New Hampshire AP Broadcasters contest

The New Hampshire Associated Press Broadcasters Association contest is open to AP member stations licensed in New Hampshire.

It also is open to out-of-state members who receive the New Hampshire wire and who have had a permanent bureau in the state for at least the entire contest year, 2001, from which they do regular coverage of New Hampshire news.

Out-of-state entries must be coverage of New Hampshire stories or events.

Out-of-state members are excluded from the following categories: Best Short-form Newscast, Best Long-form Newscast, Best Single-person Newscast, Best Sportscast.

Fees are as follows: Threshold fee of $10 per station. Fees per entry are $11 for television and $8 for radio. In other words, if your TV station enters one tape, it will cost $21; $32 for two, etc. Radio stations will pay $18 for one entry, $26 for two, etc.

Please make your checks payable to: NHAPBA.

The contest period is the calendar year. Entries are due in the AP bureau on January 31, then are shipped to another state's AP association for judging.

As per the membership vote at the fall meeting, the small-market radio designation has been eliminated.

All radio entries will be judged in the same group.The awards banquet for the 2001 contest is April 19 at the Courtyard Marriott in Concord.

The Rules

1. A separate tape must be submitted for each entry. Radio entries must be on cassette. Television entries must be recorded on standard VHS video cassette.

2. All parts of all entries must have been broadcast at your station from January first through December 31st.

3. Entries submitted for BEST SHORT-FORM NEWSCAST, BEST LONG-FORM NEWSCAST and BEST SINGLE-PERSON NEWS STAFF AND BEST SPORTSCAST must consist of material broadcast on one of two days designated by the AP. Entries containing material not broadcast on a designated day will be disqualified.


THE DESIGNATED DAYS IN 2001 WERE Nov. 8 and Dec. 12. Members will receive wire advisories on the designated days for 2002.

4. Except for the two Videography categories, individual stories may be entered in one category only.

5. In the event of a dispute over eligibility, contest deadlines, etc., the NHAPBA Executive Board has the authority to investigate and rule. The executive board's decision is final.

6. In cases in which large and small market radio stations share the same news staffs, entries originating from a large market station cannot be entered in the small market category (spot news, breaking news, feature, etc). However, if a small market station uses a report from a staffer who is based at a large market station as part of a regular newscast, that newscast can be entered in the Best Newscast category from the small market station.

The categories

DOCUMENTARY OR SERIES The entire documentary or series about a topic of significance. Limit three entries per station.

FEATURE Entry must demonstrate special or creative treatment of a subject or issue beyond that which would be given spot or breaking news. The entry may be part of a newscast or special program. Limit three entries per station.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS/TALK SHOW A single program or a series dealing with one or more subjects, not exceeding 30 minutes. Limit three entries per station.

ELECTIONS Entry must be a composite of your state primary or general election day coverage, not exceeding 30 minutes. One entry per station.

SPOT NEWS One report or a series dealing with a single event or subject such as a presidential visit or a continuing story on an issue such as fighting drunken driving, drugs, etc. Entry cannot exceed 15 minutes. Limit three entries per station.

BREAKING NEWS Coverage of a single, spontaneous news event for which little or no planning was possible, such as a fire or plane crash. Entry may be one report or a series of reports, not exceeding 15 minutes. Limit three entries per station.

BEST SHORT-FORM NEWSCAST Entire single newscast or sampling of entire newscasts of station's news coverage on one of two designated days selected by the AP. Total entry not exceeding 30 minutes. One entry per station. Short-form newscases are newscasts of up to five minutes of news content. Weather and sports are be included in the five-minute limit.

BEST LONG-FORM NEWSCAST Entire single newscast or sampling of entire newscasts of station's coverage on one of two designated days selected by the AP. Total entry not exceeding 30 minutes. One entry per station. Long-form newscasts are newscasts longer than five minutes.

BEST SINGLE-PERSON NEWS STAFF Same as Best Short-form or Long-form Newscast, but only single-person news staffs are eligible.

SPORTS SPECIAL A sports feature consisting of a single program or a series on a single subject, not exceeding 30 minutes. One entry per sportscaster.

PLAY BY PLAY Entry must be play-by-play from programs broadcast live in their entirety on the station. Entry may be coverage of a single event or a composite of different events, not exceeding 20 minutes. One entry per sportcaster.

BEST SPORTSCAST Composite of station's sports coverage on one of two days designated by the AP, not exceeding 30 minutes. One entry per station.

FEATURE VIDEOGRAPHY Video of a feature or documentary, either in its entirety or composite form, not exceeding 15 minutes. Limit three entries per station.

NEWS VIDEOGRAPHY Video of a spot or breaking news event, not exceeding 15 minutes. Limit three entries per station.

Entry form

TV   Large Market Radio   Small Market Radio

Category

Station

Title of Entry

Talent

Brief description of entry: