Is Contest Coverage Dead?

It absolutely is. I don’t know of any media outlets that are actively doing contest coverage in the NPC/IFBB Pro League, which is the largest bodybuilding federation in the United States. Internationally, there may be, but that I’m not sure of. The magazines – like Muscular Development (who I used to work for) – had press teams. Later, some of the biggest websites like RX Muscle (who I used to work for) picked up the torch. And smaller websites like StrengthAddicts.com covered shows as well. Right now the only media that covers shows is in-house media (e.g. NPC News Online, federation-based interviewers, etc.). It’s next to impossible for independent media outlets to cover shows. GymJohn does a great job, but he sells packages and also shoots shows. I doubt he’s laughing all the way to the bank, but he does it for the same reason all of us media people do it – because we love the sport.

But in my case, I make nothing, and I indebt myself in the process. What’s crazy is that I bring tremendous value to any contest I’m a part of. How do I know? Because there was a time (years) when covering NPC contests that I was quite sought after. Promoters like Richard Siegelman had me cover all three of his shows every years in Baltimore. He’d pay (& book) my airfare, pay my hotel (at the host), pay me $400 and make sure I was fed and taken care of. On top of that I had anywhere from 3-5 sponsors. I traveled with samples, placards, and other merch. I promoted my appearance with professionally made graphics (same graphic designer I’ve used for over a decade) and promoted it all over all the social media platforms. I even had shirts made than I wore around the contest – shirts I still wear to this day. Promoters in the NPC got it. They wanted me there, because of the attention I gave the athletes. I got their stories out, I promoted them, I helped them capture memories. Promoters in the NPC were ALL about customer service.

My NPC days are long gone and even if I could turn back time and do things differently, I suspect I would’ve been shelved, either way. That’s because federations and promoters want to keep all the media for themselves. That makes sense, provided they have media. If there’s no media, that’s a huge disservice to the competitors. Most competitors would rather tell their story and appear in several photos they can share, their circle can share, and on and on than another belt or medallion that we all know is going to go from their mantle, to a bookshelf, to the closet, and ultimately to the garage or a storage unit. A killer pic or a killer video – even one that’s 30 seconds long – looking absolutely SHREDDED and winning everything in sight or having a group shot with five or six random strangers who become best friends through bodybuilding is worth SO MUCH more.

I’m very lucky to have found a home with a few NGA shows that I will always go to. Jared Weitzel was the first NGA promoter to open his doors to me and Josh Miller has been a godsend to me. Both Jared and Josh have my complete support. They put me up and I appreciate that. What I spend in gas and/or food to go to Lexington or Cincinnati isn’t a big deal. The hotel really helps out. Last year, I covered the NGA Universe (in FL) and had someone reach out with promises of working together. I’ve messaged that person several times, but it’s been crickets. I also covered the Colorado show last year. Brooke was kind enough to get me a couple nights hotel, but I had to foot the airfare, the food, all the Ubers to and from the airport. It ended up being very expensive. I can’t do that again in 2026. This year I covered the NGA Philly and Clint was very generous in getting me a couple nights at the host hotel, but I ended up spending a ton of money in renting a car, fuel, airfare, and FOOD. As much as I want to cover the Philly next year, I can’t unless I get more help.

I’ve always been fortunate to make good money in bodybuilding. StrengthAddicts.com has always had a title sponsor, I’ve written nearly 1,000 articles at IronMag.com (10 articles per month), and now I’m the Program Director at IronMagTV.com. Even though NattyCompetitors isn’t making any money, I’m investing money I make in the industry. Although I’m a tree-hugging liberal, when it comes to running a business, i put my fiscal conservative hat on. How is my money best spent? Investing in NattyCompetitors.com, hiring a producer (hopefully Johnny Styles), and promoting athletes from all federations online – or – going into the red covering shows where the promoter/federation gets all the value and I have to justify spending thousands of dollars that could otherwise be spent on my projects?

There is TREMENDOUS value in contest coverage and maybe as NattyCompetitors.com grows, we’ll get some sponsors who share my vision. Companies who understand the tremendous value their sponsorships/advertising has when making contest coverage possible. But it’s not just about the sponsors, the promoters need to dig into their pockets, too. Because ultimately, promoters aren’t made of money, but without competitors they have nothing to promote. There is A LOT of competition out there, too. Should a promoter use their budget on trinkets and accessories or have more media at their shows? That’s for them to decide. I can promote the athletes as much virtually, as I can in person, but if I had my druthers, I’d be backstage from beginning to end, making competitors smile and laugh, and capturing memories they’ll look back on fondly.

Sadly, contest coverage is dying a art.