2017 Call for Entries

The deadline to enter has passed. Entries for the 2017 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards were accepted February 21 through April 21. To view a list of categories only, click 2017 Category List.

Please note the annual judging requirement for all entrants.

CALL FOR ENTRIES

PURPOSE: To recognize outstanding achievements in television and allied media by conferring annual awards of merit in the Chapter’s designated award region. The presentation of these awards is intended to be an incentive for the continued pursuit of excellence for those working in the television and media industry and to focus public attention on outstanding cultural, educational, technological, entertainment, news, informational programming and craft achievements in television and on-line.

ELIGIBILITY:  To be eligible, original entries must have been transmitted to the general public by a television station, a cable company, satellite, the Internet or other digital delivery medium. Digital is defined as multimedia projects that combine various forms of traditional media with social media and interactivity, as well as linear programming delivered online (over the Internet, via various mobile platforms).  Eligibility is limited to digital and telecast/cablecast programming that was originally made available during the Chapter’s eligibility year. Re-purposed material is not eligible unless it is determined to have been given a new and unique treatment.

Broadcast entries must have been intended to be of “primary interest to a regional audience, within the Chapter’s designated awards area and must have had their first transmission in that awards area during the eligibility period. Entries must not have been available for viewing by more than 50% of the U.S. television homes during the eligibility year. Entries that are available to more than 50% of the U.S. television homes should be submitted to NATAS’ national awards (see exceptions).

Broadband entries must have been intended for consumption and be ‘of primary interest’ to a regional audience, within the Chapter’s designated awards area.  It is advised that broadband content intended for a wider audience (a national audience) be submitted for consideration in The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ national awards.   

Cablecast entries are deemed available for an entire market if the cable channel on which they appear is generally available to that market, regardless of the actual number of subscribers the cable channel may have in the market.

However, entries which are specifically designed exclusively for their local market may be accepted for regional judging, even if the retransmitting of the station’s signal by cable systems make it available to more than 50% of the American television households. This may include regional newscasts or programs dealing with issues specifically related to the local community.

For entries/programs that have been syndicated and aired in regional markets, the entrant(s) must provide a “carriage/distribution summary.” The summary must indicate all markets that carried the show, how many runs it had the percentage of coverage.

EXCEPTIONS TO THE 50% RULE:

1. Local station news coverage that may receive national exposure should be submitted to regional Emmy® Award competitions.

2. Entries are eligible for regional competition if the treatment was of a local community issue, with the content primarily intended for distribution in the Chapter’s designated awards area. Works accepted for regional judging under this exception may not be submitted for national consideration.

3. A local program that later receives national distribution may compete in both regional and national awards competitions, but not in the same eligibility year.

4. Local segments that are eligible to participate as entries in national Emmy® Award competitions (i.e. News & Doc, Community & Public Service) may compete in both regional and national awards competitions under prevailing rules.

Program length commercials (infomercials) and closed circuit programs are not eligible. Pornographic, violent, defamatory or offensive material is not accepted. The interpretation of the Awards Committee is final and absolute. Entries must be submitted as originally shown. There may not be any post-broadcast changes except as noted in the category descriptions.

No entry may be submitted to more than one Chapter’s awards.

Different episodes from the same program or series can only be entered in one Chapter’s awards.

Ineligible entries may be disqualified during any phase of the competition.

ORIGINAL MATERIAL: At least two-thirds of an entry must consist of original material, unless previously produced material has been given some unique and creative treatment that, in the opinion of the Chapter Awards Committee, results in an original program. Entrants must identify all non-original or sponsored material, including its location in the program. Re-purposed material is not eligible.

ENTRY QUOTA: In order to sustain a high level of award excellence, Chapters must continue to self-regulate their entries, making sure only the appropriate individuals are recognized. To maintain this consistency, there is a maximum quota of 10 eligible names allowed on each entry.

STUDENT PRODUCTIONS: Students are not considered peer professionals and as such, their regional student productions are not eligible for Emmy® award recognition. If material is produced as part of a class, for which school credit is received, they are considered a student. If they are paid or working on a project with other “professionals,” and want to enter the Chapter’s award competition, they cannot enter as a student, but instead must pay the appropriate entries fees as an active NATAS member (or non-member). The student is then prohibited from entering subsequent student production categories with other classmates. Student award recipients from any NATAS Chapters’ high school or college competitions may not use the Emmy® name or replica of the Emmy® figure in any form of commercial advertising or promotion for their recognition.

COMPOSITES: A composite is defined as a sampling of two or more representative segments or elements that convey to a judging panel the scope, breadth, or range of an individual’s talents or of coverage of a special event. The elements within a composite, unless otherwise noted, are to be “as aired” with no internal edits or post production work, such as music or special effects. Demo reels or montages are not allowed. One to two seconds of black between cuts, with no audio or slates must be added to separate segments within the composite. Unless otherwise noted, a straight lift from a long work may be included as an element of a composite, but there must be no editing of the lift. For program entries, composite may only contain content from one episode of the series, not multiple installments.

DOUBLE-DIPPING:  No single entry may be submitted in its entirety in more than one programming category. Exceptions are given for content that was part of a full newscast, or included as an excerpt in the “Overall Excellence,” “News Excellence,” and “Community Service,” categories.

To be eligible for this exception in the newscast categories, the same entrant cannot be listed on the newscast entry and then use the same material and enter in another programming category.

