TV Quarterly Clip Contest Judging Guidelines

Judging Requirements

The success of the NPPA and the Quarterly Clip Contest relies on the expedience, impartiality, and most importantly the fairness of the judging and critiquing of the entries. Qualified judges are asked to provide worthwhile and useful feedback if they elect to provide a critique. Those agreeing to judge are reminded that they are serving not just another region's membership, but the entire membership of the NPPA. Your judging reflects not only yourself, but your station and the region you represent. If judges do not meet these requirements, they will not be asked to judge again. By signing the judge's validation form, you acknowledge that you have read, understand and have ethically met all of the guidelines and rules.

There must be a minimum of three judges.
One judge must be a member of NPPA.
Judges are not required to write comments, but are encouraged to give some constructive feedback.

Writing Comments

The comments you write are one of the primary reasons that people enter the quarterly clip contest. If you do elect to provide comments, we encourage you to make your feedback specific, constructive, and more importantly, respectful.

Selecting Winners

Entries in the Television Quarterly Clip Contest will be judged by a panel of entrants' peers. The judges will be selected and assembled by the regional clip chair. Judges will represent and act in the best interest of the NPPA.

Winners should be selected for their storytelling ability. Look for the entry that has...

A beginning, middle, and end
Few technical flaws
Good natural sound
Pictures that tell the story

You may determine that a story is in the wrong category. If it is determined that a story is in the wrong category, it may be disqualified or moved to an appropriate category. If the panel of judges feels a story is in the wrong category, they must consult with the regional chair for a ruling. The final decision on whether a story is entered appropriately or not lies with the regional chair overseeing that quarter's judging.

Give each story a point score, but don't select your winners based solely on points. Rather, use these points as a guide to pick your top stories and discuss what rank these stories should be given.

There can be no ties. You must award first, second and third places if there are four stories or more entered in that category. If fewer than four stories are entered, awards are optional. You are not required to choose any winners if there are three or less entries. In this case, placings should only be awarded only if the judges feel the entries justify an award, but the judges are not required to award any placings. Regardless of the number of entries, an honorable mention may be awarded (one per category) if you feel it is justified.

All judges must sign the judging validation form.

Thank you for taking time to judge. Your comments separate this contest from a host of others. Your great care and attention will greatly benefit all those who enter.