Credential Requests

Guidelines for Credentialing Web Sites (Non-Originating Broadcasts)

  1. Internet sites desiring CIF-SS media credentials must submit requests on company letterhead. For CIF-SS Championships, requests must be made no later than two weeks in advance of the event to allow the CIF-SS time to review the site and its content to determine legitimacy.
  2. Internet sites desiring media credentials must have a unique, registered domain name, ending in one of the recognized extensions (.com, .cc, .org, .edu, .net)
  3. Internet sites desiring media credentials must have a demonstrated record of sustained coverage of high school sports, which should include (but is not limited to):
    • Publishing stories and statistics in a timely basis about individual contests;
    • Publishing scores on game days;
    • Streaming audio, video or other content on a real-time basis of contests;
    • Publishing feature stories about high school sports teams, coaches and student-athletes. 
  4. The following internet sites will not be granted credentials:
    • Personal page internet site publishers;
    • Subscription-based internet sites;
    • Internet sites associated in any way with alcohol, tobacco, drugs of any kind, gambling of any kind, political parties or candidates or any other advertising considered in poor taste or not in compliance with the mission of interscholastic athletics as determined by the CIF-SS;
    • Sites developed solely to list/profile/rank recruiting prospects or teams and/or to provide chat rooms/forums/blogs. 
  5. Internet sites must furnish certifiable traffic numbers from an established auditing firm (i.e. Nielsen), or from its service provider. Hit counters on pages will not fulfill this requirement. The following information must be provided:
    • The average number of unique viewers/visitors to the site in the last 30-60-90 days;
    • The average number of page views by each visitor;
    • The name and telephone number of the auditing firm or service provider to discuss/ensure the accuracy of the numbers. 
  6. Internet sites must furnish, upon request, the name of a contact person who can serve as the liaison to the CIF-SS in the event questions or concerns arise related to the accuracy and fairness of content posted from CIF-SS events.
  7. Internet sites must also furnish the following:
    • A copy of each of each reporters current Vitae (emphasizing their journalistic credentials)
    • A copy of the sites editorial policy
    • A copy of the sites advertising policy
    • The names of the members of your editorial board
    • The sites articles of incorporation
    • The current DBA statement or business license 
  8. Due to space concerns, championship credentials for webcast companies not originating a broadcast may not be granted or may only be granted on space available basis.

2023-24 Media Credential Request Form