If you enter a full program or episode from a series in a programming category, you cannot also enter a segment from the same show in another program category.

Content produced as both a multi-part series and a full-length program may be entered only once, regardless of the amount of new material added.

A single or multi episode full-length program, or a multi-part news series, all on the same subject, may only be entered in only one programming category. If the subject matter varies, different episodes from the same overall program series can be entered in other program categories as appropriate based on content. This exception rule does not apply to individual stories from news series.

An individual can only be recognized once for the same job function, utilizing the same program content.

Craft persons, like writers, photographers, editors, etc., are allowed to enter in programming categories if they directly contributed to the content of the program or segment, and have the permission of the primary producer.  If a craft person does enter as a producer in a program category, they may enter the same content again in their respective craft category.

LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH: Spanish-language entries may be entered and will be judged by a panel of Spanish-speaking, peer judges in a separate contest from English language. The scores produced by these two panels are not combined; instead the scores are interpreted separately for final “cut-off” evaluation.

Programs in languages other than English or Spanish may also be entered; however judging of these entries in their native language is subject to the availability of qualified, peer judges who speak the language of the entry. Therefore, NATAS requires that these entrants submit their entries with English subtitles or with English on a second audio channel.

MEMBERSHIP: Membership in The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is not required to enter the Emmy® Awards.

JUDGING PROCEDURE: Entries made to this Chapter will be judged by panels assembled by other NATAS Chapters. These panels should be comprised of no fewer than 7 judges who shall be certified as peers. No more than 3 judges on a panel may be employed by the same station or company. Judges may not have a conflict of interest, which is described as having a direct involvement in the production of an entry, or having a personal relationship with a member of the production staff of an entry. Group ownership, by itself, does not necessarily create a conflict of interest.

NON-COMPETITIVE JUDGING: Entries are judged against a standard of excellence and do not compete against each other. There may be one award, more than one award or no award given in each category. Any exceptions will be noted in the category description.

JUDGING REQUIREMENT: The success of the Emmy® Awards process depends on the willingness of qualified professionals to serve as judges. Peers in other NATAS Chapters are serving this Chapter’s entrants. This Chapter will judge other Chapter’s entries. By entering, you agree to serve as a judge when asked.

All entries sent to judges for screening are deemed to be eligible by the Chapter whose work is being judged. For that reason, judges are required to score each entry regardless if they feel it has been placed in the wrong category or might have technical problems. Forms are available online should judges wish to challenge any entry. On challenge entries, judges are asked to score without bias, even if they believe an entry is not in an appropriate category.

INTENTIONAL FALSIFICATION: The entrant warrants that he/she/they are the party(ies) most responsible for the award-worthiness of the entry. The intentional falsification of production credits or entry credits may be the basis for disqualification.

ENTRY ERRORS AND OMISSIONS: The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences assumes no responsibility for the acts or omissions of those individuals or entities submitting entries pursuant to this notice. All submitting entities and/or individuals are advised to review submissions with respect to correct name credits and other information. NATAS shall accept all submissions that are not in conflict with any of its rules and regulations.

COPYRIGHT: Each entrant agrees that any form of analog and/or digital recording, whether it be film, tape recording, screenshot or supplemental printed material that is furnished to NATAS in connection with an entry may be retained by the National Academy for file, reference and archival purposes and may be viewed partially or in its entirety for judging purposes. All of, or portions of, said content may be used on or in connection with the awards ceremony, any broadcast/telecast and other exhibition, including internet; as well as with promotional announcements or activities for any of the foregoing. If required, the entrant is further responsible for approval and clearances to the appropriate parties for any use of this copyright content.

WHO RECEIVES THE AWARD?   Producers, craft persons and other eligible entrants as listed on the entry form receive the Emmy® statuette, except where noted.  To be eligible, each entrant must have significant, creative involvement in the actual production. Pre and post production involvement, including proposal/grant writing, research, fundraising, producing partnerships, etc., though necessary and of major importance is not substantial enough to be considered. They must verify in writing their “hands on” involvement in order to be listed on the entry.

You cannot be added to an awarded entry as an additional recipient, nor purchase a statuette past the Chapter’s deadline. Others who work on a nominated or recognized entry may order production certificates or plaques.  Individuals who did not receive a statuette, but were eligible for production certificates and/or plaques are not considered Emmy® recipients.

CRAFTS ACHIEVEMENT: In the Crafts Achievement Awards, those who actually perform a specific discipline receive the Emmy® statuette. Supervising or directing the work of others does not qualify for Crafts Achievement Awards, except for achievements in directing categories.

AWARD OWNERSHIP: Emmy® Awards are presented to individuals, not to their employers. It is the individual entrant’s achievement that is being judged and recognized. Ownership of the Emmy® statuette is retained by the individuals and The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, even if an employer pays entry fees.

COMMEMORATIVE STATUETTES: Stations, studios and production companies may order a commemorative statuette for public display at their place of business (up to a maximum of three per awarded entry). The statuette is engraved the same as the actual Emmy® Award, with the word “commemorative” added on the rear of the statuette. No additional or special wording is allowed.

