Overview

Yale's strategic communications office serves as the liaison between the constituents of Yale's 35 varsity sports and the local, national, and international media. The strategic communications office exists to showcase the academic and athletic accomplishments of all Yale student-athletes while growing the Yale brand and serving as the public relations branch of Yale Athletics.
 
Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to: leading and executing all publicity aspects for Yale's varsity athletic programs, managing sport-specific social media platforms, providing facilitating and overseeing all media interviews; content creation; handling credential requests; nominating student-athlete and coaches for a variety of awards, coordination of on-site gameday operations; producing informational and promotional publications; writing and distributing press releases and compiling and distributing statistical information; updating YaleBulldogs.com with up-to-date information in a timely manner.
 
The department works collaboratively with all divisions of Yale's intercollegiate athletics program, particularly in the areas of marketing, fan engagement, broadcast operations, and ticketing to advance an integrated public relations platform that reflects positively on the image of Yale Athletics.

 

Interview Policies

• All media requests for interviews with Yale student-athletes, coaching staff, department administration and staff members must be made in advance through the athletic strategic communications office. Media members are not allowed to contact any of the above parties directly.

Media refers to technologies used to communicate messages and whose mission is to serve or engage the public. Public media domains include print outlets, traditional broadcasts, and digital. When utilizing any public media outlet, student-athletes and staff are expected to conduct themselves responsibly as members of their respective teams, the athletic department, the university, and the community.
 

Post-Game/Event Interviews

• All post-contest interviews with Yale student-athletes and members of the coaching staff must be coordinated through their respective team's communications contact.

 

Photo Requests

• All photo requests should be directed to the strategic communications contact for the particular sport of interest. The requestor shall include the following information: requesting editor or writer's name and e-mail address, organization or publication name, deadline information, and a sentence regarding the scope of the story.
• Unless indicated otherwise, photo credit must be given to Yale Athletics.
• The image(s) are for one-time editorial use for the indicated use only.
• The image(s) may not be used in connection with any third parties or otherwise in a manner that may suggest a sponsorship, affiliation or other relationship with any other organization. To the extent you would like to request permission to use the images in such a manner, you must first receive express written permission from Yale Athletics.
• Do not sell or offer the image(s) for sale, or grant others the right to use, sell or distribute the image(s).
• Do not alter the image(s) in any way.
• Neither the image(s) nor the Yale Athletics logos can be used in a derogatory manner.

 

Credentials

• Credentials (press and photography passes) issued by Yale Athletics are provided to working members of the media to assist in the coverage of Yale Athletics and its 35 varsity sports. Credentials do not imply any guarantee to access, are of limited duration, are not transferable, and are revocable.
  • Loaning or transferring credentials to another may result in immediate permanent revocation of media credentials and ejection from the event of the original holder and unauthorized holder of the credentials.
  • Failure to adhere to the requirements of this policy may result in the revocation of credentials for the representative and their outlet. Media outlets will be held accountable for the actions, conduct, and professionalism of all their credentialed personnel.
  • All credentials are subject to space availability restrictions in working media areas at various facilities.
  • Credentials must be displayed at all times during the contest or event. Daily credentials will be distributed by sports communications contacts and must be returned at the end of the media event. Photographers will be required to wear vests for identification in addition to their credentials.

Credential Requests/Eligibility

• All media credential requests should be requested in writing or via email to the primary sport contact or sent to athleticcommunications@yale.edu.
• Media credentials may be issued to working members of the media representing recognized media outlets in the business of news gathering/sports reporting as a primary function of their business.
  • (1) The types of media outlets eligible for credentials include: newspapers, websites, magazines, wire services, college (sport-specific) publications, television and radio.
  • (2) The dissemination of editorial content must be a primary purpose of the media outlet and the outlet must demonstrate a record of sustained, original coverage of college sports, on a regular basis (typically at least weekly).
  • (3) Factors that will be considered in determining if an outlet is eligible for credentials include but are not limited to audience size, market share, and editorial structure.
  • (4) Credentials will not be issued to representatives whose outlet exists solely as a platform for distributing unoriginal content (press releases, aggregate news sites, etc.)
  • (5) Online outlets should typically (a) be affiliated with a national or regional media organization; or, (b) host a website that provides substantial coverage of college athletics, and employs at least one full-time, permanent employee responsible for producing the site's content. Outlets that are message boards without regular, substantial news/editorial/feature coverage by a full-time writer may be denied credentials.
  • (6) Credentials will not be issued for representatives from an outlet that does not have its own dedicated medium of distribution (e.g. outlets that primarily originate from a YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook account are not eligible for credentials.)
  • (7) Outlets whose working function is limited primarily to the recording and posting of full media availability sessions without any produced news/editorial/feature content may be denied.

Credential Duration

• Season credentials will be reserved for organizations that provide consistent and substantial coverage of Yale Athletics.
• Except for seasonally credentialed media members who produce regular on-site reports, all credentials are approved and issued on a daily and/or game-by-game basis.
• All credentialing decisions will be made on a per-game basis. Credential approval for one contest does not guarantee — or indicate the likelihood of — approval for future contests.

Credential Holder Requirements

• Credentialed media representatives and their outlets, including student representatives and their outlets ("Credential Holders"), are asked to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with professional codes of conduct and ethics (such as one provided by the Society of Professional Journalists) in terms of their actions, decorum, dress, etc.
• Credential Holders are expected to adhere to all requirements of this policy, the applicable rules, regulations, and policies of Yale University including venue-specific rules, and all applicable local, federal, and state laws. Failure to do so may result in revocation of credentials.
• Credential Holders are not permitted to seek autographs, request personal photographs/videos, solicit/take equipment, etc. from Yale Athletics student-athletes or coaches. Such actions or requests will be viewed as a breach of professional conduct and are grounds for credential revocation.
• Credential Holders are responsible for the conduct of their representatives including any damage caused by the negligent, reckless, or malicious act of their representative.

Questions

For questions, please contact the Yale Athletics Strategic Communications office at athleticcommunications@yale.edu.

Last updated: August 9, 2023