Anyone anyt experience of covering a UFC event as part of the media?

Pulse8

Heading over to the McGregor fight, chanced my arm & used my work details to apply for media credentials which I've just had granted

I have a ticket for the fight aswell but just wondering what to expect from the "designated media area" mentioned on their Press site


Media credentials permit access to designated media areas only. Backstage, athlete workout rooms and roaming access is prohibited. Professionalism is to be maintained at all times. This includes abstaining from personal pictures, asking athletes for autographs and/or to endorse a product or outlet

Am I right to assume it's just a room full of sweaty journalists watching the fights on a big screen & waiting for the post event press conference?

Will prob pop down just to check it out regardless but curious as to whether or not I'll be able to return to my seat in the arena afterwards, surely as long as I keep my ticket handy I should be all good

scudzilla

So you actually have nothing to do with the media, will not be covering it for anyone yet you've applied for, and been granted a coveted media pass.
Some journo out there, who really needs one and will be actually working will have been rejected for this as numbers surely will be limited

Pulse8

Jesus....strangers on the internet just love to be outraged on behalf of people they don't even know don't they? :rolleyes:

Read it again:

Pulse8 wrote: »

chanced my arm & used my work details

I'll be doing a few reports back which I was intending on doing anyway, dont need to be cooped up in a media area for general atmospheric pieces or to attain vox pops....was just curious if anyone had experience in such circumstances & could say for definite or not if that's all it amounted to, nice souvenir either way

scudzilla

Pulse8 wrote: »

Jesus....strangers on the internet just love to be outraged on behalf of people they don't even know don't they? :rolleyes:

Read it again:



I'll be doing a few reports back which I was intending on doing anyway, dont need to be cooped up in a media area for general atmospheric pieces or to attain vox pops....was just curious if anyone had experience in such circumstances & could say for definite or not if that's all it amounted to, nice souvenir either way

Ah, i just took it that you were using your work details to get the pass as you had no idea how a media pass worked, and the way you worded the OP sounded like you were just blagging, or maybe that's just my slant on it.

And yes, i'm a stranger, but surely so are all the others you're asking advice from, ya can't have your cake and eat it

Beersmith

How do you expect any of us here to know?

Pulse8

scudzilla wrote: »

Ah, i just took it that you were using your work details to get the pass as you had no idea how a media pass worked, and the way you worded the OP sounded like you were just blagging, or maybe that's just my slant on it.

Not so much blagging, it's a leisure trip....one that I had intended to do a small bit of reporting from.
I admit the media accreditation is of no real necessity but I figured if someone did have experience of one & was able to tell me some advantages of it (it's not like it gets you seats in the actual arena) then I'd rather be looking at it than looking for it.
Given the fact that they didn't even seem to check with the editor who's details I provided it seems they're not all that strict on their checks either so demand may not be all that high

Beersmith wrote: »

How do you expect any of us here to know?

Given that the board would be frequented by people with an interest in MMA who would write for blogs, websites or work for other forms of media is it really that "out there" to assume some might have attended an event either over here or in the UK in a work capacity aswell as being a fan?

Mellor

One of my coaches covers the UFC events in Australia for Men's Fitness. I applied for a media pass for the last Oz ebent, but left it too late. I don't think you realize how lucky you are.

The media area is the cage side area where reporters watch the fights from, at least for fight night cards. If you are lucky it'll be the same for big events. I can check out with him if you like.

Pulse8

Wow yeah, please do.....:eek:

Thing is though there seemed to be 3 categories when applying & you chose the sub category most relevant to you.
Mine was under broadcast where there is mention of access to the media room only for video credentials, however my sub category wasn't video related in that section.
They also ask if you need a table space to which I replied no, there only seems to be mention of octagon side space under PRINT/ONLINE I just noticed

Also interesting that I just found this, granted it was for the Dublin Fight Night but still, yer man was in an area much like you mentioned.
http://www.the42.ie/ufc-dublin-sporting-moment-2014-1835333-Dec2014/

Might just mail them & see I guess


The 3 categories btw were:


PRINT/ONLINE
Octagon-side table space is limited to credentialed working media members only and is prioritized to those filing on deadline.

Deadline Writer
Columnist Writer
Features Writer
Sidebar Writer
Online writer/content editor


PHOTO
Octagon-side photo positions are limited and are not guaranteed to any individual. All photographers are encouraged to bring a lens appropriate for shooting from an overhead position (200-250 feet from the Octagon). Due to limited space, photography assistants are typically not placed Octagon-side. Freelance photographers will not be granted credentials.

Primary Photographer
Primary Photo Assist
Secondary Photographer
Secondary Photo Assist
Transmit Tech


BROADCAST
Video credentials will be issued only to accredited videographers on assignment for a recognized news organization or sports publication authorized by the UFC. No freelance videographers will be granted credentials. Video credentials grant access to the media room only. Video is not permitted in the bowl of the arena.

On-camera TV Talent
Videographer/Support Crew
On-air Radio Host/Commentator
Radio Engineer/Tech
Producer/Director/Executive

Mellor

Pulse8 wrote: »

Wow yeah, please do.....:eek:

Thing is though there seemed to be 3 categories when applying & you chose the sub category most relevant to you.
Mine was under broadcast where there is mention of access to the media room only for video credentials, however my sub category wasn't video related in that section.
They also ask if you need a table space to which I replied no, there only seems to be mention of octagon side space under PRINT/ONLINE I just noticed

Also interesting that I just found this, granted it was for the Dublin Fight Night but still, yer man was in an area much like you mentioned.
http://www.the42.ie/ufc-dublin-sporting-moment-2014-1835333-Dec2014/

Might just mail them & see I guess


The 3 categories btw were:


PRINT/ONLINE
Octagon-side table space is limited to credentialed working media members only and is prioritized to those filing on deadline.

Deadline Writer
Columnist Writer
Features Writer
Sidebar Writer
Online writer/content editor


PHOTO
Octagon-side photo positions are limited and are not guaranteed to any individual. All photographers are encouraged to bring a lens appropriate for shooting from an overhead position (200-250 feet from the Octagon). Due to limited space, photography assistants are typically not placed Octagon-side. Freelance photographers will not be granted credentials.

Primary Photographer
Primary Photo Assist
Secondary Photographer
Secondary Photo Assist
Transmit Tech


BROADCAST
Video credentials will be issued only to accredited videographers on assignment for a recognized news organization or sports publication authorized by the UFC. No freelance videographers will be granted credentials. Video credentials grant access to the media room only. Video is not permitted in the bowl of the arena.

On-camera TV Talent
Videographer/Support Crew
On-air Radio Host/Commentator
Radio Engineer/Tech
Producer/Director/Executive

Yeah, video is only the media room and and press conference etc. No video reporting allowed in the arena. That's limit to print media (including online).
From what I gather, the cageside section exists for all events. But not sure how accessible spaces will be for this event.

Pulse8

Will be interesting to see it pans out given that yes Im under broadcast but not video related, somehow Im guessing media room only though

Thanks for the info anyway, much appreciated!

That_Guy

I blame you for me not getting my credentials.... Ya damn lucky bastard.

Pulse8

What section did you apply under & did they actually send you a denial email or is it just that you havn't received anything yet?
I'm sure it's prob quite evenly distributed between territories....cant imagine there'd be much broadcast media from Ireland travelling over, print/online however would be a different story