PROMOTION:  All publicity, advertising or any written reference undertaken by nominees and award recipients to the Emmy® Awards, must clearly state that the awarded achievement is for a Regional Emmy® Award. The word “Regional” must appear in these instances. The recipient of a nomination or an Emmy® Award may refer in advertising and publicity to the fact that they have been honored only for one year after the recognition was bestowed. They may use a replica of the Emmy® statuette in such advertising. Individuals who significantly contributed to the production or craft but were not honored with a statuette cannot specifically advertise they are an Emmy® award recipient. They can only state they worked on the recognized program.   The statuette itself may not be reproduced or used in any other commercial manner without written permission from NATAS.  A ® registration mark and the appropriate copyright notice: © NATAS/Television Academy must accompany any portrayal of the Emmy® statuette or moniker.

DMA Jurisdiction
The Mid-Atlantic Chapter encompasses all markets in Pennsylvania (except Erie, PA), New Jersey (Trenton and south), Delaware (Dover and north) and Wheeling, WV/Steubenville, OH.

Entries
Program and/or craft achievements by individuals may be entered for awards consideration by producers of programs, station representatives acting on behalf of those producers, (presumably, the General Manager, Program Director, and the News Director), or by individuals who may or may not be members of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Spanish-Language Entries
By vote of the Board of Trustees (October, 2002), every Spanish-language entry that is submitted for Emmy® consideration must be judged by a qualified panel of Spanish-speaking, peer judges. It will be necessary for each Chapter to conduct two, distinct award competitions; one competition for English-language entries and another for Spanish-language entries.

English-language entries from a given area will be judged by a panel of English-speaking judges while Spanish-language entries from the same area will be judged by a panel of Spanish-speaking judges. The scores produced by these two panels must not be combined; instead the scores must be interpreted separately by your CPA firm for final “cut-off” evaluation.

During the Awards Ceremony, it is permissible for the statuettes for the English-language and the Spanish-language recipients of the same category to be presented at the same time.

Each Chapter will arrange with another Chapter separate and distinct judging. It is recommended that judging panels be assembled by those Chapters that are most able to assemble judging panels, based on the existence of Spanish-held communication companies and the identification of bi-lingual professionals who work in the general television market. Judges must be peers from the ranks of qualified television professionals, including allied fields such as production, post-production and academia.

In order for a Chapter’s entries to be properly routed for separate judging, the entry form must include a method for designating the entry to be “English” or “Spanish.”

Special Note:
At the discretion of those Chapters who mutually consent to the practice, it is permissible, wherever practical, to enlist the use of a single, all bi-lingual judging panel (per category), to negate the need of conducting separate judging. However, this practice might exclude the largest body of potential judges – television peer professionals who only speak English – from participating in the judging process. Further, it might over-utilize a considerably smaller body of potential judges – television professionals who speak both English and Spanish – rather quickly. For these reasons, this practice is not preferred.

All other rules apply.

Double-Dipping Defined
To avoid any confusion, the basic formula for “double-dipping” is the following:    An individual entrant can only been recognized once for the same job function, utilizing the same program content.

Craft persons, like writers, photographers, editors, etc., are allowed to enter in programming categories if they directly contributed to the content of the program or segment, and have the permission of the primary producer.  If a craft person does enter as a producer in a program category, they may enter the same content again in their respective craft category.

Examples:

• If a craft person is a writer/photographer, they could enter the program category as only the writer and then the photographer craft category.
• If they are not an entrant on the program entry, they could enter either the writer or photographer category, using the same material since they performed different job functions.
• If they list themselves as both writer and photographer on the program entry, they are ineligible to enter either the writer or photographer craft categories.
• They cannot enter either craft category using the dual job title since one category is only for writer and the other only for photographer.
• No single entry may be submitted in its entirety in more than one programming category. Exceptions are given for content that was part of a full newscast, or included as an excerpt in the “Station Excellence,” “News Excellence,” and “Community Service.”

To be eligible for this exception in the newscast categories, the same entrant cannot be listed on the newscast entry and then use the same material and enter in another programming category.

Example:   An investigative reporter is listed on a newscast entry. Under this “double-dipping” rule, a portion of the newscast content could be entered in “Investigative Report,” but the same reporter cannot be listed since their name already appeared on the newscast entry.

You cannot enter the same material in both news and program categories.

A single or multi episode full-length program all on the same subject may only be entered in only one programming category. If the subject matter varies, different episodes from the same overall program series can be entered in other program categories as appropriate based on its content. This exception rule does not apply to individual stories from news series (see below).

Examples:

• Your entry is a four-part series, Saving the Bay. Part one of the series is entered in the “Informational/Instructional” category. Part three cannot be entered in the “Environment” category.
• Your program is called Community Weekly, an on-going weekly series. Though it is basically a “Public Affairs” series, episode 204 may be about music, episode 216 about sports, while other episodes are more generic. Under our rules, episode 204 could be entered in an “Entertainment” category, while episode 216 could be in “Sports.” Episode 222 could stay in “Public Affairs.”

Content produced as both a multi-part news series and a full-length program may be entered only once, regardless of the amount of new material added.

Example:

• An investigative team does a three-part series within a newscast on gun control. Once the three parts have aired, and the same material re-purposed as a news or program special, the team would need to decide if they should enter the original series or the special, not both.

If you enter a full program or episode from a series in a programming category, you cannot also enter a segment from the same show in another program category.

Conus Rule
Materials provided by a news service, cooperative news association or similar source must be treated as previously produced material, unless it was originally intended for first release in the regional awards eligibility area to which it was submitted with on-site supervision by the entrant and not available to more than 50% of U.S. television households.

