In order to get the free background check, a journalist must apply for an event credential first. Sign into your profile and request at least one event and the entire process will be initiated.
Please note that there will be additional events added to the accreditation list as the season goes on.
