1. RTNA coordination normally requires one-day notice in advance.
2. Pool coordination is offered for courts in numerous counties in the State of California. RTNA may also coordinate pools for selected news events unrelated to the courts, assuming significant interest by stations throughout the area.
3. The stations should notify the coordinator; the coordinator does not proactively tip the stations (intended to encourage normal journalistic enterprise). However the coordinator may proactively seek a pool camera for ongoing cases in which pools have been requested or required in the past.
4. Stations interested in covering court proceedings are required to submit a Media Request under California Rules of Court Rule 1.150, or RTNA may submit a request in anticipation of possible pool situations.
5. RTNA notifies the stations of who will be pool by way of a news advisory on the City News Service or via direct email to newsroom personnel.
6. Stations cannot get video dubs or feeds coordinated by RTNA without being a paid member of the pool.
7. Stations must be present at the event to get a dub.
8. Stations agreeing to be camera or transmission pool at an event must provide a clean feed or video dub to pool members. There is to be no talent, commentary or reporting by said station(s) from the pool position at anytime. By agreeing to be pool, the station acknowledges its feed may be used on traditional television broadcast signals, digital cable channels, websites and other means of communication owned by the other stations.
9. Fees for pool membership equal $150 per month, paid annually ($1,800 per year), for stations with daily news operations and $300 per month for production companies and outlets without daily newscasts. Additional fees may be negotiated and assessed for co-ordination of camera pools at extraordinary court cases or events (indoors police/government functions, celebratory parades for sports teams, etc.)
10. RTNA attempts to ensure fair and equal participation among stations serving as pool by maintaining a record of the number of times each station has served as pool over the previous 12 months.
11. After 24 hours, the pool footage can be sold or given away by a pool member. It is no longer considered RTNA pool footage.
12. In the event there is a violation of the pool rules, a station’s status as a pool member will be reviewed by the pool committee and the station may be subject to penalty by the RTNA Board of Directors.

These rules are subject to revision by the RTNA pool committee which includes technical, legal and news assignment personnel.

RTNA: June 2008