Disclosure of Award Recipients   In order to maintain integrity, it is the policy of NATAS that there is no prior disclosure of award recipients before the envelope is opened to reveal the category results.  This includes press releases.  A template of the final press release can be given to the CPA firm processing the ballots ahead of time so they can enter the appropriate results and bring copies of the completed release to the awards ceremony.  In no case should the final results be given to the press or other media sources prior to the opening of the envelopes.  All announcements and releases should remain in the possession of the representative from your CPA firm until the ceremonies have concluded.

Other than your CPA firm, any additional Chapter and/or vendor personnel will be accountable to annual, strict non-disclosure agreements (see sample form). 

Entries
Program and/or craft achievements by individuals may be entered for awards consideration by producers of programs, station representatives acting on behalf of those producers, (presumably, the General Manager, Program Director, and the News Director), or by individuals who may or may not be members of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Peer Judging Defined
A peer judge is defined as any person with a minimum of two years of professional experience in the field of television program production, programming, or allied media who is directly engaged in or supervises the discipline they’re being asked to judge. Potential judges may also include professionals in allied fields, who by the specific nature of their work are uniquely qualified to make judgmental decisions concerning particular areas of television or media production. Examples of peer judges include: television and multi-media writers, producers, directors; programming, production and news executives; craft persons; advertising agency executives and creative directors involved in programming decisions; print journalists (who have hands-on television production experience); sports professionals; college university educators who represent journalism/film/television/media; former broadcast journalists and media retirees.

To judge, teachers must either teach the specific crafts being judged, or have had professional experience performing the craft being judged.

Writing newspaper or magazine columns, blogs, and/or articles about television or media does not qualify a person as a peer in any category. Television critics are not peer, unless they also have previous professional experience.

Whenever a current job title does not obviously qualify a judge as a peer, the judge should list, on the judge’s certification section of the ballot, his/her previous experience, which qualifies him/her as a peer for the programs or crafts being judged.

     (Note: The success of the Emmy® awards process depends on the willingness of qualified professionals to serve as judges. As stipulated by the “Standard Clauses,” those persons entering the competition have agreed to serve as a judge, when asked).

Entry Screening

• Judges are chosen by The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences because of their standing in the industry and professional expertise. They are expected to judge with the same care and respect required from others. The success of the Awards, the integrity of the Emmy® award itself, all depends on that care and respect.

• NATAS has arrived at national standard procedures that bring uniform clarity and fairness to Emmy® judging.

• Judges are not eligible to vote for any achievement in which they may have a personal or vested interest. In such cases, they are obliged to write “conflict of interest” in the place where they would normally mark their scores. A conflict of interest is described as having a direct involvement in the production of an entry, or having a personal relationship with a member of the production staff of an entry. Group ownership, by itself, does not necessarily create a conflict of interest.

• If a category has too many entries to view in a normal judging session, the panel may be split into two or more subpanels. However, an additional panel, a Blue Ribbon panel, must be assembled to screen those entries receiving the top four scores from each of the split panels. The Blue Ribbon panel must view each entry in its entirety. Members of this final panel may also have been members of the split panels.

• The National Awards Committee does permit the combining of preliminary and Blue Ribbon judging panels if the recommendations described above are followed.

• A standardized judging rating system for all Chapters has been provided by the National Awards Committee, to bring uniform clarity and fairness to Emmy® Program or segment entries are judged on a scale of 1 to 10 on each of three criteria: Content, Creativity and Execution. The final total for each entry judged has a potential of 30 points. Individual crafts achievement entries are rated on a scale of 1 to 10 on two criteria: Creativity and Execution, for a total of 20 points.

• Each entry must be given a score. No fractions or zeros may be used on the ballot.

• All entries sent to judges for screening are deemed to be eligible by the Chapter whose work is being judged. For that reason, judges are required to score each entry regardless if they feel it has been placed in the wrong category or might have technical problems. Forms are available should judges wish to challenge any entry.

• On challenge entries, judges are asked to score without bias, even if they believe an entry is not in an appropriate category.

• Included on the on-line judging ballot is a certification section. Each panel member will verify their professional credits to be a peer judge and state they have viewed the programs and/or crafts achievements as defined by the Chapter rules.
• Votes are confidential and are verified by the Chapter’s accounting firm.

• Judges must not disclose to others or in writing how they have voted. If they ignore or abuse this privilege, their ballot may be disqualified and/or their judging status eliminated.

Entry Fees and Information
NO ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED INTO THE COMPETITION WITHOUT PAYMENT. All entries must be accompanied with the proper payment for entry fees and membership dues, if applicable.   Please submit a check payable to “NATAS Mid-Atlantic” or your credit card receipt as proof of payment.   No entry fees will be refunded.

All entries must be entered online through Emmy® Express. All video must be uploaded through Emmy® Express to be part of the competition. Please visit www.natasmid-atlantic.org and click “Emmy® Awards” for the Emmy® Express system and additional information to assist you in submitting entries.   

NOTE: Include all contributors as entrants at the time of submission. Most categories permit up to ten entrants. Adding names after the announcement of Nominees is NOT permitted. When exceptions are granted, the cost will be twice the entry fee plus a $50 processing fee.  Absolutely No names can be added after the recipients are announced.

