Selling Out is Not Their Thing Either

The NFL issued a mandate that photo journalists on the sidelines will wear red vests which will bear the logos of Reebok and Canon. Many journalists feel that they are being made into corporate billboards.

One of many dissenting organizations, Society of Professional Journalists issued a statement rebuking the vests. Citing their code of ethics, which encourages journalists to “remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility,” their stance is that by agreeing to wear these vests, journalists are - for lack of a better phrase - selling-out to the man.

Joe Strupp, senior editor at Editor & Publisher Magazine makes a good point in his editorial on the issue: this is not the first time photographers have been forced to wear vests like these, and if they really have a problem with wearing them, then boycott the NFL until the restriction is lifted.

I am waiting to see the vests... If we are talking about a LaCoste alligator-sized logo, then who cares? If we are talking Times Square-neon billboards, then I have a problem. But either way, maybe the red vests are a good idea in the end. Football players from lineman to safety's to place-kickers are trained to avoid the guy in red. Perhaps it will aid in protecting the unassuming photogs from injury.