New rules and categories for the 2018 contest coming soon!

If you have entered NPPA’s TV Quarterly Contest you will like this year’s Video BOP Contest. The entry forms are the same! You MUST fill out and upload your entries for each category. For those categories that require a headshot, bio, or station philosophy, you MUST include them in your entry. It will not upload without them.

For this years video contest there is no advance registration. Simply review the entry information and categories. Once you are ready to submit click the 'Enter Now' links for either the video photography or video editing divisions below.

General Rules (How to Enter)

*Entries must have been originally broadcast or posted between January 1st and December 31st, 2016.

*Entries will be accepted beginning January 3rd, 2017, and must be received by 11:59pm CST on January 27th, 2017.

*Any entries received after the deadline will NOT be accepted. Don’t wait until the last minute to upload your entries.

*There is to be no re-editing of any piece.

*There is no penalty to the entrant if file or historical video is used. File video is defined as video that has previously aired in a newscast, video that originated from a network feed, and stock video that was shot previously that may or may not have already aired. File video includes surveillance video, amateur video, VNR’s, or any other video not originating with the entering photojournalist. Any questions about the use of file video will be left to the discretion of the judges. File video cannot exceed more than 10% of total story run time.

*Some stories might fit in more than one category, but you may only enter any story once. Failure to follow the rule will result in the disqualification of the entry.

Preparing Your Entry

*All entries should be submitted online. Clips should be uploaded using the online entry form.

*All entries should be compressed for smooth playback online. Videos must be mp4 or mov format. File size can be no higher than 250 MB. If you already have a video compression tool that you're familiar with, use it. If you don't, Handbrake is a popular choice.

*Eliminate any slate or title showing your name, station, website, newspaper, or city that may be at the beginning or end of each entry. Failure to do so will disqualify the entry. Station reference is only permitted in the Station of the Year air check and Deadline Photography entries that include live shots (including Deadline Photography stories submitted as part of an Ernie Crisp Television News Photographer of the Year or Station of the Year entry).


Video Photography Division Enter Here

 

Video Editing Division Enter Here

BOP Video Photography Rules and Categories

Video Photography participants may have no more than two entries in each of the following individual categories: Spot News, Deadline, General News, News Feature, 48 Hour Feature, Sports Feature, In-Depth/Series, Team, Documentary, Conflict/Disaster, Solo Video Journalist (General), and Solo Video Journalist (Feature).

For all individual Photography entries (except those in the Team and Documentary categories), 90% of the video must have been shot by one photographer.

Please contact BOP Chair at [email protected] for more information or questions about the contest.

Spot News

An unscheduled and unfolding news event for which there was no opportunity for planning. This category recognized the photographer’s ability to function in a stressful situation, keeping his or her photographic gear rolling to capture the overall scope of the scene, and zeroing in on individual reactions.

Story must have been shot, edited, and broadcast within 24 hours. 90% of the video must have been shot by the entering photojournalist.

5 Minute Time Limit

Deadline

This category is designed to recognize the work that most of us do on a day to day basis. A quick turn. Whether it’s a package, a live shot, or any combination, this category is designed with the general photographer in mind.

A Spot News or General News story that may include a live aircheck presentation by a reporter or photojournalist. The goal of this category is to highlight television photojournalism under deadline pressure. The entry must be shot, edited, and broadcast within 4 hours.

The entry may be a stand alone package, a straight live shot, or a live shot with file video. If the entry includes a live shot, the air check presentation must be submitted with no re-editing allowed. For this category only, mention of the photojournalist is permitted.

90% of the video & live shot must have been shot by the entering photojournalist.

5 Minute Time Limit.

General News

A story that covers a planned or unplanned news event or a subject of general interest and importance. It can be a follow up or side bar to spot news. The event should be timely.

General news stories should contain no music, except where it’s part of the natural sound of the story. Stories must have been shot, edited, and broadcast within 24 hours.

90% of the video must have been shot by the entering photojournalist.

5 Minute Time Limit.

News Feature

A planned story where the photojournalist puts considerable time and effort into the production of the story. Features that score highly shot imagination and creativity.

90% of the video must have been shot by the entering photojournalist.

10 Minute Time Limit.

48 Hour Feature

A feature or human interest story shot and edited within a time frame of 48 consecutive hours.

90% of the video must have been shot by the entering photojournalist.

