KTUU-TV Named Small Market Station Of The Year; Durlach Wins General News
ST. PETERSBURG, FL (March 1, 2010) – KTUU-TV of Anchorage, Alaska, has been picked as the Small Market Station of the Year in the National Press Photographers Association's 2010 Best Of Photojournalism Television contest today by judges at the competition's host site, The Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg.
Runner-up for the SM SOY honor was News 12 Connecticut. Finalists for the SM SOY honors were KTUU-TV, KCCI-TV in Des Moines, WHO-TV in Des Moines, and News 12 Connecticut.
"KTUU-TV was a solid entry from top to bottom," judge Dave Delozier said. "Consistent character development and storytelling skills throughout. They took full advantage of moments that made me feel a full range of emotions. At times it made me laugh, especially in 'Mattress Dominos,' and made me feel the loss in 'Roses for Alaska Deb.' The entry had solid composition throughout. It was just an excellent example of storytelling."
"Our pick for small market station of the year did an expert job of peppering their stories with real authentic moments that caught us by surprise and put us right in the scene," judge Crystal Lauderdale said. "Images of a cat falling down from his tree as firefighters rushed up to rescue him, a man being charged and tossed by a feisty bison, a moose mascot falling atop the last mattress domino in a record-breaking event – all of these were unique moments, and they stand out in my mind long after the stories have ended."
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Other winners picked in today's second day of judging include the top spots for the General News category.
First place in General News is Darren Durlach of WBFF-TV in Baltimore for "A Special Piece Of History." Second place is Eric Kehe of KUSA-TV in Denver for "Ladybugged," and third place is Joe O'Neill of WHTM-TV in Harrisburg for "Columbia's Big Move." Honorable mention was awarded to Dave Althouse of KDVR-TV in Denver for "Lupe Vigil Hears His Name."
"I liked the [Ray] 'Farkas' distance and picturesque framing on the interviews, and the photographer really took some chances and went extremely far away from the subjects," judge Jake Carpenter said about Durlach's first place General News story.
"It felt like there were three wireless mics and three cameras interviewing different people, all while the main event was actually rolling down the street. The sound bytes blended so well and were in the right places with the video, and at the right time. This story only got better as I watched it more and noticed more little things – like the skateboarder cruising down the street in one of the beginning scene-setting shots. Terrific job. I love this story."
During Sunday's judging, the panel picked Durlach for first place in Spot News, and Jon Alpert and Matthew O'Neill of HBO for first place in the Documentary category for "China's Unnatural Disaster."
The Medium Market Station of the Year will be announced on Wednesday, and the Large Market Station of the Year will be named Thursday. Video Editor of the Year, and the Ernie Crisp Television News Photographer of the Year, will be named on Friday.
NPPA's 2010 Best of Photojournalism competition is sponsored this year by The Poynter Institute for Media Studies, ibiblio, Camera Bits, Ohio University, and the St. Petersburg Times.
Read an earlier story about Sunday's judging and winners
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