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The SEC released its finalized credential policy Thursday after several rounds of discussions with major news organizations.

The original policy caused an outcry when it was released in early August because of language that journalists argued would prevent them from covering athletic teams effectively. The SEC released its first revision of the policy Aug. 14.

The Associated Press (AP) and Gannett both refused to sign on until the policy was changed. Both organizations have now left it up to individual newspapers to decide whether to agree to the changes.

The American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE), the AP Managing Editors and the AP Sports Editors associations sent a letter to SEC Commissioner Mike Slive in protest of the original policy.

In it, the organizations asked the SEC to revisit the policy and make further changes to rules that they called a "stranglehold" on information.

Some of the disputed language included restricting the use of photos on newspaper Web sites, a virtual ban on all user-generated videography, limited blogging ability and a stipulation that only full-time salaried employees were eligible for credentials.

Slive said in a statement Thursday that he was interested in working with the news outlets in coming to an agreement.

"The SEC has always had a positive relationship with the media," Slive said. "When contacted by major media associations, we immediately began constructive dialogue to address their concerns. While there were a few changes we could not meet, there was agreement on many of the issues."

The ASNE announced following the final revision that individual newspapers must decide for themselves if they want to accept the conditions of the policy.

Through the revisions, the SEC has made some concessions that include easing the limitations on photo use, clarifying that routine blogging is permitted and expanding who can apply for credentials. It did not address the video issue, however. The conference will be providing official video from its Web site for the media's use.

For student newspapers covering teams in the SEC, the policy can still harm their coverage.

Frank LoMonte, executive director of the Student Press Law Center said he does not believe the SEC drafted the policy with student media in mind.

"What the SEC failed to consider is that blogging and videotaping is essential to a student journalist's education," LoMonte said. "They (students) are going to be disadvantaged in the job market."

LoMonte also sent a letter to Slive before the latest revision urging the SEC to consider student media.

"It does not appear that the Conference considered the unique impact on the student media when formulating these proposed rules," LoMonte wrote.

While some of the language may still be contested, LoMonte said the SEC did make a "huge step forward" by making it clear it is legal to sell commemorative issues and reprints of the newspaper, something that could have been prevented under older versions of the policy.

Robert Stewart, sports editor for the Daily Reveille at Louisiana State University, said he expects the policy to change the way his department covers school athletics.

While Stewart signed off on an early version of the policy and received five of the six credentials he requested for the Reveille, he said he believes the original versions of the agreement are "slightly unconstitutional." He said his newspaper's plans of extending the amount of video content online would be useless if the rules were enacted. The one credential not granted to Stewart was for a videographer.

"It's kind of an unfair treatment to news outlets," Stewart said. He said the limitations could critically effect the way the newspaper relayed important information to readers. "I think it could certainly hurt our coverage, hurt our credibility."

Ben Jones, sports editor of the Kentucky Kernel, the student newspaper at the University of Kentucky in Lexington said he is concerned with the lack of video options.

Jones said the Kernel was opposed to signing on to the agreement before it was revised, but said the newspaper will accept the finalized version.

The newspaper had been planning to "step up" the video presence on its Web site with clips from every football and basketball game during the year but the new policy would prevent that, according to Jones.

Jones said he does not know if the newspaper will choose to use the SEC-branded coverage. He said the newspaper may opt out of running any game footage and instead upload post-game press conferences and interviews.

Jones said he was grateful for the concessions made on the blogging language and said the terms seemed "back to what it was" before the new rules were introduced. He said that while he does not anticipate any problems, the one thing that still bothers him is the lack of clarity on how often is too often when it comes to updating game information.

"It seems like if you're competing with TV too well, they might shut you down," Jones said.

Erin Prah, editorial fellow for Vanderbilt student communications, said the policy will adversely affect the coverage by student media. Prah, who works jointly with all aspects of student media on the Vanderbilt campus, said she expects the Web content to be the most affected.

"It really kind of cuts the legs out from underneath us," Prah said. "It's upsetting because there is nothing we can do."

She said a new student multimedia position was created recently but that the new policy could severely limit that personcs ability to perform her job.

"Her hands are going to be tied trying to figure out how to disseminate multimedia to students used to seeing things so visually now," Prah said.

Vanderbilt's football team has created a lot of hype on campus having come off a successful season but the students looking for content online this time around might be disappointed, Prah said. She said the SEC-provided content likely won't be taken as seriously

"It won't be completely our product," Prah said. "I'm sure it will hurt our credibility."