Best Of Photojournalism 2007 TV Contest Rule Changes And Additions

By Merry Murray
Best of Photojournalism 2007 Television Contest Chair

 

The 2007 Best of Photojournalism Television Photography and Editing Contest is right around the corner and there are some exciting new additions and rule changes:

• This year the contest is FREE to everyone. There is no entry fee for non-members and no entry fee for the Station of the Year category.
• The photography contest is once again giving out the Judge’s Choice award to the story that best exemplifies the ideals of photojournalism.
• The NPPA Photojournalism Award for Reporting is back for a second year. Reporters can enter a compilation of three stories that best showcase their work.
• The TV photography contest has added a new category for solo video journalists. Those who do it all themselves, do it daily, and do it well, now have a place to feature their work.
• Sports is a category that has been growing each year. The 2007 Photography and Editing contest will now both have two sports categories: Sports, and Sports Feature. If you cover the game or the fans, you will now have more choices to enter your sports stories.
• Four new categories have been added for those photojournalists who shoot specifically for the Web. Whether you work for a television station, newspaper, or magazine, this is the category for you! “48 Hours” is for your daily stories, “News Feature” and “Sports Feature” allows you to show your creative side, and “In Depth” is for stories that take a considerable amount of time and effort.
• Last year’s “Web Content” category in the Editing contest is now two Web categories: “48 Hours” and “News Feature.”
• The biggest change to the Best of Photojournalism contest is the addition of a student contest. College students can now enter their weekly or in-depth assignments, adding a kick-start their photojournalism careers.
• And don’t forget, the Television Photography Station of the Year is awarded in three divisions: Large, Medium, and Small Markets. Nothing motivates your whole staff like entering the Station of the Year contest! And now, entry in this category is FREE.
• You can find all the rules, instructions, and entry forms for the Photography, Editing, and Student contest at www.nppa.org.
• Entries will be accepted starting January 3, 2007. Deadline for the Television Photography, Editing, Web, and Student contests is February 2, 2007.

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Here are the new general rules for the Best Of Photojournalism 2007 Television categories and how to enter:

• Entries must have been originally broadcast or posted between January 1st and December 31, 2006.
• Entries will be accepted beginning January 3, 2007, and must be received by February 2, 2007.
• All entries must be postmarked or the shipping receipt dated prior to that time to be eligible for judging.
• There is to be no re-editing of any piece.
• There is no penalty to the entrant if file or historical video is used. 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 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 judges. File video can not exceed more than 10% of total story run time.
• Some stories might fit in more than one category, but you may only enter it once. Failure to follow the rule will result in the disqualification of the entry.
• NPPA will accept entries on Beta SP, DVCPro, or DVD. Make sure your entry plays. The chair will not be responsible for entries that won’t play.
• Each entry must be on an individual tape or DVD and each tape or DVD must be submitted in its own container.
• Tapes or DVD’s containing more than one entry will be disqualified.
• Eliminate any slate or title showing your name, station or city at the beginning of each TV entry. There should be nothing on the tape but the entry. Failure to do so will disqualify the entry. Deadline photography entries and live shots permit station reference.
• Each tape should be cued so when the play button is depressed the entry material begins.
• The online entry form must be submitted for each entry. The confirmation page must be printed and signed, and the labels firmly attached to the outside of each entry's container and to the tape or DVD itself; if not, the entries will be disqualified. (Do not shrink entry form!)
• Individuals and/or stations submitting more than one entry may ship all entries in one box, provided each entry is separate within the shipment.
• The audio channels must be mixed on the entry tape.
• The chairperson will take every normal precaution in handling the entries but cannot be responsible for non-receipt, damage, or loss. Winners will be notified immediately after the judging in March.
• Entry tapes will not be returned.
• Web entries are only accepted by a live URL that entrants must provide on their entry form. Entrants should not submit a tape or DVD of their entry. They must fill out the online entry form and mail that to the contest chairperson. If the URL isn’t given, or the link isn’t functioning properly at the time of the judging, the entry will be disqualified.

