The NPPA Online Video 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 OVC also serves to promote, encourage, and teach the highest levels of photojournalism and ethics.
The NPPA Online Video Contest is open to NPPA members in good standing. In order to be eligible to enter any particular quarter, membership payment must be current on or before the 10th of the month following the end of that quarter. For example, to submit a first quarter entry the entrant must become a member by April 10th; to submit a second quarter entry the entrant must become a member by July 10th; etc. Timely dues payment is each member's responsibility. With membership and participation comes the expectation to serve as a judge.
The OVC is open to photojournalists, video journalists and solo video journalists who shoot and/or edit video for an online news organization or the online version of their company’s news product. The OVC runs parallel with the Television Quarterly Clip Contest and the Solo Video Contest. This means on a quarterly basis, each entering journalist must choose to enter only one of these three contests; the one that best suits his or her talents and working environment.
The OVC is open to traditional television photojournalists who shoot and edit with a television news model in mind. It is open to stories repurposed from television for online applications. If an entry appears on television first and then it is posted online it does qualify for entry in this contest. Stories first published online and then appear on television are eligible for submission.
Eligibility questions should be directed to the contest chair.
Quarters are defined as 1st: Jan 1-Mar 31; 2nd: Apr 1-Jun 30; 3rd: Jul 1-Sep 30; 4th: Oct 1-Dec 31. Entries must be submitted online by the 10th of the month following the end of the quarter – April 10th, July 10th, October 10th, and January 10th. Late entries will not be accepted.
Since this is a new contest, the 2009 OVC will draw from an international pool. In future years geographical divisions may be created if participation warrants.
A maximum of two entries (stories) are allowed each quarter. An entry must have been published online for the first time during the contest quarter. The entrant must have shot at least 90% of the entry. 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. Entrants must complete an online entry form found at www.nppa.org and provide an active URL containing the entry for 90 days following entry submission.
Entries that include still photography images may be submitted in the OVC. However, the entering video journalist should consider this contest primarily evaluates proficiency, creativity and a journalist’s technical skills in video storytelling. Ninety-percent of the original still photographs included in an entry must have been created by the entering video journalist.
File video and archive images are defined as material used in previous news reporting. It also includes network feed video or still images, surveillance images, mug shots, amateur video or still images, VNR's, or any other video or still images not originating with the entering journalist. Any questions about the use of file video or still images will be left to the discretion of the contest chair. Any questions by the judges concerning file video or still images should be addressed to the contest chair.
There are three categories. A video journalist may enter two clips each quarter. 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. There are no total-running-time limits for any of the categories. “Online Video Journalist of the Year” points are awarded to video journalists who win in these categories.
A story about an issue or an event, planned or unplanned. The piece must have been shot, edited, and published online within 24 hours. Any version of the story posted within 24 hours of when the entrant began shooting is eligible for submission. Clips that may be considered features may be disqualified from this category.
A feature or human interest story shot, edited and published online within 72 hours. Any version of the story posted within 72 hours of when the entrant began shooting is eligible for submission.
A story or feature where the video journalist put considerable time and effort into the story’s planning and production. There is no time limit for production. However, the initially published story is the only version eligible for submission. Multiple parts of an ongoing news reporting series may be submitted in this category. Submit only the parts that were originally published in the contest quarter.
The 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.
There is one exhibition category. No “Online Video Journalist of the Year” points are awarded to video journalists who win in this category. Submissions in this category are not counted toward a video journalist’s “two entries per quarter” maximum of the other three Competitive Individual Categories. But please limit entries in this category to only a few from each news organization.
A planned story or feature where several video journalists put considerable time and effort into the story’s production. There is no total running time limit for this category. There is no time limit for production. However, the initially published story is the only version eligible for submission.
Entries in the Online Video Contest are judged by your video journalist peers. Judges are selected and assembled by the contest 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 for the “Online Video Journalist of the Year” competition will be awarded as follows:
Continuing education is essential to the NPPA and its members. The NPPA values the sharing of professional techniques and ideas. Judges will provide a thoughtful and constructive critique for every entry.
The title "NPPA Online Video Journalist of the Year" will be awarded to the entrant who accumulates the most points during the contest 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-Online Video Journalist of the Year."
Certificates will be awarded for each quarterly 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Honorable Mention winner. A plaque will be awarded to the Online Video Journalist of the Year.
