2009-2010 Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Television Contest
Rules
Spanish entries welcome. You must be an AP member to enter.
NOTE: All entries must be on DVD and aired during 2009, or posted
online during 2009. All entries must be the on-air version or the online
version. An entry cannot be a re-creation.
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SUBMITTING ENTRIES:
-- Please fill out the TAPB entry form, listing how many DVD entries
are in each category, amount of fees paid, etc. Entry form at:
www.tapb.org
The TAPB entry form is required.
-- Stations must send separate entries if submitting for more than
one station. For example, if KXXX-TV is your English-language station,
and KYYY-TV is your Spanish language station, separate entries must be
submitted (not all grouped under KXXX).
The entries can be included in same box, but must be in separate
packets.
-- DEADLINE TO HAVE YOUR ENTRIES POSTMARKED or delivered in person to
the Dallas AP office is Monday, Feb. 1, 2010.
Entry fees are required to be paid at the same time you send in your
entries.
Please enclose a corporate check or personal checks. Sometimes a
station will request a corporate check, but the check is not available
by the Feb. 1 deadline. In such instances, you must provide a letter
from the station outlining that fact. No credit cards accepted.
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All contest entry fees must be received by TAPB by the start of
judging weekend: noon (central time) on Friday, March 5, 2010. Entries
not paid for by that date & time will not be judged.
Entries for newscast, morning newscast, sportscast & weathercast must
have aired on any of the five 2009 contest days:
-- Tuesday, March 17
-- Wednesday, June 10.
-- Friday, Sept. 25.
-- Saturday, Nov. 21.
-- Wednesday, Dec. 16.
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TV stations may enter each category THREE TIMES unless stipulated
otherwise (as listed on each category). An entry in one category also
may be submitted in another applicable category, if the proper fees are
paid each time.
-- TAPB Stimulus Package: It means for every 10 entries, you get one
additional entry free! For example, enter 10 DVDs, your 11th is free.
Enter 25 DVDs, you get two additional entries free, for total of 27.
Offer good for all divisions.
COST:
-- Division 1: $60 per DVD. Dallas-Fort Worth & Houston.
-- Division 2: $50 per DVD. San Antonio & Austin.
-- Division 3: $45 per DVD. Waco-Temple, El Paso, Weslaco, Harlingen,
McAllen-Brownsville, Tyler-Longview, Jacksonville, Shreveport,
Nacogdoches, Lufkin, Texarkana, Bryan-College Station.
-- Division 4: $35 per DVD. Amarillo, Corpus Christi, Beaumont-Port
Arthur, Wichita Falls, Odessa-Midland, Lubbock, Abilene,
Denison-Sherman, San Angelo, Laredo, Victoria.
NOTE: Other TV news organizations (such as News 8 Austin, etc.) --
please enter the division based on where your news operation is
headquartered.
1. Make checks payable to the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters and
include with entries.
TAPB retains the right to keep all DVD entries and fees and
disqualify those that do not adhere to the rules. Entrants will NOT be
notified of disqualifications and fees will not be refunded.
2. Enclose a cover letter itemizing the entries by category entered
(not by name of the reporter).
For example:
Category .1. Newscast: (3 entries included)
-- John Smith, Morning Newscast. Aired 3-28-09.
-- Mary Jones, Noon Newscast. Aired 3-28-09.
-- Tom Johnson, 5 p.m. Newscast. Aired 3-28-09.
...
Designate ONE PERSON to be in charge of your entries. All of a
station's entries must be submitted TOGETHER. TAPB will not accept
separate entries sent by individuals BEFORE or AFTER the station's
complete entry packet is received, or outside the station group entry.
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-- IMPORTANT NOTE: Please use DVD-minus-R or DVD-plus-R format.
-- Make sure each non-returnable entry is marked with your station
call letters, location, division, category name & category number (such
as: TV Division 2, Category 1. Newscast), entry title (name of story)
and names of pertinent individuals.
One entry per DVD. (Don't put several entries from the same category
on one DVD).
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Please include no more than -three names- of station personnel per
entry, for plaques or certificates. Otherwise the winners will
automatically be listed as: STAFF EFFORT.
Entries must be postmarked no later than Monday, Feb. 1, 2010.
Send non-returnable entries to:
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TAPB CONTEST
Associated Press
4851 LBJ Freeway, Suite 300
Dallas, TX 75244
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Questions: Call TAPB TV board members Benji Snead at 806-761-4246 or
Jenny Martinez 956-650-0240.
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Each year the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters ("TAPB") recognizes
excellence and achievement in journalism with awards in various
categories.
Your promotion must state the "Texas Associated Press Broadcasters"
(NOT Associated Press) as the award's source.