5 Minute Time Limit.

Sports Feature

Any feature story about participants, spectators, or those involved or interested in a sport or sporting event.Does not need to focus on the outcome of the game.

90% of the video must have been shot by the entering photojournalist.

10 Minute Time Limit.

In-Depth

A planned story where the photojournalist puts considerable time and effort into the production of the story. It may be divided into a series or successive days. If so, edit the individual parts together, leaving a second of black between each piece.

90% of the video must have been shot by the entering photojournalist.

30 Minute Time Limit.

Team

Any story that was shot by more than one photojournalist. The story may fall into any of the other subject categories except Documentary.

15 Minute Time Limit.

Documentary

A complete, creative study of a subject or issue in which the theme and treatment follow a predetermined direction. Can be shot by more than one person. Must have debuted during the contest year.

60 Minute Time Limit.

 

Conflict/Disaster Coverage

Conflict/Disaster Coverage

For work created in a dangerous situation where the photographer has put his or her personal safety at risk.

90% of the video must haven been shot by the entering photojournalist.

10 minute time limit.

Solo Video Journalist General News

This award is to recognize those who do it all themselves, do it daily, and do it well. It will recognize the best single story produced by a primarily full time solo video journalist.

This is not a category for those who may shoot alone once or twice a week. You must be a solo video journalist during your entire work week schedule.

The story must be shot, written, and edited within 24 hours by the entrant.

5 Minute Time Limit.

Solo Video Journalist Feature

This award is to recognize those who do it all themselves, do it daily, and do it well. It will recognize the best single story produced by a primarily full time solo video journalist.

This is not a category for those who may shoot alone once or twice a week. You must be a solo video journalist during your entire work week schedule.

The story must be shot, written, and edited within 48 hours by the entrant.

5 Minute Time Limit.

NPPA Photojournalism Award for Reporting

This award is to honor those reporters and field producers who, in collaboration with a television photojournalist, produce outstanding visual stories.

Entrants must submit a compilation of 3 packages they have written from the individual categories.

This is not only a writing category. The judges will be looking at overall visual storytelling and how the reporter/field producer contributed to the quality.

A Winner and Runner Up will be awarded.

20 Minute Time Limit.

Ernie Crisp Photographer of the Year

This award serves as recognition of individual ability-an ability against which other can compare their output to determine if they are meeting the standards of the industry. The winner must show a high level of skill and professionalism.

Entrants must submit stories in 5 of the 7 categories, no more than 2 stories can be entered in any one category, in order: Spot News, Deadline, General, Feature, 48 Hour Feature, Sports Feature, and In-Depth. Spot News and General are mandatory.

90% of the video in each story must have been shot by the entering photojournalist.

Stories entered in the individual categories may be a part of your POY entry, but they must be entered under the same categories. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.

On the online entry form use only the date of the first story in the date field. Using text or a series of dates will cause an issue with the upload.

No promotional material concerning the photographer or their station may be included in the entry.

30 Minute Time Limit.

Station of the Year

The Station of the Year Award will be presented to three (3) different television stations in three (3) separate divisions based on Nielsen market sizes:

*Large Market (1-34)

*Medium Market (35-69)

*Small Market (70-212)

You can find out the size of the market you work in at <http://www.nielsenmedia.com/DMAs.html>

This award recognizes a local broadcast station’s photography staff for their consistency in providing outstanding new photography coverage for and about the audience it serves. The award singles out an individual staff as one that has achieved a high standard of quality in photography that is unmatched by any other station in their division. Selection as Station of the Year honors excellence, and most importantly, it serves to raise the standards of the industry.

Entrants must submit stories in 7 of the 9 categories, in order: Spot News, Deadline, General, Feature, 48 Hour Feature, Sports Feature,Solo Video Journalist General, Solo Video Journalist Feature, and In-Depth.Spot News and General are mandatory.

No more than 3 stories can be entered in any one category. Team entries are allowed in each category.

Stories entered in the individual categories may be a part of your SOY entry, but they must be entered under the same categories. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.

No promotional material concerning the photographer or their station may be included in the entry.

For Photography Staffs of 15 or more: 1/3 of the station’s photography staff must be represented on the Station of the Year entry. A single photographer can contribute no more than 3 stories on the entry.

