NPC News Online nowhere to be seen at 2023 Arnold Classic.
The 2023 Arnold Sports Festival was one of the most successful in recent years, but the industry’s official media outlet, NPC News Online, was nowhere to be seen.
The 2023 Arnold Sports Festival was expected to be a very successful event, and it was. There was a slight worry about the bodybuilding event, but after the organizers raised the winning prize fund to $300,000, some of the best bodybuilders in the industry signed up for the event.
The majority of media outlets, were given access to the event, but one major media outlet was missing from the event, and this affected the coverage negatively.
J.M. Manion, the official photographer for NPC News Online, and the number one photographer for the Pro League, was missing from the event.
Being the son of Jim Manion, J.M. Manion is regarded as bodybuilding royalty, and is present at the majority of events during the year, taking photos and videos, for NPC News Online.
With J.M. Manion missing from the event, this affected the coverage of the 2023 Arnold Sports Festival heavily.
Jim Manion and family investigated by the Washington Post
Jim Manion, his son J.M. Manion, and other family members, have been under heavy scrutiny in that last year and a half, and this was allegedly the main reason why J.M. Manion was not present at the 2023 Arnold Classic.
Jim Manion is the owner and president of the NPC and the Pro League, and he sanctions the Arnold Classic USA and Brazil, meaning his athletes are able to compete at the Arnold Classic Amateur and pro events.
The Washington Post investigated Jim Manion, J.M. Manion, the NPC, and Pro League, for claims of alleged sexual exploitation, financial irregularities, and contest fixing.
Not long after the articles were published by the Washington Post, World Championship Event, Inc, the company that owns the Arnold Sports Festival, and Jake Wood, the owner of the Olympia LLC brand, published a press release, clarifying their position on the investigations.
Arnold Sports Festival responds to Washington Post Investigation
According to the Washington Post, Brian Powers, executive director for the Arnold Sports Festival, which includes the Arnold Classic, said his organization has a zero-tolerance policy, and in light of recent reports, “we are developing enhanced measures to strengthen existing safety protocols.”
Another official, who spoke to the Washington Post on the condition of anonymity because that person was not authorized to speak on the record said, “J.M. Manion will not be attending our show.”
Full Press Release from Olympia LLC
All of us here at the Olympia are grateful for the excitement surrounding this year’s event, but we’d like to take a moment to address the recent news items focused on the sport of bodybuilding.
We’ve been following these stories with great interest because one of our top priorities is to ensure the integrity of our event as well as maintaining an environment where everyone feels protected, especially the athletes who walk across our stage. In order to inspire a new generation of fitness enthusiasts it’s vital that we address any and all issues that could impact the culture and the integrity of the sport we love. We will continue to update you on these efforts in the weeks to come.
J.M. Manion did not attend the 2023 Arnold Sports Festival
J.M. Manion is always a prominent figure at every major event the NPC, and Pro League sanction or organize.
Allegedly, J.M. Manion has a big influence on the organizers, in regards to handing out press passes to photographers.
Prominent photographers have informed Evolutionofbodybuilding.net, that they have allegedly had their press passes revoked at the last minute, just before an event is about to start.
Allegedly, a selected group of photographers and videographers, are given access to the NPC’s and Pro League’s main events.
Everything started going sideways for J.M. Manion at the end of 2022, when it was alleged that he had no access to the Olympia Weekend, in regards to taking photos and video at the event.
With a healthy number of photographers and videographers at the 2022 Olympia Weekend, J.M. Manion’s absence was not felt, as NPC News Online still published all the photos on their website, and social media.
The same could not be said for the 2023 Arnold Sports Festival. J.M. Manion was not present at the event, and very few photographers had official press access to the event.
Sources have also confirmed that when J.M. Manion was informed that he was allegedly banned from attending the event, he was not happy, and allegedly contacted his fellow colleagues, who work with NPC News Online, to not offer their services for the 2023 Arnold Classic.
The consequences of J.M. Manion not attending the event, was that NPC News Online, had absolutely no coverage of the event, possibly the first time ever in its history. Not even NPC/Pro League president Jim Manion, the father of J.M. Manion, could convince the Arnold Sports Festival organizers to change their decision.
At the time of publishing this article, Gilco Productions (Video), and Pro Fitness Photos (Photography), were allegedly the only official press given full access to photograph and record video’s of the event.