Send TV and Web Photography Entries to:

Merry Murray
KSNW-TV
833 N. Main
Wichita, KS 67203
(620) 786-0319
kyphotog@aol.com

Send TV and Web Editing Entries to:

Ram Guzman
c/o The Poynter Institute
801 Third Street South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(817) 586-7353
ramg@ktvt.com

Send Student Entries to:

Eric Blumer
KCNC-TV
1044 N. Lincoln
Denver, CO 80203
(720) 490-5957
eblumer@cbs.com

 

TV News Photography Rules & Catetories

Special Awards:

Judges’ Choice Award
A special "Judges' Choice Award" may be granted, at the judges' discretion, to the single story they feel best exemplifies the ideals of television photojournalism. The winner will be chosen from among the full set of entries in all categories.

NPPA Photojournalism Award for Reporting
The NPPA Photojournalism Award for Reporting is to honor those reporters and field producers who, in collaboration with a television photojournalist, produce outstanding visual stories. Entrants must submit a compilation of 3 packages they have written from the individual categories listed below.This is not only a writing category. The judges will be looking at the overall visual storytelling and how the reporter/field producer contributed to the quality.

The compilation tape may not exceed 20 minutes and can include live shots. There is no penalty if a story is shot by more than one photographer. Include a list with the story titles.

The judges may award a First, Second, and Third place at their discretion.

TV Photography Entry Categories
Photography participants may have no more than two entries in each of the following individual categories: Spot News, Deadline Photography, General News, Sports, Sports Feature, 48 Hour Feature, News Feature, In-Depth/Series, Team, Documentary, and Solo Video Journalist. In all individual entries, 90% of the video must have been shot by one photographer.

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.

Deadline Photography
A Spot News or General News story that was shot, edited, and broadcast within a 4-hour window. The goal of this category is to highlight television photojournalism under deadline pressure. The entry may be a stand-along 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. As a consequence, mention of the photojournalist is permitted in Deadline Photography entries. 90% of the video and live shot must have been shot by the entering photojournalist. Maximum length: 5 minutes.

General News
A story that covers a planned or unplanned news event or a subject of general interest and importance. It can be a follow up or side bar to spot news. The event should be timely. General news stories should 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. If the story is deemed by the judges to be too much of a feature, it may be disqualified.
Maximum length: 5 minutes.

48 Hour Feature
A feature or human interest story shot and edited within a time frame of 48 consecutive hours. 90% of the video must have been shot by the entering photojournalist. Maximum length: 5 minutes.

News 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.

Sports
Any story about a sport or sporting event, that focuses on the outcome of the game or competition. The entry must have been broadcast within 24 hours after the end of the event. 90% of video must have been shot by the entering photojournalist. Maximum length: 5 minutes.

Sports Feature
Any feature story about participants, spectators, or those involved or interested in a sport or sporting event. Does not need to focus on the outcome of the game. 90% of video must have been shot by the entering photojournalist. Maximum length: 10 minutes.

In-Depth
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.

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.

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.

Solo Video Journalist
This award is to recognize those who do it all themselves, do it daily, and do it well. It will recognize the best single story produced by a primarily full time solo video journalist (one man band.) The story must be shot, written, and edited within 48 hours by the entrant. Maximum Length: 5 minutes.

Ernie Crisp Television News Photographer of the Year
The person recognized as the Ernie Crisp Television News 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 eight categories in the following order: Spot News, Deadline Photography, General News, Sports, Sports Feature, 48 Hour Feature, News 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. You also must email your biography and contents list to the contest chairperson.

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
The Station of the Year Award will be presented to three (3) different television stations in three (3) separate divisions based on Nielsen market sizes:

• Large Market (1-34)
• Medium Market (35-69)
• Small Market (70-212)
  

You can find out the size of the market you work in here.

