View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
July 11, 2002updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Tennis writers at US Open to face FBI probe

By Press Gazette

US Open: security screening

Tennis correspondents covering next month’s US Open in New York have reluctantly agreed to a one-off accreditation deal which leaves them open to investigation by the FBI and the CIA.

In a summer of discontent when journalists and photographers have had to fight off attempts at new restrictive controls by sports governing bodies, the US Tennis Association demand is the most nightmarish.

For security reasons, it says, every member of the media covering the Open must sign an agreement authorising the USTA to see all their records, including driving and criminal history, and to investigate their background using "any criminal justice agency". It also asks for indemnity against journalists claiming losses if they are found ineligible to cover the tournament.

Richard Evans, tennis correspondent for The Sunday Times and BBC Radio and President of the International Tennis Writers’ Association, told Press Gazette: "The USTA has reduced the demands somewhat, not totally to our satisfaction. We have got them to add a clause which says that if the FBI, which is demanding this, refuses accreditation through mistaken identity, the USTA will reimburse the journalist for loss of earnings.

"We were very unhappy at signing a form which virtually gives any criminal investigation agency in the US the right to interrogate us and delve into our backgrounds. But we are very cognisant of the fact that this event ends three days before September 11.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

"We don’t accept this is a precedent. We have signed reluctantly but it’s still an individual choice. We are not instructing writers to sign or not sign."

Meanwhile, photographers have overturned proposed restrictions on the use of pictures taken at the British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield. Freelances Phil Sheldon and Matthew Harris, PA’s Rebecca Naden and The Times’s Hugh Routledge persuaded the Open’s organisers to withdraw the proposals. Sheldon said: "I feel we will have to fight the battle again next year but we did lay down some strong very strong principles." An uneasy truce was called over attempts to control interviews and pictures at the Wimbledon tennis championships.

By Jean Morgan

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network