AP pulls out of covering CMAs over photos

Wednesday, November 11, 2020 – The Associated Press has pulled out of covering the CMA Awards tonight over coverage of the event.

The dispute has to do about taking photos of the awards show.

The AP wrote that it will not cover the event in any way "due to restrictions that have been placed on still photographers and screen captures of the broadcast."

"The wire service has refused to accept limitations that organizers of the show have placed on images from the venue that it believes affects its ability to accurately report on the event. The restrictions prevent AP from providing coverage of the ceremony "to its standards," according to an advisory it sent to members. The AP will not write about, take images of or shoot video of the show."

"Organizers had initially sought AP photo coverage from inside the ceremony, but said that due to coronavirus precautions it could not accommodate a wire service photographer."

"The association instead said the AP could pay to license images of the show. The AP declined."

The AP wanted to be able to take screenshots, but the CMA was not satisfied, according to the AP story. "The CMA instead said it would only grant AP permission if it agreed to not move screenshots from the broadcast that included the faces of guests seated in the audience," the story said.

""The AP covers award shows as news events and we must be able to assure the public that the information they are receiving from us is accurate," said Global Entertainment and Lifestyles Editor Anthony McCartney. "By denying independent news organizations, including AP, access to take images of a publicly broadcast event, the CMA Awards is infringing upon the news media's ability to tell the full story of the event."

The CMA has not responded to a request for comment.