2009 NPPA Elite Class

S

sjensen

Member
In 2009 the NPPA TVQCC will be making some procedural changes. In fact, the structure of the contest will be radically different.

The premiere competitive pool will consist of the top 40 photographers from accross the nation---The NPPA Elite Competition.

To qualify for this competitive pool a photographer must have been a Regional POY from 2005, 2006 or 2007. Additionally the top three photographers from each region in the 2008 contest will qualify. (Because of this flexible qualifying process, there will likely be a few more than 40 elite photographers in the 2009 class.) Starting in 2009 the regional competition will go away.

You can read more about the TV competitive pools at:

http://www.nppa.org/competitions/quarterly_clip_contests/TV_photography/new_contest_framework.html

There are 27 Former Regional Photographers of the Year qualified for the 2009 Elite class so far. They are:

From Region 1
• Jason Nelson, WGME/Portland, ME - 2005
• Charlie Berg, WCSH/Portland, ME - 2006 and 2007

From Region 2
• Michael DelGiudice, WNBC/New York, NY - 2005 and 2006
• Scott MacDowell, WKBW/Buffalo, NY - 2007

From Region 3
• Stan Heist, WBFF/Baltimore, MD - 2005 RPOY
• John Anglim, WMAR/Baltimore, MD - 2006 and 2007

From Region 4
• Scott Utterback, WAVE/Louisville, KY - 2005
• Steve Rhodes WTHR/Indianapolis, IN - 2006
• Paul Mojonnier, WTVQ/Lexington, KY - 2007

From Region 5
• Gary Knox, KARE/Minneapolis, MN - 2005
• Andy Shilts, KMSP/Eden Prairie, MN - 2006 and 2007

From Region 6
• John Hendon, WYFF/Greenville, SC - 2005
• Jon Samuels, WXIA/Atlanta, GA - 2006 and 2007
• Tom Sharkey, WWSB/Sarasota, FL - 2007
• Aubrey Bruce, WTVD/Durham, NC - 2007
• Brad Ingram, WGHP/High Point, NC - 2007

From Region 7
• Eric Voss, KSDK/St. Louis, MO - 2005 and 2006
• Doug Magditch, KYTV/Springfield, MO - 2007

From Region 8
• Kristen Bergeron, KTVT/Fort Worth, TX - 2005
• Todd Rogenthien, KVUE/Austin, TX - 2006
• Doug Burgess WFAA/Dallas, TX - 2007

From Region 9
• Corky Scholl, KUSA/Denver, CO - 2005 and 2007
• Everett McEwan, KWGN/Denver, CO - 2006

From Region 10
• Geof Levine, WRAL/Raleigh NC - 2005 and 2007
• Anthony Oliveria, KLAS/Las Vegas, NV - 2006

From Region 11
• Rick Suhr, KXLY/Spokane, WA - 2005
• Scott Jensen KTUU/Anchorage, AK - 2006 and 2007


In the following days I will post the regional point totals from the TVQCC 1st Quarter. Remember at the end of the 2008 contest each Regional POY and the top two runners up will also be entered into the 2009 Elite Class. Good luck. Please send me your questions.

scott
sjensen@ktuu.com
 
After 1st Quarter, here are the point totals for R2.

1) Chris Coffey, RNEWS/Rochester --20 points
2) Michelle Michael, American Forces Network/Europe --14 points
3) Todd Krupa, RNEWS/Rochester, NY --12 points
4) Mark Blaszak, WKBW/Buffalo --9 points
4) Andrew Singh, News 12/Long Island, NY --9 points
 
I still don't like the setup of all of this crap, plus its so confusing that its not even worth trying to understand or care about.
 
After 1st Quarter, here are the point totals for R4.

1) David Bradford, WJW/Cleveland, OH --20 points
1) James Suiter, WXIN/Indianapolis, IN --20 points
3) Brian Gilbert, WLEX/Lexington, KY --14 points
4) Steve Kaufmann, WTVQ/Lexington, KY --12 points
5) Kendall Griggs, WJW/Cleveland, OH --9 points
5) Steve Rhodes, WTHR/Indianapolis, IN --9 points
 
Elite competiton? Wow! Were they bored having to compete with the rest of us?

I currently rank #8 in the washed up hasbeen competition.
 