Early submissions at Discounted Fees: To receive the discounted entry fee, the entry must be SUBMITTED AND THE VIDEO MUST BE UPLOADED by 8pm FRIDAY, April 7, 2017:

Members:
$65    for each entrant listed in news & programming
Categories #1-50 (maximum of TEN entrants)
Categories # 51-54 (see entry requirements)
$45    for all Craft Achievement

Non-Members:
$170  for each entrant listed in news & programming
Categories #1-50 (maximum of TEN entrants)
Categories #51-54 (see entry requirements)
$145  for all Craft Achievement categories 

Standard Fees for Entries SUBMITTED AND UPLOADED after April 7, but before the standard deadline, 8pm on Friday, April 14, 2017:
Members:
$80    for each entrant listed in news & programming
Categories #1-50 (maximum of TEN entrants)
Categories #51-54 (see entry requirements)
$50    for all Craft Achievement categories

Non-Members:
$175  for each entrant listed in news & programming
Categories #1-50 (maximum of TEN entrants)
Categories #51-54 (see entry requirements)
$150  for all Craft Achievement categories

Late Fees for Entries SUBMITTED AND UPLOADED after April 14, but before the LATE deadline, 8pm on Friday, April 21, 2017 (NO ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER 8PM ON APRIL 21):

Members:
$105  for each entrant listed in news & programming
Categories #1-50 (maximum of TEN entrants)
Categories # 51-54 (see entry requirements)
$60    for all Craft Achievement categories

Non-Members:
$200 for each entrant listed in news & programming
Categories #1-50 (maximum of TEN entrants)
Categories # 51-54 (see entry requirements)
$175 for all Craft Achievement categories

IMPORTANT: NOTE TO ALL ENTRANTS AND SUBMITTERS

• NO ENTRIES will be accepted after the late deadline on APRIL 21.
• ALL entrants should be included at the time of submission. Entrants not permitted to be added after Nominations are announced.
• ANY changes after submission may be subject to a $10 processing fee.
• Late payments (not made when the entry is submitted) may be subject to a $10 processing fee.
• ALL ENTRANTS listed on the entry at time of submission must be paid in full by June 1 or they will be removed from the entry and will not be eligible for a statuette if the entry wins.

Areas of Excellence  The Chapter Awards Committee, in consultation with its requisite awards accounting firm, shall determine the level of excellence for each of the disciplines judged. The first designation determines the score required to receive a nomination. The second designates the score required to receive an award. All entries that receive a score above the nomination level shall receive nominations. Of this group (the nominees), those that receive a score above the designated awards level, shall receive an award. It must always be emphasized that entries do not compete with each other; they compete against levels of excellence. Therefore, in each Area of Excellence, there may be one award, more than one award, or no award in a given category.

Program entries may be entered in only one programming category. In programming categories, an entry is defined as a single program or segment or, in the case of news, one story or a series of stories directly related to each other.

 A maximum of three segments/lifts is permitted to bring longer program entries to the required time limit.

REGIONAL EMMY® AWARD CATEGORIES

NEWS PROGRAMMING  One award, more than one award, or no award (except where noted) may be given to the producer(s) and others directly responsible for the content and execution of the news program, segment or coverage. Anchors, reporters, photographers, editors, assignment editors, hosts, directors and qualified others may be eligible if their contributions are significant to the entry’s award-worthiness. Submitters who created work as part of media pool coverage can only enter their material once and must clearly identify their contributions on the entry. For any entry designated as a series, a minimum of two reports must be included.

    1.   Newscast – Evening- Larger Markets (#1-38)
For excellence in a regularly scheduled evening newscast.   Post edits are not permitted except for the removal of commercials. Entry will be judged on overall content, presentation, enterprise, writing, format, teases, etc. Time limit: 60 minutes.

2.  Newscast – Evening- Medium Markets (#39 & smaller)
   For excellence in a regularly scheduled evening newscast.   Post edits are not permitted except for the removal of commercials. Entry will be judged on overall content, presentation, enterprise, writing, format, teases, etc. Time limit: 60 minutes.

   3.   Newscast – Morning- Larger Markets (#38 & Larger)
For excellence in a regularly scheduled morning newscast.   Post edits are not permitted except for the removal of commercials. Entry will be judged on overall content, presentation, enterprise, writing, format, teases, etc. Time limit: 60 minutes.

   4.  Newscast – Morning- Medium Markets (#39 & Smaller)
For excellence in a regularly scheduled morning newscast.   Post edits are not permitted except for the removal of commercials. Entry will be judged on overall content, presentation, enterprise, writing, format, teases, etc. Time limit: 60 minutes.

NEWS GATHERING

5 General Assignment Report- Within 24 Hours
For excellence in coverage of a single news story or topic which is assigned, shot, edited and aired within a 24-hour period. Entry may include live and/or taped elements and online content. Time limit: 10 minutes.        COMMENT: This is the basic news reporting done day-in day-out by a News Department. This is for the coverage of planned events and done as planned assignments. No time limit entries should be carefully reviewed to insure that these were assigned reports and not pitched or created reports that would fall under Feature or Special Reports.