-- Promotional use of the word "Best" will apply only to first-place
winners.
Any use of a reference to a TAPB award that in any way misleads the
public about a TAPB award, including but not limited to distorted or
exaggerated claims, is strictly prohibited.
Violations of either the spirit or intent of this prohibition may
result in the disqualification of the offending entity from TAPB
contests for a one-year period.
TAPB board reserves all rights to determine the truthfulness of any
promotion that uses a reference to TAPB awards. The TAPB will be the
sole determiner of whether or not a violation of this prohibition has
occurred.
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Winners will be announced and awards presented at an evening banquet
on Saturday, April 24, 2010, during the TAPB convention at the
Headliners Club in Austin.
The annual TAPB business meeting will be held that Saturday
afternoon, April 24, at the Headliners Club.
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STUDENTS are welcome to enter all categories if they are paid
employees of the station. All entries must be made through the station.
The TAPB still has a SCHOLARSHIP competition, but students are
allowed to enter the regular competition as well. Scholarship rules will
move on the wire later.
NON-TEXAS STATIONS: You may enter if you get the Texas AP wire, your
primary coverage area includes Texas, and the category you enter
involves coverage of Texas news, or news of main Texas interest.
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TAPB/HEADLINERS FOUNDATION HONORS: www.headlinersfoundation.org
The TAPB continues its partnership with the Headliners Foundation of
Texas in presenting the TAPB/Headliners Awards for Excellence in
Journalism. These awards will be made to the division winners in the
annual TAPB contest in the following TV categories:
-- Television Spot News Coverage/Station (category 5)
-- Television Investigative Report (category 9)
-- Television Reporter (category 16)
-- Television Online/Special Content (category 24)
Each TAPB division winner in these categories will automatically be
entered into the TAPB/Headliners Foundation competition. Judges are
selected by the Foundation from media outlets outside Texas.
Each division winner or team of winners will receive $500 cash prize.
Headliners Foundation Awards will be presented during the April 24,
2010, TAPB banquet at the Headliners Club in Austin. Overall winners
will also be invited to attend the Foundation's own awards event next
fall.
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IMPORTANT NOTE: All written materials must be attached to the entry,
by rubber band or envelope.
^TELEVISION CATEGORIES:
1. Newscast (3 entries per station allowed): Must have aired on an
official 2009 contest day:
-- Tuesday, March 17
-- Wednesday, June 10.
-- Friday, Sept. 25.
-- Saturday, Nov. 21.
-- Wednesday, Dec. 16.
Please include date and time of newscasts (6 p.m., 10 p.m., etc.).
2. Sportscast (3 entries per station allowed): Must have aired on an
official 2009 contest day.
-- Tuesday, March 17
-- Wednesday, June 10.
-- Friday, Sept. 25.
-- Saturday, Nov. 21.
-- Wednesday, Dec. 16.
(IMPORTANT: TIME LIMIT IN SPORTSCAST IS 10 MINUTES. Editing for time
is allowed)
Please include date and time of newscasts (6 p.m., 10 p.m., etc.).
3. Weathercast (3 entries per station allowed)_ Must have aired on an
official 2009 contest day:
-- Tuesday, March 17
-- Wednesday, June 10.
-- Friday, Sept. 25.
-- Saturday, Nov. 21.
-- Wednesday, Dec. 16.
Please include date and time of newscasts (6 p.m., 10 p.m., etc.).
4. News Anchor or Anchor Team (3 entries per station allowed): _ Time
limit is 10 minutes. Must feature compiled reports from an individual
anchor or anchor team. Entry should include examples of ability to
ad-lib around breaking news events, as well as to handle regular news
reports, features, etc. This is a compilation of work that does not have
to be submitted from work performed on a contest day.
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5. Spot Coverage-Station (3 entries per station allowed): _ This
category requires overall station entries (as opposed to individual
entries from reporter-photographer teams). It may be several stories
aired in tandem relating to a single, unplanned news event.
NOTE: FIRST PLACE WINNER IN THIS CATEGORY IS ELIGIBLE TO ADVANCE TO
TAPB/HEADLINERS FOUNDATION COMPETITION (as outlined above)
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6. Spot Story-Individual (3 entries per station allowed):_ A single
story entered by a reporter-photographer team depicting a single,
unplanned news event.
7. Feature (Serious) (3 entries per station allowed):_ Must be a
single story. The entry will be judged on creativity, writing,
production and presentation.
8. Feature (Light) (3 entries per station allowed):_ Must be a single
light or humorous story. The entry will be judged on creativity,
writing, production and presentation.
