Newspaper chiefs have criticised the decision of a football team to ban press photographers from its ground.

Southampton Football Club is understood to have emailed editors refusing to accredit any press photographers from regional or national papers, saying they should instead buy photos from the one agency it will allow, Digital South.

But it has now emerged Robin Jones from the agency has refused to sign an agreement with the club because he does not agree with the ban on press photographers.

He said he had been approached with a contract from the club just seven days before the start of the new season – but declined the offer on Thursday.

Robin said: “I disagreed with their stance on a total ban of photographers from any media source.

“I voiced this opinion to the club and genuinely thought that the ban would not take place. It became clear to me on Thursday that this ban was indeed happening and so I rang the club to inform them of my decision to decline their offer.

“Basically, a ban on photographers is simply a bad idea.”

The move by the club has been criticised by Bob Satchwell, executive director of the Society of Editors, who has written to the League One club raising concerns about press freedom being affected.

And an editorial in Plymouth’s The Herald on Friday also condemned the decision ahead of a match between Southampton and their own city’s football club, Plymouth Argyle.

Bob told HTFP: “I just think they are being totally short-sighted. The local paper are the biggest supporter of any football team and they are the ones that ensure future support.

“They need the support of local papers. The media gives football teams a huge amount of free publicity.

“The club should try living in the real world where the media and football clubs co-exist.”

In his letter to the club, he asks questions about how choices will be made by the photographic agency on which images to send out.

The editorial in The Herald said the paper was trying to overturn the ban before Saturday’s game but it was refusing to pay for the photos.

It said: “Argyle’s opponents on Saturday are seemingly prepared to deny Pilgrims fans the chance to see photographs of their heroes in action on the St Mary’s pitch.

“Southampton Football Club is refusing to allow access inside the ground to photographers from local papers, the national press or news agencies. Instead, they expect print outlets to buy ‘official’ pictures from their in-house photographer.

“Not surprisingly, The Herald — and many other media outlets — have refused. What a cheek, and what an insult to the fans whose money helps pays the players’ wages and makes the professional game viable.”

A previous dispute last year with the club prevented the Southern Daily Echo from attending matches and events, but this was understood to have been resolved.

The football club had not responded to request for a comment at the time of publication.

Comments

Len Sman (09/08/2010 09:56:47)
The only way to show clubs like this the error of their ways, is for editors to grow a spine and refuse to give them any coverage. None at all. Nothing. No match reports, new signings, press conferences, nowt. Not even if they decided to submit it for free.
If the Guild of Editors, Newspaper Society, etc. agreed such an approach – as well as sending a letter to the club’s sponsors to tell them they’d be receiving no exposure – I’m sure the club would very quickly reconsider.
Alas, this won’t happen.
Such media bans are becoming more common in other areas too, such as councils, police and schools only allowing
‘coverage’ submitted from their own PR departments.
But do the editors stand up to them? Nope, they roll over and take it.

Justified Pessamism (09/08/2010 10:19:21)
Len Sman, absolutely spot on.

Trev (09/08/2010 10:43:11)
Despite your pessimism over any action, the Daily Mirror did exactly as suggested in printing absolutely nothing about the match.

Disappointed (09/08/2010 11:50:55)
Simply run a blank back page, with an editorial inside explaining the situation.
Outrageous behaviour by the club.

ginger whinger (09/08/2010 14:30:59)
I see Southampton FC haven’t gone the whole way and banned reporters then; to ensure that the coverage given out would be advantageous to them by their own team……?