With such exclusivity given to a select few, bodybuilding fans, and even the media, had a very hard time finding photos of the event.
Major changes at Arnold Sports Headquarters
The reshuffle of management at the World Championship Events, Inc, (previously Classic Productions), allegedly had a negative impact on bodybuilding media.
During the partnership between Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Jim Lorimer, the press were given regular updates, and had access to official photographs for the Arnold Sports Festival, but this all changed after 2021.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jim Lorimer had a business partnership that started in the late 70’s. After retiring from the sport of bodybuilding, Arnold Schwarzenegger teamed up with Jim Lorimer to promote a number of bodybuilding events.
Finally in 1989, history would be made when the first edition of the Arnold Classic was organized; Rich Gaspari would go on to win this event.
After the success they had in 1989, Arnold and Jim would continue to promote the Arnold Classic together until 2021, the partnership lasted for over 45 years. Jim Lorimer’s son, Bob Lorimer, would replace his father and be named President of Classic Productions in 2015.
Between 2021 and 2022, several major changes took place at the Arnold Sports Festival headquarters. Allegedly, Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Lorimer family ended their business relationship.
Arnold would continue promoting the Arnold Sports Festival on his own. The company Classic Productions would be replaced with World Championship Events, Inc. Schwarzenegger is the Chief Executive Officer of World championship Event, Inc.
There was a major reshuffle at the Arnold Sports Festival headquarters. Brian Powers was then named Arnold Classic Executive Director, and several employees were replaced or dismissed.
J.M. Manion’s absence from the 2023 Arnold Classic affected the event negatively
Not all media were given access to official photos from the 2023 Arnold Sports Festival
Up to 2021, the Arnold Sports Festival media team kept the bodybuilding press updated thanks to regular emails, before, during, and after the event.
Matt Lorz, formerly the Media Relations Director for the Arnold Sports Festival, was very close to the media. Matt always provided any information or material needed, to promote the event, and to help the press.
Up to 2021, during the Arnold Sports Festival, Matt Lorz would send continuous updates to all the press on his mailing list. The updates would be immediate, helping the media to publish their updates immediately.
A number of media outlets that could not be present at the event, relied on the official photos that Matt Lorz would send. The press would have permission to use the official photos for their contest reports, and social media posts.
Unfortunately this all changed after 2021, allegedly a major reshuffle at the Arnold Sports Festival headquarters took place, and a number of experienced staff were replaced.
Informed by a very reliable source, it was alleged that a link to every photo taken at the 2023 Arnold Classic, was sent to a select number of bodybuilding media outlets. Sources allege that the selected press had access to approximately over 20 gigabytes worth of photos, to use on their media.
This meant that the majority of press, did not have access to at least one photo from each division, to use on their contest reports, as in previous years.
The press that were left in the dark, were forced to use very bad quality screenshots from the live feed for their contest reports. For the bodybuilding fan, this does not leave a good impression.
Evolutionofbodybuilding.net was supplied with a Pay-Per-View discount code by the Arnold Classic organizers for its readers, but trying to increase PPV sales, was still not enough for this site to have access to the alleged link with thousands of contest photos.
Is it fair that just a preferred number of press had access to thousands of official photos from the 2023 Arnold Classic?
Does the press have to select what news they report to have access to such perks in the industry? It’s situations like this that make people have doubts over how the industry is being run.
To be fair, regardless of all the allegations against J.M. Manion, his absence from the 2023 Arnold Classic affected the promotion of the event negatively. The Arnold Sports Festival organizers did not realize the negative affect this would have.
The organizers of the 2023 Arnold Classic, should have predicted J.M. Manion would refuse to promote their event on NPC News Online, due to his absence. This would have been a great opportunity for the Arnold Sports Festival organizers to promote their event on other media outlets, but unfortunately this did not happen.
At the time of publishing this article, J.M. Manion, never had a problem with other media outlets using his photos to promote an event. J.M. Manion only asked that his watermark was not removed and credit was given to him when used.
The sport of bodybuilding and fitness is in desperate need of promotion, it was not long ago when a tight circle of media were only given access to athletes and events, the sport suffered from these actions.
Finally, it would be Mr. Olympia President, Dan Solomon, who would pave the way forward, break down all barriers, and start a trend of giving access to the majority of press to the Olympia Weekend events.
Many promoters followed Solomon’s positive move in regards to the press, but unfortunately, the Arnold Sports Festival promoters still have a lot to learn.