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9. Investigative Report (3 entries per station allowed):_ May include
a single story or series of stories, which show initiative and in-depth
research. A written presentation is required and may include: what
prompted the story, a chronology of the investigation, copies of records
and documents obtained for the report, the effect of the story on the
local community and a summary of follow-up stories. Judges will consider
the written presentation and impact of the story on the local community
along with the production values and quality of the story telling.
NOTE: FIRST PLACE WINNER IN THIS CATEGORY IS ELIGIBLE TO ADVANCE TO
TAPB/HEADLINERS FOUNDATION COMPETITION (as outlined above)
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10. Photojournalism-Station (1 entry per station allowed): _ Entry
must show the skill and depth of a station's photography staff. The
entry may be produced and narrated. Maximum length 10 minutes.
11. Photojournalism-Individual (3 entries per station allowed):_ The
category requires a portfolio of photographic work by an individual.
Maximum length 10 minutes.
12. Sports Story (3 entries per station allowed):_ Must be a single
story, spot sports news item or feature. The entry will be judged on
writing, creativity and presentation.
13. Documentary/TV Magazine or Special (3 entries per station
allowed):_ Must air outside a regularly scheduled
newscast/sportscast/weathercast.
14. Series (3 entries per station allowed):_ The category involves a
multi-part story with a single subject presented within a regularly
scheduled news program. The entry will be judged on writing, production
and presentation.
15. Specialty or Beat Reporting (3 entries per station allowed): _
Entries must include body of work, minimum of 3 stories on the same
subject matter or beat. Each story must be on a different topic. Max
entry time of 10 minutes. (Series entries not accepted in this
category).
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16. Reporter (5 entries per station allowed): _ This individual award
recognizes a reporter's ability to cover a variety of assignments. The
entry should include at least three examples of a reporter's work,
including at least one live report and one feature.
NOTE: FIRST PLACE WINNER IN THIS CATEGORY IS ELIGIBLE TO ADVANCE TO
TAPB/HEADLINERS FOUNDATION COMPETITION (as outlined above)
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17. General Assignment (3 entries per station allowed):_ Time limit 7
minutes. May be any general assignment story, sports, medical, business,
etc.
18. Continuing Coverage (3 entries per station allowed):_ Ongoing
coverage of a single story, more along the lines of hard news or
breaking news. This is NOT a category for series involving human
interest, lifestyle or entertainment.
19. Commentary-Editorial (3 entries per station allowed):_ Commentary
by station personnel regarding significant community issues. Originated
by a local station.
NOTE: This category will have just one winner, combined judging of
Divisions 1, 2, 3 and 4.
20. TV Website (1 entry per station allowed):
-- Please provide the link to your Web page. Any additional
supporting materials are welcome and will be considered by the judges.
-- Judges will look at your Web page at undisclosed times.
NOTE: TV Website judging is broken into Divisions 1, 2, 3 & 4.
21. Deadline Editing: General News (3 entries per station allowed):_
May include daily news, features, series, or specials. Maximum length:
10 minutes. Entry must have been broadcast within 24 hours of
newsgathering. Story must have been edited by one person. No re-editing
of stories is allowed.
22. Feature Editing: General News (3 entries per station allowed):_
May include natural sound packages, music pieces, etc. All special
effects are allowed. The stories will judged based upon how the addition
of those effects enhance the final package. Maximum length: 10 minutes.
The story must have been edited by one person. No re-editing of stories
is allowed.
23. Interview. (3 entries per station). Entry may be a maximum of 10
minutes and must be an unedited (consecutive minutes) sample of the
interview.
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24. Online/Special Content. (3 entries per station). Any specific
spot news/topic/feature/unique content on your Web site. Please provide
that particular link to your Web site and any supporting materials.
-- Entry should represent a robust multimedia approach to
storytelling and/or utility in covering a major news event,
investigative project or feature subject. Entry should demonstrate a
creative and effective use of a range of appropriate multimedia tools
such as text, graphics, audio, video, still photography, and
interactivity that combine to produce a smart, high-impact package.
NOTE: FIRST PLACE WINNER IN THIS CATEGORY IS ELIGIBLE TO ADVANCE TO
TAPB/HEADLINERS FOUNDATION COMPETITION (as outlined above)
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25. Morning Newscast. (3 entries per station). Must air between 5-7
a.m. (local time). Must have aired on a TAPB contest day. Must include
at least 30 consecutive minutes -- no editing -- with a maximum time of
one hour. An entry for Best Morning Newscast can also be entered in Best
Newscast category, if fees are paid. TAPB contest days:
-- Tuesday, March 17
-- Wednesday, June 10.
-- Friday, Sept. 25.
-- Saturday, Nov. 21.
-- Wednesday, Dec. 16.
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Remember...entries must be postmarked by Monday, Feb. 1, 2010
www.tapb.org
