Smile - You're On Candid Camera
As the National Football League training season heats up in stadiums across the country, so do controversies surrounding restrictions placed on news crews by NFL management and
PR reps. One such showdown: A recent filming of Minnesota Vikings' training camp caught footage of safety Tank Williams stumbling and subsequently suffering a season-ending
injury. But, despite the compelling footage amidst the usual shots of players, a newly instituted rule prevented the KSTP crew from running the story: "When a player incurs an
injury on the practice field, still and video photography of the player is to halt immediately following the occurrence ..." according to a feature in the Star Tribune.
The PR implications? According to the NFL's vice president of public relations, Greg Aiello, "It is permissible to limit the videotaping or photographing of certain portions
of training-camp practices." But when do such limitations on news coverage and promotional videotaping cross the line? And, are news outlets going to start taking more liberties
with the footage they choose to air? Enthusiasts will have to stay tuned.