Society of Editors requests meeting with Southampton FC over photography ban

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The Society of Editors wants to meet with Southampton Football Club following the club's ban on press photographers at home games, implemented earlier this month.

Speaking to Journalism.co.uk, Bob Satchwell, executive director of the society said he was continuing to try and open up discussion with the club, which now only allows photography by its own cameramen.

Their images are available for other news organisations to use at a price, but Satchwell said the new system "misses the point" of accreditation and is unlikely to be a money-making scheme.

"What we want to say to them is that while they are talking about wanting to take their own pictures for extra revenue, they are highly unlikely to make very much money from selling pictures," he said.

"Editors want to to be able to choose their own pictures and they don't want to use the same pictures as another paper. The whole point is that when you have accreditation agreements it is really to help people organise the media. It is not about trying to control or limit the flow of information."

He added that he is still keen to speak to the club about the matter and has made requests for a meeting.

"The whole of the media, including newspapers, invest a huge amount in covering football generally. Also, the amount of energy and effort that newspapers are putting in is huge and always a mutually beneficial arrangement. The coverage maintains interest in football and individual fans. That is what will help to maintain the revenue of football clubs. It's about allowing the media to help them (…) Now we have the problem that Southampton is not being covered.

"It is far, far better to have an independent assessment than something produced from the inside which is just seen by fans as public relations," he added.

Southampton FC has not responded to requests for comment.

The decision to ban external news organisations from photographing matches led to a series of cartoon illustrations being used to capture footballing highlights of recent games, such as those by Chris Robinson for the Plymouth Herald .

Since the news was announced newspapers across the industry have been voicing their concerns , with local paper the Southern Daily Echo also calling for a discussion with the club on the matter.