Hoooo boy. The National Press Photographer’s Association says the NFL just passed another one of its famous rules: independent press photogs will be required to wear vests adorned with Reebok and Canon logos. Oh… and the vests will be red. “I think it’s extremely unfortunate that the NFL, after limiting the number of local video photojournalists on the sidelines, is now attempting to turn them into roving billboards,” attorney and former photojournalist Mickey Osterreicher told the NPPA’s News Photographer Magazine.
The presence of corporate logos on game vests could be construed by some editors to be a violation of journalistic independence. As an example, many newspapers do not allow their employees to have political bumper stickers on their cars supporting candidates or political parties, or to donate to charities, or to participate in events that could be misunderstood or bring into question the organization’s neutral or independent stance.