NFL Stands Firm On Photographer Flak Jackets

The National Football League says it is not going to back down on its requirements that photographers on the playing field must wear red flak jackets with the names of NFL sponsors Reebok and Canon imprinted on the back.

The National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), in the belief that being nice will help its cause, says it is not going to organize a photographers’ boycott and the jackets will be worn. Someone needs to tell the NPAA that nice guys usually finish last in such games.

NPPA Executive Director Jim Straight said, “We have no plans to boycott, but we believe there shouldn’t be any marketing on the vest.”  Vice President Jack Zibluck said, “Our problem with a boycott is that it could play into the hands of the NFL in the long run. Boycotting wouldn’t cause a coverage blackout. The only photographers left would be the ones favored by the NFL.”

The NFL says the lettering on the jacket is very small (0.7 inches, 1.78cm) and won’t show very well on TV anyway unless there is a real close-up. It also repeated that it is not unusual at major sporting events around the world for photographers to wear such jackets.

“If our goal had been media visibility, we would have allowed Canon to display its name in much larger letters on the back of the vests where it could more readily be seen by the television cameras that are located above and behind the photographers,” Greg Aiello, NFL vice president of public relations, wrote to NPAA.

The NPAA says that instead of a boycott it would more likely suggest that photographers use tape to cover-up the brand name on the jacket they are forced to wear. – August 8, 2007

Keywords: sports media coverage

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