Spot News: An unscheduled news event for which there was no advanced notice or opportunity for planning. The category necessitates the photographer being able 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. Story entered must be the original package as it aired the first time or if story is not the first version broadcast, it must contain new elements not used in the original version. Intent is to eliminate overnight editing and reward “production values at the speed of news.” 90% of video must have been shot by the entering photojournalist. Maximum length: 5 minutes.

BREAKING NEWS: (NEW CATEGORY) On-air presentation of breaking spot or general news story that may include live presentation by reporter or photojournalist. May be straight live and/or include package as part of the presentation. Complete air check presentation must be submitted with no re-editing allowed. For this category only mention of station and/or photojournalist is permitted. Goal of category is to highlight creative live & tape photography & editing under extreme deadline pressure. Event to on-air presentation submitted must be less than 6 hours. 90% of video & live shot must have been shot by the entering photojournalist. Maximum length: 5 minutes

General News: An issue oriented story or event for which there was advanced notice or opportunity for planning. The event should be timely. General News stories should be limited to stories that 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. Greater weight will be given to hard news stories. 90% of video must have been shot by the entering photojournalist. Maximum length: 5 minutes.

News Feature: A feature story shot and edited within a time frame of 48 hours. 90% of video must have been shot by the entering photojournalist. Maximum length: 5 minutes.

Feature: A planned story where the photojournalist put considerable time and effort into the production of the story. Features that score highly show imagination and creativity. 90% of video must have been shot by the entering photojournalist. Maximum length: 10 minutes.

Sports: This includes preparation for, analysis of, or audience reaction to, a sport, or coverage of a sports event. 90% of video must have been shot by the entering photojournalist. Maximum length: 5 minutes.

In-Depth/Series: A planned story where the photojournalist put considerable time and effort into the production of the story. It may be divided into a series and aired on successive days. If so, edit the individual parts together, eliminating the introductions, but leaving a second of black leader between each piece. 90% of video must have been shot by the entering photojournalist. Maximum length: 30 minutes.

Documentary: A complete, creative study of a subject of general interest in which the story theme and its treatment follows a predetermined direction. 75%of the footage must have been shot by the entrant. Maximum length: 60 minutes.

Team Entry: Any story that was shot by more than one photojournalist. The story may include any other categories except Documentary. Maximum length: 15 minutes.

Ernie Crisp Television News Photographer of the Year: The person recognized as the TV Photographer of the Year must show a high level of skill and professionalism. The award serves as recognition of individual ability an ability against which others can compare their output to determine if they are meeting the standards of the industry. To enter this competition, submit 1 videotape of news photography typical of your work. The chairperson will not assemble entries from other categories for this award. However, stories entered in other categories may also be a part of the composite entry for this category. Stories in five of the seven following categories must be included on one tape in the following order, and Spot News must be one of them (enter no more than two stories per category): Spot News, Breaking News,General News, Sports, Feature, News Feature, In-Depth/Series. 90% of video of each story must have been shot by the entering photojournalist. Maximum length: 30 minutes.

Television News Photography Station of the Year: The award for TV Station of the Year recognizes a local broadcast station's staff consistency in providing outstanding news photography coverage for and about the audience it serves. The award singles out an individual station as one that has achieved a standard of quality in photographic coverage that is unmatched by any other. Selection as TV Photography Station of the Year honors excellence and most importantly, it serves to raise the standards of the industry. The entry consists of the following items: A cassette with compiled entry of the station's best news photography. Stories in five of the eight following categories must be included on this tape in the following order and Spot News must be one of them (enter no more than three stories per category): Spot News, Breaking News, General News, Sports, Feature, News Feature, Team, In- Depth/Series.

Submit a list detailing the content of the presentation, indicating the names of photographers, categories, and titles of stories. Each story on the compilation tape must include a complete list of all photographers and editors involved in producing the story for air. No promotional material concerning the station, its photographers, or the stories should be included on entry tape. Maximum length: 30 minutes.

Also include a one-page summary of the station's philosophy on television news photography. Indicate the size of staff and delineate the size of the area you must cover.

Entrants are required to save an air check of their early block (5 p.m. to 6 p.m.) and their late block (10 pm. to 11 p.m.) each day for the month of February. Sometime during the month, your staff will be called by the contest chairperson and told which newscast to mail as part of your SOTY entry. This entry will be the same time and day for everyone. The air check cassette should be edited and include the open, close, all commercials, news, weather, and sports. (The news open and close are okay on the air check.)

There is a $50 fee for entrants in TV Station of the Year competition made payable to NPPA.

90% rule change: If entrant did not shoot every frame of video the 10% box must be checked on the entry form along with a short explanation of how other photojournalists contributed to the story.