Category List

2016 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. 

  1. Newscast – Morning 

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

  1. 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.

  1. 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.)

  1. 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 

  1. 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. 

  1. 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.)   

  1. Feature News Report 

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

  1. Feature News Report- Serious Feature 

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

  1. 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.

  1. Arts/Entertainment- News Single Story

For excellence in coverage of general entertainment, variety, or visual and performing arts. Time Limit: 10 minutes. 

  1. 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. 

  1. Arts Program/Special

For excellence in a program or special of visual and performing arts. Time limit: 30 minutes. 

  1. 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. 

  1. 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. 

  1. 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.

  1. Education/Schools- News Story or Series

For excellence in coverage of schools, teaching or education. Time limit: 10 minutes. Series time limit: 15 minutes.

  1. 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.

  1. Education/Schools- Program/Special

For excellence in a program or special that covers schools, teaching or education. Time limit: 30 minutes.

  1. Entertainment- Program/Special

For excellence in a program or special that covers general entertainment. Time limit: 30 minutes. 

  1. 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. 

  1. Health- News Single Story or Series 

For excellence in a coverage of health, medical topics, or subject matter. Time limit: 10 minutes.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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. 

  1. 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. 

  1. Human Interest- News Feature

For excellence in coverage of stories that appeal to the human spirit. Time limit: 10 minutes. 

  1. 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. 

  1. 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. 

  1. 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

  1. 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 

  1. 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.

  1. Sportscast

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

  1. 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.

  1. Sports- Program Feature/Segment

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

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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. 

  1. 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. Entry may be live or recorded live. Entry should have no post edits except for the removal of commercials. Time Limit: 30 minutes.

  1. Sporting Event/Game – Live/Unedited Program/Special/Series

For excellence in production of a single program, special 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.

  1. 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. 

  1. 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. 

  1. Interview/Discussion Series

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

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. Public/Current/Community Affairs- Program Feature/Segment

For excellence in a feature or segment from a program, series or special on current issues of societal concerns, social ills, community or general public interest. Time limit: 10 minutes. 

  1. Public/Current/Community Affairs- Program/Special

For excellence in a program, series or special on current issues of societal concerns, social ills, community or general public interest. 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.

  1. 50. 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 forworthy community or area causes.

  1. 51. 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.

  1.  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.

  1.  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 

  1. 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. 

  1. 55. 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.

  1. Interactivity 

For excellence in a program demonstrating cutting-edge innovation by actively engaging audience participation over multiple media platforms. Time Limit: 30 minutes.

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 craftpersons, not those that supervise craftpersons.

  1.  Musical Composition/Arrangement
  1. 58. Director- Live or Recorded Live (PL track is preferred)
  1. 59. Editor- Program (Non-News)
  1. Editor-Short Form (Promos, PSAs, Commercials, Opens, etc.)
  1. 61. Editor- News
  1. 62. Graphic Arts/Animation
  1. Talent- Anchor – News
  2. Talent- Anchor – Weather
  1. Talent- Anchor – Sports
  1. Talent- Program Host/Moderator
  1. Talent- Reporter – Features/Human Interest
  1. Talent- Reporter – General Assignment
  1. Talent- Reporter – Specialty Assignment
  1. Talent- Reporter – Sports
  1. Talent- Sports Analyst/Play-by-Play
  1. Photographer- News (For news content airing within a newscast. Not eligible: Sports-related content)
  1. Photographer- Program (Non-News)  (For programs and programming features. Not eligible: Newscast or sports-related content)
  1. Photographer- Sports  (For sports-related content only)
  1. 75. 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.
  1. Video Journalist  For excellence by an individual cross-discipline producer, 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 or program category.
  1. 77. Writer- Program (Non-News) (Script Preferred)
  1. 78. Writer- News/Commentary/Editorial (Script Preferred)