6 Spot News
For excellence in coverage of a single, unanticipated news event that is shot, edited, produced and aired within 24 hours. Entry may include multiple live and/or taped elements and online content. Elements of a related Breaking News entry may be included in a Spot News entry but not in their entirety. Time limit: 15 continuous minutes of one news story. COMMENT: This is the “I am here at the bank where this morning the bullets were flying over my head, and in the 2 hours following the police chased the robber to the state line.” The goal is to extend what was done in the simultaneous report to allow the entry of the longer form report.  (Note: Regional recipients in this category are eligible, at their discretion, to compete for a crystal pillar in the National News and Documentary Awards in the following category: Outstanding Regional News Story – Spot News.)

7 Continuing Coverage- No Time Limit
For excellence in coverage of a single news story over an extended number of reports. Entries will be judged in part on story advancement and should be entered as a composite.   At least three segments  should be entered to show the overall coverage of one news story over a longer period of time. Time limit: 30 minutes

8 Team Coverage
For excellence by a team involved in covering multiple news stories on a single subject, shot, edited, produced and aired within 24 hours. Entry may include multiple live and/or taped elements and online content. Entry length shall not exceed 60 minutes.

9.Investigative Report- Single story or Series
For excellence in reporting of a community problem requiring research and investigative journalism. Entry will be judged on the quality and extent of research, the presentation, and the impact of the reporting. Written documentation is required (100-word limit.) Time limit: 30 minutes.   (Note: Regional recipients in this category are eligible, at their discretion, to compete for a crystal pillar in the National News & Documentary Awards in the following category:  Outstanding Regional News Story – Investigative Reporting.)  

10.  Feature News Report
    For excellence in reporting of a single news story or topic. Time limit 10 minutes.

11. Feature News Report- Serious Feature
    For excellence in reporting of a single serious news story or topic. Time limit 10 minutes

12. Feature News Report- Series
    For excellence in reporting of a multi-part feature news story or topic. Series time limit: 15 minutes.

NEWS & PROGRAM SPECIALTY

One award, more than one award, or no award is given to the producer(s) and others directly responsible for the content and execution of the program, segment or coverage. Anchors, reporters, directors, photographers, editors, assignment editors, hosts, writers, and qualified others may be eligible if their contributions are significant to the entry’s award-worthiness. A maximum of 3 segments/lifts is permitted to bring longer programs to the required time limit. For non-news program entries, the entry may only contain content from one episode of the series, not multiple installments. Submitters who created work as part of media pool coverage can only enter their material once and must clearly identify their contributions on the entry.

13. Arts/Entertainment- News Single Story
    For excellence in coverage of general entertainment, variety, or visual and performing arts. Time Limit: 10 minutes.

14.  Arts/Entertainment- Program Feature/Segment
    For excellence in a feature or segment from a program or special of general entertainment, visual and performing arts. Time limit: 10 minutes.

15 Arts Program/Special
For excellence in a program or special of visual and performing arts. Time limit: 30 minutes.

16. Business/Consumer- News Feature or Series
    For excellence in coverage of business, finance, consumer affairs or economic topics. Time limit: 10 minutes. Series time limit: 15 minutes.

17. Children/Youth/Teen (19 and under)- Program/Special
    For excellence in a program or special that covers issues of specific interest to a target audience 19 years of age and under. Time Limit: 30 minutes.

18. Crime- News Single Story or Series
    For excellence in coverage of crimes or other violations of the law. Time limit: 10 minutes. Series time limit: 15 minutes.

19. Education/Schools- News Story or Series
    For excellence in coverage of schools, teaching or education. Time limit: 10 minutes. Series time limit: 15 minutes.

20. Education/Schools- Program Feature/Segment
    For excellence in a feature or segment from a program or special that covers schools, teaching or education. Time limit: 10 minutes.

21. Education/Schools- Program/Special
    For excellence in a program or special that covers schools, teaching or education. Time limit: 30 minutes.

22. Entertainment- Program/Special
    For excellence in a program or special that covers general entertainment. Time limit: 30 minutes.

23. Environment/Science- News Single Story or Series
    For excellence in coverage of science, environmental impact issues, topics or subject matter. Time limit: 10 minutes. Series time limit: 15 minutes.

24. Health- News Single Story or Series
    For excellence in a coverage of health, medical topics, or subject matter. Time limit: 10 minutes.

25. Health/Science/Environment- Program Feature or Segment
    For excellence in a feature or segment from a program or special that covers health, science, medical topics, environmental impact issues, topics or subject matter. Time limit: 10 minutes.

26. Health/Science/Environment-Program/Special
    For excellence in a program or special that covers health, science, medical topics, environmental impact issues, topics or subject matter. Time limit: 30 minutes.

27. Historic/Cultural– Program Feature/Segment
    For excellence in a feature or segment from a program, or special that covers historical, cultural and/or ethnic issues or topics. Time limit: 10 minutes.

28. Historic/Cultural– Program/Special
    For excellence in a program or special that covers historical, cultural and/or ethnic issues or topics. Time limit: 30 minutes.

29. Human Interest- News Feature
    For excellence in coverage of stories that appeal to the human spirit. Time limit: 10 minutes.

30. Human Interest- Program Feature/Segment
    For excellence in a feature or segment from a program or special that covers subject matter that appeals to the human spirit. Time limit: 10 minutes.

31. Human Interest- Program/Special
    For excellence in a program, or special that covers subject matter that appeals to the human spirit.  Time limit: 30 minutes.

