Eligibility

• All entries must have been created and aired from January 1, 2020 through January 24, 2021.
• All entries must have been created by Active or Life Members in good standing. If you are not currently an active member, you may join and submit your membership dues for both 2020 and 2021. Then, you may enter work completed by January 24, 2021.
• At least 80% of each individual entry must be the work of the entrant.
• Teams of two or three members may enter stories together. Each member must have contributed at least 30% to the entry. This will, by definition, limit team entries to a maximum of three entrants, no matter how many people contributed to the entry. Team entries must be uploaded only once for the entire team, but each entrant must pay a separate entry fee and list the entry on their own individual entry form and summary sheets, indicating that it is a team entry. Team members must also indicate on their summary sheet (under the Special Notes section) how many total people worked on the entry.
• The entry deadline has been extended to Sunday, January 31, 2021 at 11:59PM.
• The Video Contest Committee reserves the right to disqualify any entry.
• Any piece that is entered in the Digital Storytelling Contest may not also be entered in this contest, and vice versa. Video stories should be entered in the Video divisions if they are originally intended for broadcast. We will NOT accept video stories originally intended for web-based viewing.

Entry Rules and Procedures

• Please read carefully! ALL ENTRIES ARE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY.
• There is a two (2) entry limit per category per entrant.
• The story title on the entry form MUST match exactly with the entry’s filename on the summary sheet.
• All photography entries must be filled on the Photography Summary sheet and all Editing entries must be filled out on the Editing Summary sheet. This must be submitted electronically at the same time you upload your files.
• Three images that represent your story must be submitted with each entry. These images should be in the Jpeg file format.
• All QuickTime files should be H264 and 1280 X 720 in MP4 format.
• Naming convention for each video file is the category identifier (with the leading zero if applicable), short slug (as entered on summary sheet) and the entrant’s initials. In the case of team entries, use the entrant’s initials. For example, if Charlie MacDonald entered a piece with the slug “Security” in the Editing General News category, the file name would be: E02_Security_CM.mp4
• The naming convention for the three images is the same as the files except with a _1, _2 or _3 at the end of the name to identify each of the three images: E02_Security_CM_1.jpeg.
• Please keep your slugs short!
• Team entries must contain all entrant’s initials and the word “TEAM” at the end of the file name. This is required on both the mp4 and jpeg files: P08_Chase_DW_AB_CD_TEAM.mp4 and P08_Chase_DW_AB_CD_TEAM_1.jpeg.
• If possible, it is recommended that you use a wired (i.e. Ethernet) connection to upload your entries.
• An entry for photography may be entered in only one photography category, and an entry for editing may only be entered in one editing category. However the same story may be entered in both a photography category and an editing category, however you must upload the entries separately following the proper naming convention. The only exceptions to this rule are the lighting and audio categories. You may submit an entry (or part of an entry) in the lighting and audio category, which you have also submitted in one other category.
• Each entry, even if it is submitted in more than one category, must be submitted separately and named appropriately for that category. For example, if you are entering the same entry in P01 and E01, the entry must be submitted twice and labeled appropriately for both the photography and editing categories.
• Entrants must not be identified in a piece in any way (by chyron, in narration, or on-screen credit).
• Please provide a written description in the summary sheet of any elements not shot or created by entrant. At least 80% of the entry must be the work of the entrant.
• Any piece that is entered in the Digital Storytelling Contest may not also be entered in this contest, and vice versa.
• There is a flat entry fee of $67.00 for the first five OR fewer entries. Each additional entry is $15.50 per entry.
• The fees must be paid via PayPal. In exceptional situations, payment by check is acceptable. You must request this in advance by contacting heidi@54.85.141.172 to receive an authorization code, and include the code on the entry form.
• Winners will be posted on the WHNPA website when the contest is completed.