Sounds like a great way to reward religious loyalty and further insulate the brainwashed from reality.
 
The "Elite" thing...I'd love to try and be fair and defend the thinking behind such an arrogant attempt at self validation...but I can't.

I just chalk it up to another NPPA contest decision meant to do nothing more but keep the club members isolated and happy with each other.

Look up the word "circle jerk" in any dictionary to understand this kind of logic.
 
Not Happy?

If you don't like the NPPA, or what it stands for, how about just letting them be? I'm sure that they can do with out the dissenting input. If one wishes to voice a concern, pony up the $100 & whatever, and let them have it. Otherwise, it seems both foolish and petty interjecting every time they post an announcement... to the "circle"... :rolleyes:
 
NEWSSHOOTER3 said:
If you don't like the NPPA, or what it stands for, how about just letting them be? I'm sure that they can do with out the dissenting input. If one wishes to voice a concern, pony up the $100 & whatever, and let them have it. Otherwise, it seems both foolish and petty interjecting every time they post an announcement... to the "circle"... :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

From a non-member's standpoint (as I'm confident that other dissenting opinions in this thread are also non-members), this "Elite Class" contest seems just a little, well, elitist. Fine and dandy to post about it in an NPPA forum, but this is b-roll, so I think that it's contextually a little out of place to be posting it here thinking we actually care about it when none of us are even in "Elite Class" to begin with.
 
You guys are harsh. I think it will be a fun competition and I applaud Scott and the rest of the crew for the new design. I know a lot of people at our place are excited about the station competition as well. It will be nice to see some station pride for a change.
 
How do you know when cameradog is angry?

He's typing on his keyboard.

Why do you even come to this thread??? I'm no NPPA member but I coud not care less about what they are doing. I didn't click into the wedding thread because I don't care about stooting and editing weddings, but you probably did just to say shooting weddings suck.
 
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As if the organization wasn't "cliquish" enough. Why do so may people feel the need to validate how good they are? There are some talented photogs on that list (they are "elite" after all) and I know several of them. Isn't doing a good package for the viewers good enough anymore?

I think from this point on they should NOT be allowed to compete against other, lesser photogs. It's like the major leagues competing against players in the minors. If they are truly "elite" they shouldn't want to compete others.
 
I had a feeling posting here would conjure up these dissenting viewpoints but b-roll members and NPPA members do crossover. And this is forum is entitled "general discussion." The thread is plainly labeled "NPPA." If "NPPA" doesn't apply to you, you certainly don't have to read the postings much less write non-constructive criticism about them.


But I do welcome all input. Your points are valid--specifically the one posted by Lensmith. My answer is this--

This contest structure has been created to remove from general competition those photographers who win the contest year after year. They are the ones who dominate so much their success discourages others from even entering. There are six other general pools of competition that will garner much more of my attention. But I believe the Elite pool will become a source of pride especially for young photographers who claw their way into it---then compete and prevail once there.

If younger, or disillusioned, or "washed up" photographers entered and judged in this contest---if photographers who employ different techniques entered and judged in this contest---their ideas would eventually be incorporated into the "NPPA style" everyone always likes to bash. (Incidentally "NPPA style" is a myth.)

Please take the time to read about the structure and the rules. If you do you'll find that we've added a "Deadline News" category where liveshots and quick turn packages will be highlighted---and rewarded!! The new contest is weighted against the stereotypical NPPA flash and sizzle long-format feature stories. There are also several "Station of the Year" competitions. My hope is for station pride to catch on again.

http://www.nppa.org/competitions/quarterly_clip_contests/TV_photography/new_contest_framework.html

In 2009 photographers can enter a third clip each quarter if one of the three is submitted in the "Deadline" category. For now, that will be unequal opportunity for the "regular" photographer to gain more points. Additionally each Photographer of the Year must submit clips in three of the five categories to win the title. That means the "special projects" photographers likely won't win. And this applies to the "Elite" pool as well. Even the Elite POY will be a guy or gal who's on the street everyday.

The everyday, general assignment, nose to the grindstone, news photographer who daily executes his/her job well, will be rewarded in this contest. It's always been my impression that's the kind of photographer who frequents b-roll.net. I hope the new contest will appeal to many here.

