The NPPA Television Quarterly Clip Contest is a vital function of the NPPA and provides an important service to its membership. The contest stands to recognize outstanding work performed by NPPA members on a quarterly basis. The TVQCC also serves to promote, encourage, and teach the highest levels of photojournalism and ethics.
The TV Quarterly Clip Contest is open to NPPA members in good standing. To enter the entire three-month quarter, membership payment must be received by the executive director before or during the first month of the quarter. If payment is received during the second or third month of the quarter, only entries from that month or later may be submitted. Timely dues payment is each member's responsibility.
A maximum of two entries (packages) is allowed each quarter. An entry must have aired for the first time during the contest quarter. Entrant must have shot at least 90 percent of the entry. Re-editing is not allowed. There is no penalty to the entrant if file or historical video is used, although historical or file video cannot exceed more than 25% of the total story run time. Each part of a series counts as one entry. Entrant must complete an entry form and comply with all directions. Incomplete or illegible entry forms will result in a disqualification. Entries received on tape formats other than those formats listed on the regional chairs page will not be judged. Make sure you are a sending your entry on a format accepted by the regional chair to which you are sending your entry.
File Video is defined as video that has previously aired in a newscast, video that originated from a network feed, and stock video that was shot previously that may or may not have already aired. File video also includes surveillance video, amateur video, VNR's, or any other video not originating with the entering photojournalist. Any questions about the use of file video will be left to the discretion of the regional chair. Any questions by the judges concerning file video should be addressed to the regional chair.
Entries must be received by the 15th of the month following the end of the quarter. Entries that arrive after the 15th that have a postmark or shipping date later than the 10th (the 5th if sent by 4th class mail) will not be accepted and will be disqualified. The quarters are defined as follows; 1st: Jan 1-Mar 31; 2nd: Apr 1-Jun 30; 3rd: Jul 1-Sep 30; 4th: Oct 1-Dec 31.
There are four categories. Both clips may be entered in the same category or in two different categories. The same clip may not be entered in more than one category. Any clip may be entered in any category, provided it meets the guidelines set forth below.
The regional contest chair will determine the qualifications of each entry and may disqualify an entry or change the category in which it is to be judged.
Entries in the Television Quarterly Clip Contest will be judged by a panel of your 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. Judges must choose a first, second and third place in each category if there are at least four entries in a given category. If there are fewer than four entries in a particular category a first, second and/or third place may or may not be awarded. There can be no ties. Judges may at their sole discretion award an honorable mention in any category.
Points awarded will be as follows
| Entry | 1 point per entrant; not 1 per entry |
| 1st place | 11 points |
| 2nd place | 8 points |
| 3rd place | 5 points |
| Honorable Mention | 2 points |
A member moving from one region to another may not carry points already won to the new region, but may enter a piece that aired in another region during the quarter. The moving member may only participate in one region at a time and may not exceed the 2 entry maximum for members.
Certificates will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Honorable Mention winners. Each first place winning story will be automatically entered in the national quarterly competition to select the best photographer for that quarter, nationwide, in that category. At the end of the year a "Top Five Award" will be distributed to all photographers whose points total place them in the top five of their respective regions.
The title "Regional Television Photographer of the Year" will be awarded to the entrant in each region who accumulates the most points during the year. If there is a tie, the person with the most first places wins. If there is still a tie, then the tie stands and the title awarded will be "Co-Regional Photographer of the Year."