Photography Categories

• P01 BREAKING NEWS – Coverage of breaking news – day of. Shot, edited and aired/posted within 10 hours. Follow-up stories do not belong in this category. May include live element.
• P02 GENERAL NEWS – A news story, four minutes or less: shot, edited, and aired or fed the same day.
• P03 DAY FEATURE – Feature story shot, edited, and aired same day.
• P04 NEWS FEATURE – Story shot, edited, and aired within 48 hours.
• P05 FEATURE – Feature story shot and edited over an extended length of time (10 minute maximum.)
• P06 NEWS SPECIAL REPORTS/SERIES – Special report or multiple part series. Your entry must be limited to 15 minutes. For a special report you may show one 15-minute segment of your entry or two or three segments (separated by a dip to black) for a total of 15 minutes. For a series show at least two segments not to exceed 15 minutes. No other editing is allowed.
• P07 MAGAZINE FEATURE – Story of extended length shot for a magazine program.
• P08 DOCUMENTARY – Extended long format, non-magazine piece of at least 20 minutes when originally aired. Your entry must be limited to 15 minutes. You may show one 15-minute segment of your documentary or two or three segments (separated by a dip to black) for a total of 15 minutes. No other editing is allowed. If multiple photographers worked on your project please be very clear which work you did, or as it may be easier to identify, which work you did not shoot in your entry.
• P09 SPORTS – Coverage, analysis, or preparation of or for a sports event or activity.
• P10 POLITICAL/CAMPAIGN – Story about political newsmakers.
• P11 WHITE HOUSE/PRESIDENTIAL – Footage, story or composite of White House/Presidential topic(s). Total entry not to exceed 5 minutes.
• P12 LIGHTING – Field Lighting for a single story or composite of excerpts from one or more stories. Total entry not to exceed 2 minutes.
• P13 NETWORK – Network (non-magazine program). Aired or unaired segment or package, not to exceed 5 minutes.
• P14 AUDIO – Field audio for a single story. No composites. Total entry not to exceed 5 minutes.
• P15 CONFLICT/DISASTER COVERAGE – This category recognizes work created in dangerous situations where the photographer has put his or her personal safety at risk.
• P16 RAW FOOTAGE – Video of a news event not entered in another category. May be an edited series of clips or one clip. Entry not to exceed 2 minutes. This category is intended for those who covered an event which was not used as a story by their organization. All video in each entry must be from a single story. No composite entries. The name of the entry must reflect the title when assigned. You may submit two entries, but each must represent a single assignment.
• P17 INAUGURAL – Coverage of the Presidential Inauguration or any Inaugural events. Your entry must be limited to 15 minutes. If the original story is longer, you may enter one 15 minute segment.

Editing Categories

• E01 BREAKING NEWS – Coverage of breaking news events-day of. Shot, edited and aired/posted within 10 hours. Follow-up stories do not belong in this category.
• E02 GENERAL NEWS – A news story shot, edited, and aired or fed the same day. (4 minutes maximum).
• E03 DAY FEATURE – Segment or package edited and aired the same day.
• E04 NEWS FEATURE – Segment or package edited and aired within 48 hours.
• E05 EDITING SHORT FORM – Segment or package edited over an extended period (5 minute maximum).
• E06 EDITING LONG FORM – Segment, package or series edited over an extended period. Must be at least five minutes long when originally aired. Your entry must be limited to 15 minutes. For a package/story you may show one 15-minute segment of your entry or two or three segments (separated by a dip to black) for a total of 15 minutes. For a series, show at least two segments not to exceed 15 minutes. No other editing is allowed.
• E07 MAGAZINE FEATURE – Story of extended length edited for a magazine program.
• E08 DOCUMENTARY – Extended long form, non-magazine piece of at least 20 minutes when originally aired. Your entry must be limited to 15 minutes. You may show one 15-minute segment of your documentary or two or three segments (separated by a dip to black) for a total of 15 minutes. No other editing is allowed.
• E09 SPORTS – Coverage, analysis, preparation, of or for a sports event or activity.
• E10 POLITICAL/CAMPAIGN – Story about political newsmakers.
• E11 WHITE HOUSE/PRESIDENTIAL – Story or composite of White House/Presidential topic(s). Total entry not to exceed 5 minutes.
• E12 AUDIO – Creative use of audio in a segment or package. Limited to 5 minutes, regardless of program length. You may show one 5-minute segment of your production or two or three segments (separated by dip to black) for a total entry not to exceed 5 minutes. No other editing is allowed.
• E13 PROMOTIONAL – Material edited for use in promotion.
• E14 – INAUGURAL – Coverage of the Presidential Inauguration or any Inaugural events. Your entry must be limited to 15 minutes. If the original story is longer, you may enter one 15 minute segment.

Deadline

Entry fees & forms must be received by the deadline of January 24, 2021, at 11:59 p.m.

Special Note

An individual can win only one place in each category. This includes Team entries! If you are on a Team entry in one category, you may enter only one more individual or Team piece in that category. The Committee will review entries for correct placement in the categories and any entry may be re-classified at the discretion of the Contest Committee and/or the Contest Judges. If there are fewer than five entries in a given category, the committee and/or judges may, at their discretion, retain or drop the category and place the entries in other appropriate categories.

Contest Committee

Doug Wilkes (Co-Chair): dougwilkes@yahoo.com
Pege Gilgannon (Co-Chair): pegeketchup@gmail.com
Sam Beattie: beatti.sam@gmail.com
Marty Doane: mcdoane@sbgtv.com
Joni Mazer Field: tveditbabe@aol.com
Stu Cohen: stucohen@aol.com