Student Productions
Content conceived and created by full-time students at a university, college, technical/vocational school or high school. Student Productions may not include any professional services and faculty involvement can only be advisory.

Student Production Awards

THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES

NATAS is a professional service organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and related media and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry, best known for the coveted Emmy^® Award.

PURPOSE

To recognize outstanding student achievement in production by conferring awards of merit in the Chapter’s designated awards region. The presentation of these awards is intended to be an incentive for the continued pursuit of excellence by those studying media and journalism and to focus public attention on outstanding cultural, educational, technological, entertainment, news and informational achievements by undergraduate college and/or high school students.

STANDARD RULES AND REGULATIONS

ELIGIBILITY

1. Projects conceived, produced and executed by students at a high school, university, college or technical/vocational school within the Chapter’s designated awards region are eligible for student award consideration.
2. Returning students who previously worked as professionals are not eligible.
3. No professional services may have been employed in the production of the entry.
4. Faculty involvement can only be advisory.
5. Entrants must be enrolled as a full-time student during the eligibility period
6. Students may enter work that was produced as a class assignment, extra-curricular assignment or in conjunction with their academic experience.
7. Students who perform professional work may enter their work in the professional awards competition, provided they meet all eligibility requirements.
8. No entry may be submitted to more than one Chapter’s awards.
9. The entry does not need to have been broadcast, cablecast or webcast to be eligible.
10. Entry videos must as they were originally submitted to their advisor. There may not be any edits to the originally completed video except for edits to bring the entry length within the specified category time limit. When editing for time, use only straight cuts with one second of black to denote where content has been removed.
11. There is no limit to the number of entries a school may submit in each category.
12. Pornographic, violent, defamatory or offensive material is not accepted. The interpretation of the Awards Committee is final and absolute.
13. Ineligible entries may be disqualified during any phase of the competition.

 

 

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 Emmy^® Award competition, they cannot enter as a student, but instead must pay the appropriate entry fees. The student is then prohibited from entering subsequent student production categories with other classmates.

ENTRY SUBMISSIONS

A teacher, professor or advisor must approve the entry even if the student handles the submission or upload process themselves. There is no limit to the number of entries a school may submit.

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. Entrants must specifically identify and give credit to all non-original material included in the entry. This includes music use.

LANGUAGE(S)

Entries in English will be judged by English-speaking professionals. Entries in Spanish will be judged by Spanish-speaking professionals. Entries in other languages may be entered. We recommend that entrants in languages other than English or Spanish submit an English-language translation of the narration track.

NOTE TO CHAPTERS: You may opt to require subtitles on all non-English entries for Student Production Awards and should adjust the text above accordingly.

DOUBLE DIPPING

No single entry may be submitted in its entirety in more than one Programming category. The same student may not be listed on more than one entry for doing the same job using the same work. If a student was responsible for more than one role, they submit the video in the appropriate craft categories to be judged for that particular craft (ie writer, editor, etc.).

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.

INTENTIONAL FALSIFICATION

The faculty advisor warrants that they are the party most responsible for verifying that eligibility requirements have been met. The intentional falsification of production credits or entry credits may be the basis for disqualification.

FEES

While a fee to cover administrative expenses may be charged, there may be no individual student entry fees. Membership is not a requirement for advisors or entrants.

JUDGING AND EVALUATION

 Programming Categories are judged on three criteria: content, creativity and execution on a 10-point scale (maximum 30 points); and Craft Categories are judged on two criteria: creativity and execution (maximum 20 points). Judging panels are to be made up of qualified professional judges. Judges have the option of including constructive comments or feedback, to be returned to the student’s faculty advisor.

AWARDS

A crystal pillar is awarded to the school for entries validated by a  professor or advisor. Students responsible for the production will each receive a certificate. Pillars may be purchased for students listed on winning entries after the awards.

RESTRICTION ON THE USE OF EMMY^® MARK

Schools may refer to the fact that they are recipients of a NATAS Student Production Award, but may not use the Emmy^® name or replica of the Emmy^® figure in any form of commercial advertising or promotion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY

STUDENT PRODUCTION AWARD CATEGORIES

 

PROGRAMMING CATEGORIES

Note: The same material may not be entered in more than one programming category.

• Newscast

For outstanding achievement in a newscast, produced daily or less than daily, but broadcast, streamed or otherwise distributed as a “live” program. Post edits are not permitted except for the removal of breaks. Entry will be judged on overall content, presentation, enterprise, writing, format, teases, etc. Time Limit: 30 minutes

• News Report

For outstanding achievement in a presentation of timely news, information and current events. Entries may contain spot news coverage, investigations and feature stories on any newsworthy subject. Coverage of controversial issues is welcome. Entries will be judged on the basis of editorial content and pictorial coverage, which demonstrates awareness of broadcast journalistic standards including accuracy and fairness. Judges will particularly look for well-organized material paying close attention to clearly written narration and appropriate sound bites. Preference will be given to individual pieces demonstrating reporting and field production. In-studio set-up or anchor link work will not be considered as an asset unless it materially contributes to the editorial content of the individual report. Time Limit: 10 minutes.

• Non-Fiction – Long Form

For outstanding achievement in a presentation of a long-form treatment of a single non-fiction subject. Subject matter can include (but is not limited to) investigations, examinations of social issues, personal relationships, sports lifestyles, music, performing arts, entertainment, fashion and historical retrospectives. Content creativity and execution will be important elements in judging the entries. Judges will particularly look for well-organized material, paying close attention to clearly written narration and appropriate sound bites. Time Limit: Minimum 10 minutes – maximum 30 minutes.

Note: If the original presentation ran more than 30 minutes, entrants are permitted to make three edits to bring the entry to time.

• Arts/Entertainment/Cultural Affairs

For outstanding achievement in a presentation of content devoted to cultural or artistic significance. Entry may be a single story or a multi-part series of stories on the same topic. Time Limit: 10 minutes.

 

 

• Sports Story or Segment

For outstanding achievement in a sports news, information or feature story. In-studio set-up or anchor link work will not be considered as an asset unless it materially contributes to the editorial content of the presentation. Judges will particularly look for well-organized material, paying close attention to clearly written narration and appropriate sound bites. Time Limit: 10 minutes.

• Live Sporting Event/Game

For outstanding achievement in the production of a live or recorded live sports event or game. A composite is required and may include segments or excerpts that provide 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.
Note: One (1) second of black should be included between segments/excerpts.

• Multimedia Journalist (MMJ)

For outstanding achievement by a single individual covering a single or multi-part news story. The MMJ is reporter, writer, photojournalist and editor. Entry may not be submitted in any other programming or craft category. Time Limit: 10 minutes.

NOTE: This category is intended for solo projects. Collaborative or group projects must be submitted in one of the other appropriate categories.

• Talent – News, Sports, or Performer

For outstanding achievement in on-camera talent demonstrating the skills of one or more individuals in the areas of news anchoring, reporting, host/moderator, sports play-by-play, analyst, etc. For outstanding dramatic on camera work in a short film or work of fiction. This is not the subject of an interview but rather talent following a script in the body of work. Actors may not be paid for their participation. Entries may contain a single example of the craft, or a composite of material as originally prepared for class or extra-curricular assignment. Time Limit: 15 minutes.