32. Politics/Government-News Single Story or Series
    For excellence in coverage of political, civil, government issues or subject matter. Time limit: 10 minutes. Series time limit: 15 minutes

33. Politics/Government-Program/Special
    For excellence in a program or special that covers political, civil, government issues or subject matter. Time limit: 30 minutes

34. Weather–News Single Story or Series
    For excellence in coverage of weather in general, weather related topics or subject matter within a news program. Time Limit: 10 minutes. Series Time Limit: 15 minutes.

SPORTS

35. Sports- News Single Story or Series
    For excellence in coverage of sports in general, sports related topics or sports news program. Time  limit: 10 minutes. Series time limit: 15 minutes.

36. Sportscast
    For excellence in coverage of sports in general, sports related topics or sports news program. Time  limit: 10 minutes.

37. Sports- News Feature
    For excellence in coverage of sports in general, sports related topics or sports news program. Time limit: 10 minutes. Series time limit: 15 minutes.

38. Sports- Feature/Segment
    For excellence in a feature or segment on a sports topic (non-news). Time Limit: 10 minutes.

39. Sports- Daily or Weekly Program
    For excellence in a daily or weekly sports program (non-news). Entry may be live or recorded live. Entry must have, as its basis, special coverage not to be taken from a newscast. Entries may include multi-camera and pre-produced segments that cover the full spectrum of the event. Entry may have no post edits except for the removal of commercials. Entry will be judged on overall content, presentation, enterprise, writing, format, teases, etc. Time Limit: 30 minutes.

40. Sports- Program Series
    For excellence in a daily or weekly series (non-news). Entry may be live or recorded live. Entry must have, as its basis, special coverage not to be taken from a newscast. Entries may include multi-camera and pre-produced segments that cover the full spectrum of the event. Entry may have no post edits except for the removal of commercials. Entry will be judged on overall content, presentation, enterprise, writing, format, teases, etc. Time Limit: 30 minutes.

41. Sports- Interview/Discussion Program/Special
    For excellence in a program or special consisting of sports interview/discussion content that is at least 75% unscripted. Time Limit: 30 minutes.

42. Sports- One-Time Special
    For excellence in a one-time sports related special program that is not part of a daily or weekly sports program, game or series. Entry may be live or recorded live. Entry should have no post edits except for the removal of commercials. Time Limit: 30 minutes.

43. Sports Event/Game – Live/Unedited Program/Series
    For excellence in production of a single program, or series, live or recorded live sports event or game. No post edits. A composite (from one episode or game) is required and may include examples of: Show Open, Graphics Package, Use of Replays, Inserted Pre-Produced Segments, Use of Statistical or Other Prepared Material, Highlights, Standard Coverage (e.g. Routine Innings or Downs) and any additional material at entrant’s discretion. Time Limit: 30 minutes.

PROGRAMMING

One award, more than one award, or no award is given to the producer(s) and others directly responsible for the content and execution of the program, segment or coverage. Hosts, moderators, reporters, directors, photographers, editors, writers and qualified others may be eligible if their contributions are significant to the entry’s award-worthiness. A maximum of three segments/lifts is permitted to bring longer programs to the required time limit. For program entries, the entry may only contain content from one episode of the series, not multiple installments.   Submitters who created work as part of media pool coverage can only enter their material once and must clearly identify their contributions on the entry.

44. Documentary
    For excellence in the creation of a formal, structured television presentation with dramatic impact of an event, condition or situation of current, cultural and/or historical significance. Time limit 60 minutes.

45. Interview/Discussion Program/Special
    For excellence in a program or special consisting of interview/discussion material that is at least 75% unscripted. Time limit: 30 minutes.

46. Interview/Discussion Series
    For excellence in a program series consisting of interview/discussion material that is at least 75% unscripted. Time limit: 30 minutes.

47. Lifestyle Program- Feature/Segment
    For excellence in a feature or segment from a program, series or special that deals with everyday life subjects; such as, food preparation, recipes, techniques, home improvement, decoration, renovation, gardening, outdoors, crafts and/or automotive repairs. Time Limit: 10 minutes.

48. Lifestyle Program- Program/Special
    For excellence in a program, series or special that deals with everyday life subjects; such as food preparation, recipes, techniques, home improvement, decoration, renovation, gardening, outdoors, crafts and/or automotive repairs. Time Limit: 30 minutes.

49. Magazine Program/Special
    For excellence in a program, series or special consisting of various stories of regional interest designed to entertain and inform. Time limit: 30 minutes.

50. Public/Current/Community Affairs- Program Feature/Segment
    For excellence in a feature or segment from a program, series or special on general public interest or concern, especially those dealing with current community, social or political issues.  Time Limit: 10 minutes. 

51. Public/Current/Community Affairs- Program/Special
    For excellence in a program, series or special on general public interest or concern, especially those dealing with current community, social or political issues.  Time Limit: 30 minutes. 

SPOT ANNOUNCEMENTS

One award, more than one award, or no award is given to the producer(s) and others directly responsible for the content and execution of the promotion or commercial. Entries must be regionally conceived, produced and aired. Spots that contain more than 50% of network or syndicator-provided material do not qualify. Music, graphics and pre-edited video constitute such material. Spots may be 5-seconds to 5 minutes in length. Program length commercials (infomercials) are not eligible. If a campaign is entered, a maximum of three spots may be included which are edited together for a single video upload.