We're trying to change this contest to be consistent with the current state of television news. And we're trying to inject a little excitement as well. Please continue to give me your ideas. Thanks so much.

scott
 
After 1st Quarter, here are the point totals for R5.

1) Jeff Christian, KARE/Minneapolis, MN --20 points
2) Jason Hanson, KSTP/St. Paul, MN --14 points
3) Cortney Kintzer, KCCI/Des Moines, IA --12 points
3) Spencer Driskill, KMSP/Eden Prairie, MN --12 points
4) Ben Kroll, NWCT/Brooklyn Park, MN --11 points
4) Jesse Landolt, KCCI/Des Moines, IA --11 points
 
First off...sorry for the "circle jerk" comment. I was on a roll and trying to be a little bit funny.

I am disappointed the NPPA, an organization I am no longer a member of though I do still pay for the magazine subscription, still thinks the way to get things done is to tweak their contest so it can skew even more to the "traditional" NPPA hard cores.

Why do you people always think the answer to every issue is a contest?

This was not a move to make the organization inclusive. It was not done to attract new members, new ideas, new blood.

It was done to prop up the old guard.

In a time when money is tight...this is your answer to help bring the NPPA back into relevance? More contests!

What a total waste of time.

Instead of doing something to deal with real life issues of todays working television news photographer, we see them do this.

It is not a flattering move and, by doing this, makes me wonder about those behind the organization itself who think this is a good idea.

What was the goal of doing this?

What was supposed to be accomplished?

How was doing this going to make the NPPA better?

Was it getting too difficult to judge so you figured it was a way to cut down on entries? Do you really think anyone is going to respect this kind of closed contest other than those who guard the gate and promote the NPPA style? Oh, but you have "other" contests too! What a surprise. Not.

At a time when photographers time, effort and money are more limited than ever, it makes me shake my head in amazement to see the NPPA continue down the contest road as if that is going to solve any real issues the rest of us have to address.

It's not and you know it.

But you don't care. It's more important for you to award prizes than work to help television, and even newspaper photogs transitioning to video, by giving real information and continuing, real world education that might translate into jobs/employment.

Nope, contests with little prizes are your answer...again and again and again.

It's nothing more than worthless fluff which shows how out of touch the NPPA is with the real world and how it has no interest in growing it's membership by becoming anything more than a contest organization for small and middle market tv stations in the middle of nowhere.

Then you wonder why membership is dropping like a stone and no one wants to pony up for an overpriced membership.

Some of us have known for some time why you have those problems and why you will continue to have those problems.
 
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For starters, I don't think this concept is really that difficult to understand. Go to the web site and read about the new structure. I don't understand why this is so confounding to so many people.

Secondly, I think you all may be going overboard. It seems to me you're reacting to the fact that this thread was titled "2009 NPPA Elite Class." Maybe I'm naive, but I personally don't think that's what this new structure is about. I don't think the NPPA is catering to its loyal members. I think it's more about the GENERAL pool.

By breaking it down into three groups, and I've said this before, I believe you're fostering competition.

Let the "Elite" guys duke it out in their category. Let the "Top" guys duke it out in theirs. And let the "General" guys try to outdo one another in theirs. I see it as an opportunity to bring in more young guys at the "General" level and encourage them to become "Elite."

You could compare it to, say, A, AA, AAA and MLB baseball. You want to get to that next level? Work for it! Technically, I'm not in that "Elite" class. But I want to be. So I'm going to do my best to get there.
 
Well said Lensmith.

I'm assuming only the "elite" can judge the "elite"? Surely the "general" photogs have no idea how to judge the "elite".

You could compare it to, say, A, AA, AAA and MLB baseball. You want to get to that next level? Work for it! Technically, I'm not in that "Elite" class. But I want to be. So I'm going to do my best to get there.
Click to expand...

If you're not "elite" how can you call yourself "Baltimore's Finest Fotog"? :)
 
Exactly!

Hank Scorpio said:
How do you know when cameradog is angry?

He's typing on his keyboard.
Click to expand...

Yep! :D

Why do you even come to this thread??? I'm no NPPA member but I coud not care less about what they are doing. I didn't click into the wedding thread because I don't care about stooting and editing weddings, but you probably did just to say shooting weddings suck.
Click to expand...

And, that is exactly the point I was trying to make! If you're not interested, and not entering, please just move on! :eek:

Live and let live... :)
 
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