Reader takes on IHSA

Posted November 24, 2007 10:00 pm

Editor's note: The Illinois High School Association prevented photographers from the Daily Herald and several other newspapers from taking pictures on the field during this weekend's football state championships at Memorial Stadium as punishment for violating IHSA bylaws regarding the secondary use of images -- that is, the sale of photos taken at state tournament events that did not merit primary use in print editions.

A story by Daily Herald high school sports editor Aaron Gabriel in Saturday's editions detailed the disagreement that led to the IHSA's actions. And that story prompted this response from a Herald reader.

Mr. Gabriel,

Once again the IHSA has forgotten that state tournaments are for the athletes, their families, representative schools and the communities fortunate enough to be involved. It is not their role to play or govern how games are covered and reported. Rather, they should recognize that by working with the newspaper community will only enhance their so-called "product." Greater coverage, more photos, that is what readers want -- period! Constraints in any fashion display the contempt many of us have toward the IHSA. It is disgusting to think they believe they are bigger than the games being played.

More importantly, the Daily Herald and other newspapers are the source of great community pride when our teams are covered in written commentary accompanied with your photographers' efforts. We all recognize that the Daily Herald (and others) could easily send a squadron of photographers to the stands and capture visual results. The IHSA should be prudent in understanding newspapers are our connection to the field of play, and not them. They (IHSA) have numerous other issues to be concerned with that deal with the health of our athletes and their programs. The Daily Herald and the IPA have a responsibility to report on games and take pictures as seen fit -- after all, it is history, and who has the right to alter the images of such grand events?

Best of luck to you,

David Gillies

Carol Stream

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