Indian editors and publishers are up in arms over restrictions being proposed on press coverage of the Indian Premier League, a new cricket league that is proposing terms and conditions for coverage of its tests that are unacceptable not only to Indian media, but to media everywhere.

Even if you don't care about cricket, the dispute should be of concern since many sports organisations are imposing similar restrictions, in an effort to monetize every aspect of sport by selling digital rights that impinges on the news media role of providing free and open coverage of sports events.

The Indian cricket authorities originally proposed that media must transfer copyright of all photographs taken at cricket venues to the IPL, and that photos would be banned from websites. It has since backed off on its claim to copyright, and offered to allow media to post six photos on websites - an unacceptably small amount, though the IPL says it is willing to further engage news media in discussions.

Other terms also raise concern - it appears, for example, as if the IPL wants news media to limit photos posted on the web to those that are also used in print. Think about that for a moment: are web editors expected to anticipate what will be used in print? Or are they supposed to wait until the print edition hits the streets before posting photos on the web?

The Hindu newspaper, in an editorial Thursday, put the issue this way: "Where will professional sport be without media support, cooperation, and goodwill? Greed and arrogance and a total lack of common sense seem to be driving the IPL along a path of confrontation, which will surely bring on a media boycott."

The international News Media Coalition, a grouping of major news agencies, newspaper groups and newspaper representative bodies (the World Association of Newspapers and World Editors Forum are among them) that was formed in response to the growing threat to open news coverage, has praised the stand of the Indian news media community for working together in an attempt to ensure that they are able to serve the public with independent and topical news materials.
 
"The News Media Coalition is very concerned about the IPL terms which represent a serious and unprecedented curtailment of the freedom of the press to fully report events of public interest. We believe that the right of the public is best served by a free and unfettered press."

The NMC also believes solidarity is needed to engage the sports organisations. "Anything which threatens to dismantle the inter-dependence between news sectors such as newspapers and agencies will not be in the best interests of the public," it said.

Source: News Media Coalition and its director, Andy Moger.