52. Promotion- News, Program, PSA- Single Spot
    For excellence in announcements that promote a news or program image, a specific story, stories or series, including sports, weather and/or franchise stories, specials and non-news programming. This includes spots that promote a broader station/company image as well as regionally produced spots for network and/or syndicated programming and effectively focus interest in and marshal support for worthy community or area causes.

53. Promotion- News, Program, PSA- Campaign
    For excellence in campaign announcements that promote a news or program image, a specific story, stories or series, including sports, weather and/or franchise stories, specials and non-news programming.  This includes campaigns for news specials, breaking weather, sports specials, etc, and campaigns that promote a broader station/company image as well as regionally produced spots for network and/or syndicated programming.

54. Commercial- Single Spot
    For excellence in commercial production advertising a product, business or service that is conceived, written, created and produced in and for the regional market. Spots may be 5-seconds to  5 minutes in length. Program length commercials (infomercials) are not eligible.

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS (Single Recipient)

One award, more than one award, or no award is given only to the primary recipient listed on each category. Others who may have contributed to the content and execution of the material presented in the entry may purchase plaques to commemorate their participation. These categories are exempt from “double-dipping” rules.

55. Overall Excellence
    Awarded to the President/General Manager only for excellence in the overall operations of a television station, news/sports cable system or online media outlet, during the eligibility period. Entry should reflect the organization’s overall local product including any news & sports coverage, other locally produced programs, promotional announcements, on-air examples of events hosted by the organization and involvement in the community, and any further evidence of excellence. Entry should emphasize the quality, breadth and efficacy of the organization’s operations, stressing substance rather than style, and exhibit performance in sustaining excellence throughout the eligibility year. The composite entry must be comprised only of material as actually aired. No introductions, post production, montages, music or special effects may be added. Entry should include a one-page, written synopsis of the organization’s operation, product, accomplishments and achievements. . Entry length shall not exceed 60 minutes 

56. News Excellence
    Awarded to the News Director only for excellence in the overall news operation during the eligibility period. Entry should present as many different examples as possible, including, but not limited to: enterprise in general assignment reporting, breaking news coverage, specialty and beat reporting, series, documentaries, continuing coverage of community issues, editorials/commentaries, etc. Entry should emphasize the quality, breadth and efficacy of a news operation, stressing substance rather than style, and exhibit the news department’s performance in sustaining excellence throughout the year. The composite entry must be comprised only of material as actually aired. No introductions, post production, montages, music or special effects may be added. Entry should include a one-page, written synopsis. Entry length shall not exceed 60 minutes.

57. Community Service
    Awarded to the Individual most responsible for excellence in programming; whether news or non-news, involving the entire company in a continuing effort to focus interest on, and marshal support for, a worthy community cause. Entry should emphasize the depth, breadth, duration and efficacy of the effort, and must be comprised only of material as actually aired. No introductions, post production, montages, music or special effects may be added. Composite entries are allowed. Entry should include a one-page, written synopsis. Entry length shall not exceed 60 minutes.

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS (Multiple Recipients)

One award, more than one award, or no award is given to those person(s) directly responsible for the content and execution of the material presented in the entry. This category is not exempt from “double-dipping” rules.

58. Interactivity
    For excellence in a program demonstrating cutting-edge innovation by actively engaging audience participation over multiple media platforms. Time Limit: 30 minutes. (Note: This category is NOT exempt from “double dipping” rules.)

CRAFTS ACHIEVEMENT
One award, more than one award, or no award is given for excellence in a specific craft discipline demonstrating the skills of one or more individuals. Each entry may contain a single example of the craft or a composite of material as originally transmitted. Time Limit: 15 minutes.

While craft entrants may submit more than one entry per craft discipline, only one of those entries may be a composite. Elements of the composite may not be separately entered as individual craft entries.  Craft awards are intended for hands-on craft persons, not those that supervise craft persons.

59.Musical Composition/Arrangement
60. Director- Live or Recorded Live (PL track is preferred)
61. Editor- Program (Non-News)

62. Editor-Short Form (Promos, PSAs, Commercials, Opens, etc.)

63. Editor- News

64.  Graphic Arts/Animation

65.  Talent- Anchor – News

66. Talent- Anchor – Weather

67. Talent- Anchor – Sports

68. Talent- Program Host/Moderator

69. Talent- Reporter – Features/Human Interest

70. Talent- Reporter – General Assignment

71. Talent- Reporter – Specialty Assignment

72. Talent- Reporter – Sports

73. Talent- Sports Analyst/Play-by-Play

74. Photographer- News (For news content airing within a newscast. Not eligible: Sports-related content)

75. Photographer- Program (Non-News)  (For programs and programming features. Not eligible: Newscast or sports-related content)

76. Photographer- Sports  (For sports-related content only)

77. Photographer- Video Essay (Single Camera Only)

For excellence by a single individual covering a single or multi-part news story or program. The video essay creator is the photojournalist and editor, weaving together elements captured in the field to tell the story without a reporter or professional talent track.  Entry may not be entered in any other craft or program category.

78. Video Journalist  

For excellence by an cross-discipline individual, serving also as photojournalist, editor, talent, and writer; covering a single or multi-part story or topic. Entry may not be entered in any other craft category.

79. Writer- Program (Non-News) (Script Preferred)

80. Writer- News/Commentary/Editorial (Script Preferred)