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.

Starting this year there is no entry fee charged for the Station of the Year category.

The entry is a compilation of the station's best news photography. Stories in five of the nine following categories must be included on this tape in the following order: Spot News, Deadline Photography, General News, Sports, Sports Feature, News Feature, 48 Hour Feature, Solo Video Journalist, 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 (9 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.

Web Video Photography Rules & Categories

The Web Video Photojournalism contest will judge entries from their live URL, which the entrant must provide on the entry form. If the URL isn’t given, or the link is not functioning properly at the time of judging, the entry will be disqualified.
This category is for video-based stories that are written and produced for the web. These stories MUST have been posted on a website before any other use in the broadcast arena. You MUST mail an entry form to the contest chair.

48 Hour–Web
A story that covers a planned or unplanned news event or a subject of general interest and importance. It can be spot news or a follow up or side bar to spot news. The event should be timely. The entry should contain no music, except where it's part of the natural sound of the story. Stories must have been shot, edited, and posted on the web within 48 hours. Maximum viewing time for judging: 10 minutes.

News Feature–Web
A feature / human interest story, or series of stories where the photojournalist has put considerable time and effort into the production of the entry. News Features that score highly show imagination and creativity. Maximum viewing time for judging: 30 minutes.

Sports Feature–Web
A planned story or series of stories about the preparation for, analysis of, or audience reaction to, a sport or coverage of a sporting event. Greater weight will be given to stories that have sports action video and focus on the competition. An outcome must be given. Maximum viewing time for judging: 20 minutes.

In-Depth-Web
A planned story or series of stories about a subject of general interest and importance where the photojournalist has put considerable time and effort into the production of the entry. Maximum viewing time for judging: 30 minutes.

Television Editing Rules & Categories

Both Photographers and Editors are allowed to enter the Editing competition. Editors can enter in any category, subject to the tape count restrictions. Photographers are restricted to six categories: General News-Simple Effects, Editor's Effects, News Feature, Photo Essay, Sports Feature, and Sports 24 Hour. In some of these categories, Photographers and Editors will be judged separately, and in others they will compete against each other. Those entering in the Web Editing Contest must submit live URL’s of their entry. No tapes or DVD’s should be submitted. Please read the descriptions carefully for full details.

Editing participants may not have more than two entries in each of the following individual categories: Under Deadline-Spot News, Under Deadline-General News, General News-Simple Effects, News Feature, Editor's Effects, Photo Essay, Sports Editing, and Magazine Editing.

Under Deadline-Spot News
An unplanned news event edited in an hour or less.
The clock for Under-Deadline editing starts with the first in point and/or keystroke after ingestion (if on a non-linear system), which manipulates any raw material that may end up on the final timeline, sequence, or master tape. The story must air within 24 hours of the event.

Editors only. No video shot by the editor is allowed in this piece. Maximum Length: 5 minutes.

Under Deadline-General News
General news coverage of a story, edited in an hour or less. File tape may be included, but may take up no more than 15% of the total length of the piece.

Editors only. No video shot by the editor is allowed in this piece. Maximum Length: 5 minutes.

General News-Simple Effects
Daily news coverage of an event that was shot and edited within 24 hours of that event. This category may include spot news as well as daily news stories. Simple effects (one layered dissolve, freeze frame, slow motion, color effects) are allowed but not necessary.

Please indicate clearly whether any of this entry was photographed by the editor of this piece. Maximum length: 10 minutes.

Editors Effects
Anything goes. Judging based primarily on Editor's use of effects to enhance a piece. This category may include Year Ender.

This is a combined category. Editors and Photographers will be judged against each other. Maximum length: 10 minutes.

News Feature
A feature story requiring narration, airing on a newscast or special. Effects are allowed but not necessary.

Photographers may enter, but will be judged separately.

Please indicate clearly whether any part of this entry was photographed by the editor of this piece.