For Photography Staffs of 14 or fewer: 1/2 of the station’s photography staff must be represented on the Station of the Year entry. No photographer can contribute more than 50% of the stories on the tape.

30 Minute Time Limit.

Entrants are required to save an air check of their early block (5pm-6pm) and their late block (9pm to 11pm) each day for the month of February. Sometime during the month, your staff will be called by the contest chair and told which newscast to mail as part of your SOY entry. This entry will be the same time and day for everyone. The air check should not be edited and must include the open, close, news, weather, sports, and all commercials.

 

Judges Choice Award

The judges of this year’s competition will have the option of giving an award to one or more stories they feel best exemplifies the ideals of photojournalism. The winner(s) will be chosen from among the full set of entries in all categories.

BOP Video Editing Rules and Categories

Both Photographers and Editors are allowed to enter the Video Editing competition. Please read the descriptions carefully for full details as to which categories you can enter. In some of these categories, Photographers and Editors will be judged separately, and in others they will compete against each other. You are only allowed to enter 2 stories in any one category.

Please contact the BOP Editing Chair at [email protected] for more information or questions about the contest.

Deadline Edit-Editors Only

A story (feature, hard news, investigative) that is edited in less than 4 hours. Judges will look for creativity implemented in your edits. Effects are allowed. Judging emphasis will be on storytelling elements (sequencing, natural sound, etc)

3 Minute Time Limit.

Sports Edit-Editors and Photographers

A story involving coverage, analysis, preparation, of or for a sports event or activity. Greater weight will be given to stories that have sports action video and focus on the competition. Effects are allowed.

10 Minute Time Limit.

Effects Edit-Editors and Photographers

A story in which the effects the editor uses to craft the story greatly enhances the final product.

10 Minute Time Limit.

Magazine Edit-Editors Only

A Story of extended length edited for a magazine program. This is now a composite category. Please show one full segment from your program (between commercial breaks), then show segments to fill remaining time on your entry. You do not have to show first segment as your full segment. Please choose your best segment.

15 Minute Time Limit.

Bumps/Teases/Pre-Show Edit - Editors and Photogaphers

Show us what you can do. This category should demonstrate your ability to tease a story. Everything goes in this category. Editors and Photographers will compete against each other.

1 Minute Time Limit.

General News Edit-Editors Only

A story shot, edited, and aired or fed the same day. Effects are allowed.

4 Minute Time Limit.

General News Edit-Photographers Only

A story shot, edited, and aired or fed the same day. Effects are allowed.

4 Minute Time Limit.

Feature Edit-Editors Only

A story requiring narration that is not of a hard or general news nature. Effects are allowed.

10 Minute Time Limit.

Feature Edit-Photographers Only

A story requiring narration that is not of a hard or general news nature. Effects are allowed.

10 Minute Time Limit.

Photo Essay Edit-Editors Only

A story that demonstrates exceptional use of natural sound, sound bites, sound effects, and/or music. Effects are allowed. Stories with any narration are not allowed in this category.

10 Minute Time Limit.

Photo Essay Edit-Photographers Only

A story that demonstrates exceptional use of natural sound, sound bites, sound effects, and/or music. Effects are allowed. Stories with any narration are not allowed in this category.

10 Minute Time Limit.

Documentary Edit-Editors and Photographers

A nonfiction story dealing creatively with cultural, artistic, historical, social, scientific, economic or other subjects.

Solo Journalist Edit

A story shot and edited within 24 hours by the entrant. This is not a category for those who may shoot alone once or twice a week. You must be a solo video journalist during your entire work week schedule. - For Solo Journalist only. - 5 Minute Time Limit.

Editor of the Year - Editors and Photographers

Your entry must consist of a least 6 stories (you may have more than 6). You may choose any categories you like to enter. You must enter in the general contest the exact stories you enter on your editor of the year composite. If there is any variance your entry will be disqualified.

Stories must be arranged in the following order; Bumps Teases Pre-Show, Deadline, General News, Feature, Photo Essay, Sports, Effects, Magazine, Documentary.

At least 3 stories on your entry must be stories you did not shoot. This category is open to everyone. Judges will place emphasis on stories edited and not shot by entrant.

30 Minute Time Limit.

Judges Choice Awards

A story that exemplifies the ideals of editing. The winner (s) will be chosen from the full set of entries in all categories.

NPPA NPPA Tagline