WIAA LAUNCHES REVAMPED MULTIMEDIA POLICIES
RENTON, WA (September 8, 2025) – The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) is excited to launch a revamped multimedia policies document, addressing changes to credential qualifications, how outlets will apply to cover WIAA State Championships, the creation of seasonal credentialing windows, and much more.
“This is an exciting update to the media landscape of WIAA State Championships,” Director of Communications Sean Bessette said. “Over the course of the last six months, it’s been important to build an encompassing document that clarifies a number of important media-related factors for WIAA State Championships.”
The launch of these updated media policies includes…
The new multimedia policies document can be located on the updated media resources webpage.
As of today, all previously approved media outlets have been reset. If your media outlet has previously received media credentials to WIAA State Championships, it will need to reapply to potentially gain media access this school year. If an outlet does not re-apply and receive approval, it won’t receive access to WIAA State Championships.
Going forward, the Association will operate on an annual model, where all approved media outlets are reset at the end of the school year.
Media outlets can submit their application for the 2025-26 WIAA State Championships now.
The WIAA will now only accept media outlet credential applications during specified seasonal credentialing windows. Once approved, an outlet will remain approved for the remainder of the school year, barring any revocation of credentials.
2025-26 SEASONAL CREDENTIALING WINDOWS
FALL: September 8, 2025 – October 15, 2025
WINTER: December 16, 2025 – January 15, 2026
SPRING: April 1, 2026 – April 30, 2026
Credential applications will not be accepted outside of the seasonal windows. For context, if Media Outlet plans to have media credentials for State Football Championships in December, Media Outlet must apply to become an approved outlet during the fall seasonal credentialing window. If Media Outlet does not apply during the window, the outlet will be unable to register for credentials to State Football Championships, for example, as the next seasonal credentialing window does not open until all fall State Championships have concluded.
The fall seasonal credentialing window is open now. Media outlets can submit their application for the 2025-26 WIAA State Championships now.
As the media landscape evolves, the WIAA acknowledges the growth of independent outlets, internet websites, freelancers, and similar media personnel. The revamped multimedia policies document outlines qualifications for media outlets that fall under the “Emerging Media” category.
Coinciding with the release of the revamped WIAA Multimedia Policies, the WIAA has updated the media resources webpage. The update was designed to make navigation easier for media members and to make information more readily available.
Media members are encouraged to navigate through the updated media resources webpage to become familiar with the changes. As a reminder, the fall credentialing window opened today, and media outlets interested in gaining media access to 2025-26 WIAA State Championships can apply now.
For any questions, contact Sean Bessette, Director of Communications.
