NCYS Calls For KidSafe Photographers
by Sally S. Johnson, CSA - Executive Director, National Council of Youth Sports 02/22/2010
Thank you for your commitment to keeping children safe!
The National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) is proud to be working with Youth Sports Photography Network Connection (YSPNC), a photo industry network of committed professionals as well as national and international photography associations.
The advancements in photography from film to digital imagery have created a wealth of opportunities for the youth sports photographers to better serve the photographic needs and wants of their most valued customers, the youth sports participants.
At the forefront of this issue is the need to assure a kid safe environment in which our children can be fostered in good sportsmanship and learn the tremendous upsides from team fellowship and athletics. Providing a safe, clean, and fun environment is important for the sport to continue to grow and thrive.So what’s the problem?
The National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) appreciates those photographers who uphold an honorable reputation and thank those who have been recognized by the Youth Sports Photography Network Connection (YSPNC). The dedicated professional, ethical, and responsible commitment to keeping kids safe will have a positive impact today and for generations to come.
- On the one hand, the photography technological advances allow for a more effective and efficient operation. On the other hand, the ease of manipulating digital photography and the wide use of the internet has opened the door for disturbing illegal activity. This is a problem the National Council of Youth Sports is addressing head-on.
- While the vast majority of photographers in the sports photography industry conduct their businesses ethically and professionally, there are some who have compromised the integrity and high ethical standards our industry demands. It’s hard to believe but true that there are a few who have taken photographs of youngsters only to enhance them in an unethical, immoral and illegal way.
- Parents must have the highest degree of confidence that their children are not only receiving good care and proper instruction, but also are safe from negative and improper conduct from all those who interact with them. These basic principles are crucial to maintaining a positive image and good reputation in the community but also for a safer, more wholesome society.
Here’s the solution
- In order to eradicate this problem before it gets out of hand, we have implemented a process to help ensure a safe and secure environment for athletes with criminal background screening services provided by the National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI).
- The objective is to create a pipeline for teams and leagues to reference assuring them that their youth sports photographer has undergone a NCSI criminal background check and has done his/her due diligence in providing the organization with the best possible peace of mind with professionalism and solid moral principles.
- The NCYS strongly encourages all those affiliated with the youth sports industry to be certain that the photographer they hire has been recognized by the Youth Sports Photography Network Connection (YSPNC), has submitted to a NCSI criminal background screening and has agreed to operate their business by a strict code of ethical behavior.
The National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) comprises the who's who in the youth sports industry. Its membership represents more than 185 organizations/corporations serving 60,000,000 registered participants/44,000,000 actual boys and girls in organized youth sports. For more information and to join NCYS please visit http://www.ncys.org/photographers
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04/22/2010 eze says:
This is a test
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