Best of Television Photojournalism 2004
News Photography Rules & Categories
This year there are several significant changes to the national TV competition.
Quick Links:
Spot News; Deadline Photography; General News; 48 Hour Feature; Feature; Sports; In-Depth/Series; Team Entry; Documentary; Ernie Crisp TV News Photographer of the Year; TV News Photography Stations of the YearFor the first time the Station of the Year Award will be presented to three (3) different television stations in three (3) separate divisions:
- Large Market (1-34)
- Medium Market (35-69)
- Small Market (70-212)
You can find out which market you work in at <http://www.nielsenmedia.com/DMAs.html>
Deadline Photography
Everyone should really look at this category. The time limit has been reduced to 8 hours. It is designed to recognize the work that most of us do on a day to day basis. Quick turns. Whether it's a package, or a live shot, or any combination, this category is designed with the general photographer in mind.
Judges' Choice Award
The judges of this year's competition will have the option of giving a "Judges' Choice Award" to the story they feel most exemplifies the ideals of television photojournalism.
Topical Award 2003: "The U.S. at War"
Thousands of U.S. soldiers were at war in 2003, and many TV stories were done on this topic. While reviewing all of the individual entries in this year's competition, the judges may single out up to three stories that highlight the best examples of TV photojournalism on the topic: "The U.S. at War." These stories may range from military preparation or action, to the impact on troops and their families at home. Participants do not enter specifically for this award. It will be given by the judges after viewing all of the individual categories.
Best of Television Photojournalism Categories
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Spot News
An unscheduled and unfolding news event for which there was no opportunity for planning. This category recognizes the photographer's ability to function in a stressful situation, keeping his or her photographic gear rolling to capture the overall scope of the scene, and zeroing in on individual reactions. Story must have been shot, edited, and broadcast within 24 hours. If a version was edited for another broadcast within the 24 hours, it must contain new elements not used in the original story.90% of the video must have been shot by the entering photojournalist.
Maximum length: 5 minutes.
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Deadline Photography
A Spot News or General News story that may include a live air check presentation by a reporter or photojournalist. The goal of this category is to highlight television photojournalism under deadline pressure. The entry must be shot, edited and broadcast within 8 hours. The entry may be a stand alone package, a straight live shot, or a live shot with video tape. If the entry includes a live shot, the air check presentation must be submitted with no re-editing allowed. For this category only, mention of the photojournalist is permitted. 90% of the video & live shot must have been shot by the entering photojournalist.
Maximum length: 5 minutes
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General News
An issue oriented story or event for which there was advanced notice or opportunity for planning. The event should be timely. General News stories should be limited to stories that contain no music, except where it's part of the natural sound of the story. Stories, must have been shot, edited, and broadcast within 24 hours. 90% of the video must have been shot by the entering photojournalist.
Maximum length: 5 minutes.
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48 Hour Feature
A feature or human interest story shot and edited within a time frame of 48 hours. 90% of the video must have been shot by the entering photojournalist.
Maximum length: 5 minutes.
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Feature
A planned story where the photojournalist puts considerable time and effort into the production of the story. Features that score highly show imagination and creativity. 90% of the video must have been shot by the entering photojournalist.
Maximum length: 10 minutes.
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Sports
This category includes preparation for, analysis of, or audience reaction to, a sport, or coverage of a sports event. Greater weight will be given to stories that have sports action video and focus on the competition. 90% of video must have been shot by the entering photojournalist.
Maximum length: 5 minutes.
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In-Depth/Series
A planned story where the photojournalist puts considerable time and effort into the production of the story. It may be divided into a series and aired on successive days. If so, edit the individual parts together leaving a second of black leader between each piece. 90% of video must have been shot by the entering photojournalist.
Maximum length: 30 minutes.
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Team Entry
Any story that was shot by more than one photojournalist. The story may include any other category except Documentary.
Maximum length: 15 minutes.
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Documentary
A complete, creative study of a subject or issue in which the theme and treatment follow a predetermined direction. 75% of the footage must have been shot by the entrant.
Maximum length: 60 minutes.
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Ernie Crisp Television News Photographer of the Year
The person recognized as the TV Photographer of the Year must show a high level of skill and professionalism. The award serves as recognition of individual ability - an ability against which others can compare their output to determine if they are meeting the standards of the industry.
To enter this competition, submit a compilation of stories typical of your work. The chairperson will not assemble entries from other categories for this award.
Stories entered in the individual categories may be a part of your POY entry, but they must be entered under the same categories. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
Entrant must submit stories in five of the seven categories in the following order: Spot News, Deadline Photography, General News, Sports, Feature, 48 Hour Feature, In-Depth/Series. Only two stories are allowed per category.
Spot News and General News stories are mandatory.
90% of the video in each story must have been shot by the entering photojournalist.
You must also submit a written biography and a list detailing the contents of your presentation. This should indicate the titles and categories of your stories.
No promotional material concerning the photographer, their station, or the submitted work may be included in the entry.
Maximum length: 30 minutes.
Television News Photography Stations of the Year
This category is divided into three divisions based on Nielsen market sizes:
- Large Market: 1 - 34
- Medium Market: 35 - 69
- Small Market: 70 - 212
This award recognizes a local broadcast station's photography staff for their consistency in providing outstanding news photography coverage for and about the audience it serves. The award singles out an individual staff as one that has achieved a high standard of quality in photography and that is unmatched by any other station in their division. Selection as a TV Photography Station of the Year honors excellence and most importantly, it serves to raise the standards of the industry.
The entry is a compilation of the station's best news photography. Stories in five of the eight following categories must be included on this tape in the following order: Spot News, Deadline Photography, General News, Sports, Feature, 48 Hour Feature, In-Depth/Series. Entries in Spot News and General News are required. No more than three stories can be entered in any one category. Team entries are allowed in each category.
Maximum length: 30 minutes.
Photography Staffs of 15 or more: 1/3 of the station's photography staff must be represented on the Station of the Year tape. A single photographer can contribute to no more than 3 stories on the entry.
Photography Staffs of 14 or less: 1/2 of the station's photography staff must be represented on the Station of the Year tape.
Submit with the entry a list detailing the contents of the presentation.
Each story's name and category must be indicated.
Each story must include a complete list of all the photographers involved in its production.
No promotional material concerning the station, its photographers, or the stories should be included on the entry tape.
Also include a one-page summary of the station's philosophy on television news photography. Indicate the size of the staff and the station's market.
Entrants are required to save an air check of their early block (5 p.m. to 6 p.m.) and their late block (10 pm. to 11 p.m.) each day for the month of February. Sometime during the month, your staff will be called by the contest chairperson and told which newscast to mail as part of your SOY entry. This entry will be the same time and day for everyone. The air-check cassette should be not be edited and include the open, close, all commercials, news, weather, and sports.
A story entered in an individual category must be entered in the same category if included in the Station of the Year compilation. Failure to do so will result in either the story being removed from the SOY entry or a disqualification of the entry in the individual category. The judges will decide.
There is a $50 fee for entrants in TV Station of the Year competition made payable to the NPPA.