Purpose
The NPPA Solo Video Contest is a vital function of the NPPA and provides an important service to its membership. The contest stands to recognize outstanding work performed by NPPA members on a quarterly basis. The SVC also serves to promote, encourage, and teach the highest levels of photojournalism and ethics.
Deadline
Quarters are defined as follows: 1st: Jan 1-Mar 31; 2nd: Apr 1-Jun 30; 3rd: Jul 1-Sep 30; 4th: Oct 1-Dec 31. Entries must be received by the 10th of the month following the end of the quarter — April 10th, July 10th, October 10th, and January 10th.
1st Qtr: April 10th
2nd Qtr: July 10th
3rd Qtr: October 10th
4th Qtr: January 10th
LATE ENTRIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!
Eligibility
The NPPA Solo Video Contest is open to NPPA members in good standing. In order to be eligible to enter any particular quarter, membership payment must be current on or before the 10th of the month following the end of that quarter. For example, to submit a first quarter entry the entrant must become a member by April 10th; to submit a second quarter entry the entrant must become a member by July 10th; etc. Timely dues payment is each member’s responsibility. With membership and participation comes the expectation to serve as a judge.
The SVC is open to solo video journalists, one-man bands, backpack journalists, or any other journalist who shoots, reports/writes, and edits video for a television news model. The Solo Video Contest runs parallel with the Television Quarterly Clip Contest. On a yearly basis, at the beginning of the contest year, each entering journalist must choose to enter only one of these contests; the one that best suits his or her talents and working environment. You cannot change contests during the year. If your role or job title changes from SVJ to photojournalist or vice versa, during the course of the contest year, send an email to the national chair.
Entries
An entry must have been published (online or on TV) for the first time during the contest quarter. Personal pages such as Youtube and Vimeo do not count. It must be published through your station/companies platform. The entrant must have shot at least 90% of the entry. The entrant must also have written, tracked, and edited the entry. “NAT packages” (stories without reporter track) are not allowed. Re-editing is not allowed. There is no penalty to the entrant if file or historical video is used, although historical or file video cannot exceed more than 25% of the total story run time.
Compress your files using H.264. File size must not exceed 100 MB. Recommended video resolution is 720P. Name your files in this format: CATEGORY_NAME OF STORY. Example: SPOT NEWS_HOUSE FIRE.MP4.
File Video
File video is defined as video that was previously used in a newscast, video that originated from a network feed, and stock video that was shot previously that may or may not have already been published. File video also includes surveillance video, amateur video and VNRs. File video does NOT include original video created by the entering journalist’s colleagues. Any questions regarding the use of file video should be directed to the national chair.
Categories
There are six categories. A solo video journalist may enter two clips each quarter but may enter three clips each quarter if one of those clips is submitted in either the Deadline News OR Spot News category. Both clips may be entered in the same category or in different categories. The same clip may not be entered in more than one category. Any clip may be entered in any category provided it meets the guidelines set forth below.
You ARE allowed to use music within ANY story, in ANY category that is submitted for the contest. Judges have full jurisdiction to score pieces lower or higher if they feel music adds or takes away from the piece as a whole.
In all categories a stand-alone package or a package accompanied by a live shot may be submitted. The entering solo video journalist must have shot at least 90% of the recorded video portion. Live shots may be included in every category if deemed necessary. It’s not required for the entering solo video journalist to have shot the live portion of the entry. Any clip that includes a live element must have the air-check version submitted.
Re-editing is prohibited in every category. The pool chair or the judges will determine the qualifications of each entry and may disqualify an entry as they see fit.
Choosing Winners
A panel of the entrants’ peers judges SVC entries. The pool chair assembles the judges. Judges must represent and act in the best interest of the NPPA. Judges must take into account the uniqueness of the category when choosing winners from that category.
Judges must choose a first, second and third place in each category if there are at least four entries in the category. If there are fewer than four entries in a particular category a first, second and/or third place may or may not be awarded. However, the average score of the person’s entry must be a 4 or less. If the average score is more than a 4, it MUST be given a placement. There can be no ties. Judges may at their sole discretion award an honorable mention in any category regardless of the number of entries.
Scoring
Judges will award points for content, craft, creativity and commitment for each piece. Here is the breakdown for those points.
10: Incredible photojournalism that showcases meaningful storytelling in an inspiring and creative way. A 10 means the judges thought the execution was the best way to tell that particular story with the circumstances around it. They may still have feedback (and they absolutely should) but a 10 shows the judges learned even more about great storytelling from watching.
8-9: An 8 or 9 scoring should align closely with a 10 but includes a few things the judges felt should have been executed differently. It should still be a great showcase of photojournalism but has a few more flaws than a 10.
7: A great story that has some technical mistakes that become obvious to the judges. The photojournalism can still be outstanding but there are a decent amount of changes the judges feel need to be made to enhance the story to the next level.
5-6: A story given a 5 or 6 in any of the categories means the content and creative nature of the story is lacking. There are issues with story structure, shooting, editing, composition, etc. A 5 or 6 should be given to someone who definitely put a considerable amount of effort into making the story great, but may have missed the mark on a few different spots.
3-4: When a story is given a 3 or 4 it means there is a lot of work to be done before the piece can have the type of impact it needs to have on an audience. It reflects a story that is extremely lacking in proper storytelling, structure, shooting, editing, composition etc. This is a piece where the judge feels they really need to mentor the photojournalist on how to advance their techniques.
0-2: A story given a 0-2 represents a piece that completely misses the mark. It shows clear need for growth and the judges should use this as an opportunity to help that person get better.
Contest Division
There are two divisions in the Solo Video Contest. It coincides with the Television Quarterly Clip Contest. Stations that are in their respective regional top pool will be placed into the SVC Top Pool. Everyone else will enter in SVC General. Entrants will move into and out of SVJC Top based on the results of the TVQCC. In the future, the SVC may move to a promotion/relegation format of its own based on entrants and not stations.
Points
Points are awarded in each category as follows:
1st place – 11 points
2nd place – 8 points
3rd place – 5 points
Honorable Mention – 2 points
Entry – 1 point per entrant per quarter, not 1 per entry
Critiques
Continuing education is essential to the NPPA and its members. The NPPA values the sharing of professional techniques and ideas. Judges will provide a thoughtful and constructive critique for every entry.
Recognition
The title “NPPA Solo Video Journalist of the Year” will be awarded to the two entrants who accumulate the most points in their respective regions during the year. If there is a tie, the person with the most first places wins. If there is still a tie, then the tie stands and the title awarded will be “Co-Solo Video Journalist of the Year.”
Awards
Certificates will be awarded for each quarterly 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Honorable Mention winner. Plaques will be awarded to the two Solo Video Journalists of the Year.
