July 20, 2007

Mr. Roger Goodell
Commissioner
National Football League
280 Park Ave.
New York, NY 10017

Dear Mr. Goodell:

Less than a month ago, I wrote to you on behalf of the board of directors and membership of the Associated Press Managing Editors Association to voice our opposition to rules announced by the National Football League that severely limit online coverage of NFL teams by our member newspapers.

This letter is to express equally strong opposition to a new league rule requiring press photographers covering games to wear red vests with Canon and Reebok logos on them. Commissioner Goodell, our objections to his rule are grounded in our desire not to have our working press photographers become unwilling participants in any commercial and marketing arrangements the NFL has with its sponsors.

We feel that requiring our photographers to wear this equipment with logos clearly visible on them compromises our independence as working journalists. In effect, the photographers will become walking billboards for NFL sponsors.

We realize that some kind of clearly visible method must be in place to easily identify members of the media who are credentialed to cover the games. But we don't understand the need to require our employees to help advertise products for the league's sponsors.

As I stated in my previous letter, coverage of the National Football League is a major priority for many of our members. We view it as a win-win situation for both the league and its fans, who also are our readers. But the working press should not be incorporated into the marketing apparatus of the NFL and its individual teams. It compromises our objectivity, our independence and our ethics.

We strongly urge the NFL to reconsider this rule requiring photographers to wear vests with logos of sponsors on them. Thank you again, sir, for your time.

Sincerely,

Karen Magnuson
President, Associated Press Managing Editors Association