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Who's in charge: Individual teams handle regular season and early playoffs. The league does playoff finals, all-star game and draft.

How to apply: For most events, go through the team. Contact the league office in New York for major events. Applications should be on company letterhead and fully explain why you need to cover the event.

Deadlines: As much as two months ahead of time for the all-star game; 2-4 weeks for playoff finals; about a month for the draft.

The process: A history of covering a team is an important factor when the league credentials big events. Circulation is considered, but is not a determining factor. Local PR directors may be asked for input about media the league is not familiar with.

Helpful hints: Exceptions can be made for those who don't regularly cover a team, but you have to make a strong case. Make sure the local PR person knows what you've written about their team, such as in the case of a local player. Early applications are likely to have a better chance than late ones.

Information about the credentialing process was supplied by media relations officials in each sport or league. Officials were asked to describe policies as they apply to daily newspapers, especially small and midsized papers, or those less likely to hold season-long "hard" credentials.

Deadlines are general and can change from year to year. It is best to make contact with an organization far ahead of time to avoid missing a deadline.

Keep in mind that not all credentials provide access to the event itself. Some credentials are limited to work rooms and interview areas.

If you use any of the e-mail addresses listed here, make sure you have a positive response before any application deadlines. Personnel, and their e-mails, do change from time to time.

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