Maximum length: 10 minutes.

Photo Essay
A natural sound piece, photo essay, year ender, show open or close, without narration, in which the editor had considerable input into the production of the piece. These pieces demonstrate exceptional use of natural sound, sound bites, sound effects, and/or music.

Effects are allowed but not necessary.

Photographers may enter, but will be judged separately. Please indicate clearly whether any of this entry was photographed by the editor of this piece. Maximum length: 10 minutes.

Sports Feature
Any story featuring a person or persons involved in a sports setting. The outcome of a specific sporting event is not required, however, greater weight will be given to stories that have sports action video and focus on the competition. Effects are allowed but not necessary. Editors and Photographers will be judged against each other. Maximum length: 10 minutes.

Sports 24 Hours
Any story in which the outcome of a sporting event is part of the story. Effects are allowed but not necessary. Editors and Photographers will be judged against each other. The story must have been broadcast 24 hours after the end of the sporting event.
Maximum length: 10 minutes.

Magazine Editing
A story on a single topic which aired on a local or network magazine show. If the entire show lasts more than 30 minutes, segments of that show are allowed, but those entries must not be cut-down within that segment. Editors only. No video shot by editor is allowed in this piece. Maximum length: 30 minutes.

Editor of the Year
The person recognized as Editor of the Year must show a high level of skill and professionalism. To enter this category, submit one video tape or DVD of editing typical of your work. The chairperson will not assemble entries from other categories for this award. However, edited stories entered in other categories may also be a part of the composite entry for this category. Entries must include Under Deadline as well as four of the seven following categories: General News-Simple Effects, Editors Effects, News Feature, Photo Essay, Sports 24 Hours, Sports Feature, or Magazine. Stories submitted must be in that order along with a log of the stories and the categories they fall in. Enter no more than two stories per category.

Also email a biography to the contest chair. (kyphotog@aol.com)

Re-Editing not allowed. Editors only. No video shot by the editor is allowed on this tape. Maximum length: 30 minutes.

Web Editing Rules and Categories
The Web Video Editing contest will judge entries from their live URL, which the entrant must provide on the entry form. If the URL isn’t given, or the link is not functioning properly at the time of judging, the entry will be disqualified.

This category is for video-based stories that are written and produced originally for the web. These stories MUST have been posted on a website before any other use in the broadcast arena.

You MUST mail an entry form to the contest chair.

48 Hour-Web
A story that covers a planned or unplanned news event or a subject of general interest and importance. It can be spot news or a follow up or side bar to spot news. The entry should contain no music, except where it's part of the natural sound of the story. Stories must have been shot, edited, and posted on the web within 48 hours. Maximum viewing time for judging: 10 minutes.

News Feature-Web
A feature / human interest story, or series of stories where the editor has put considerable time and effort into the production of the entry. News Features that score highly show imagination and creativity. Effects & music are allowed but not necessary.
Maximum viewing time for judging: 30 minutes.

Student Photojournalism Contest Rules & Categories

The Student Photojournalism Contest will recognize the best video journalism produced by students who attend a college or post high school video journalism program.

Anyone who is employed full-time as a video journalist is not considered a "student" for the purposes of the contest; professional video journalists should enter the TV Photography or Web Video Journalism divisions instead.

The story must either have:

• Aired during calendar year 2006 on a sanctioned newscast or Webcast, or
• Been approved for entry in the contest by the student's educational institution

The Student Photojournalism Contest is divided into two categories based on the time it takes to produce a story. The judges may award a First, Second, and Third place at their discretion:

Weekly Assignments
Any story shot and edited within 7 days. Maximum Length: 5 minutes.

In-Depth Assignments
Any single story, or a series of stories, shot and edited in more than 7 days. Maximum Length: 10 minutes. If your story lasts longer than 10 minutes, please edit it to one 10-minute segment.

Contact Merry Murray with any questions.

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