MMA Journalists Association formed
Dann Stupp: “It’s a diverse group but one that shares many of the same objectives.”
There are currently at least three organizations enjoying mixed degrees of success in organizing fighters. However, unlike baseball, basketball, football, and other mainstream sports, there has never been a writers association for MMA journalists.
That changed today.
A prominent group of MMA media members have announced the formation of the MMA Journalists Association. The group’s Board of Directors consists of:
Chad Dundas, Bleacher Report;
Ben Fowlkes, MMAJunkie;
Josh Gross, The Guardian
Ariel Helwani, MMA Fighting;
Marc Raimondi, MMA Fighting; and,
Dann Stupp, MMAjunkie.
SI‘s Richard Deitsch reports that the board has the support of over 20 other media members, who will be applying for membership shortly. While the idea has been discussed at least as far back as 2009, the need was made clear prior to UFC 199 last year.
At the event, Ariel Helwani and colleagues E. Casey Leydon and Esther Lin had their credentials removed and were escorted from the building. The cause was Helwani’s report that Brock Lesnar was close to returning to the UFC. That is to say, Helwani was removed from the event for doing basic journalism.
Cooler heads prevailed and lifted the ban.
Following a conversation with the editorial team at SB Nation, UFC will not prevent MMAFighting.com from receiving media credentials to cover live UFC events, said a UFC spokesman.
However, a chain email started and that grew into a group that developed bylaws and a charter, and now the MMAJA is official.
Our initial efforts in 2009 never got off the ground, but we’re doing this now because it’s become increasingly obvious that it’s long overdue, said interim MMAJA president Dann Stupp. We’re stronger together, and we want to continue raising the ethics and professionalism among those who cover MMA for a living. It’s a diverse group but one that shares many of the same objectives. Thankfully, our initial group contains experienced and influential journalists, and they felt it was time to band together for the greater good.
Compared to other major sports, MMA is very young. A journalists association is needed as the sport, as well as the media, mature and continue growing globally.
Stupp said the group’s goals include raising professional standards, fostering fellowship within the MMA media, assuring proper working conditions, and advocating for the interests of members.