September 11, 2002

TO: NPC District Chairpersons and NPC Promoters

FROM: Jim Manion / Steve Karel

SUBJECT: BEGINNING IMMEDIATELY - THE NPC INTERNET EVENT PRESS POLICY

To All Concerned:

As you are aware, the NPC has had a standing press pass policy for all national events that only authorized members of formal press organizations are eligible for complimentary press credentials. For example, FLEX Magazine presents the NPC, prior to each national event, a list of their assigned photographers and writers committed to cover the particular event. Coverage of the event under those auspices is granted to the NPC. We do not allow freelance photographers and writers, regardless of their notoriety, press entrance to our events where they shoot photographs or write copy and then submit them to various publications on a prospective sale basis. In other words, maybe they get published and maybe they don’t.

In accordance with that philosophy and understanding the growth of the Internet as an information vehicle, the NPC is adopting the same policy modified for the Internet. Beginning immediately at all NPC events, the NPC will recognize only photographers or writers whose credentials are verified by website’s that are extensions of the normal bodybuilding and fitness print publications, i.e., website’s that represent FLEX, MUSCLE & FITNESS, IRONMAN, etc. The NPC will no longer recognize website’s or individual photographers or writers or interested bodybuilding fans who maintain and promote website’s, no matter the level of traffic. The information that is authorized by the NPC to be disseminated to the general public is that which follows through the already approved media outlets. Too many times we have found that individual website operations, albeit they be very highly trafficked and creatively designed, do not serve the aims and goals of the NPC and very often have motives other than those of the organizations best interests.

Sincerely,

NATIONAL PHYSIQUE COMMITTEE OF THE U.S.A., INC.

James B. Manion
PRESIDENT

Steven Karel
NPC MEDIA DIRECTOR