Wrangler: Newspaper photographers unauthorized

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Alan Arthur
Sports editor

GALLUP — The Wrangler Junior High Finals Rodeo has once again denied arena access to Independent photographers.

Independent staff photographer Brian Leddy was told that he would not be allowed to shoot from inside the arena during Wednesday morning’s performance of the national finals. As a result, the Independent will not be covering the remainder of the event after providing photos and stories for the first three days.

“It’s unfortunate that they are putting profit ahead of positive publicity for the kids,” Independent Managing Editor Barry Heifner said. “It’s pay to play. If you pay, you get on the floor. If you don’t pay, you can’t.”

Photo passes are given to National High School Rodeo Association contractors and sponsors, according to the media kit distributed to media outlets. The Independent and other newspapers, which are not contractors or sponsors, are not allowed to receive photo credentials for the Wrangler Rodeo and the National High School Finals Rodeo that will be held in Farmington later this summer and are restricted to taking photos from outside the arena or getting photos from the NHSRA Official Photographer.

NHSRA Media Coordinator Mike Hausman said on Wednesday that unauthorized photographers “can’t be on the arena floor during the performance.”

Hausman also commented that, “It would be inexcusable to put anybody on the arena floor that doesn’t need to be there.

It’s nothing personal against the Independent.”

He added that the restriction is “for safety reasons.”

Heifner said the association’s claim that this is “a safety issue is not valid. At any time, there are 12 photographers on the arena floor taking pictures.”

He added, “Our job is to provide news coverage for our readers. We have the most professional photographers in the state and they cover rodeos all the time.

“Is it dangerous? Yes. But they cover a lot of things that are dangerous, like car accidents and forest fires. It’s part of the job.”

The Independent is covering this weekend’s 4th of July Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rodeo in Window Rock and next week’s Wild Thing Bullriding competition at Red Rock Park. Photographers are allowed access to the arena floor in both these events.