Entries are due in the AP Bureau at 107 State Street in Montpelier by 5 p.m. on January 28th, 2000.

The post office address is PO Box 866, Montpelier, Vt. 05602.

The VTAPBA contest is open to all AP member stations that have news operations in Vermont. Stations compete in one division. There is no breakdown based on market size. There is, however, a special category for best small market radio news effort, which is limited to those stations with only one full-time person in their news department. The award in that category is determined by the judges, based on entries in all the other categories.

Fees per entry are $6.

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, 1999.

3. For radio stations, entries submitted for BEST NEWSCAST must consist of material broadcast on one of two days designated by the AP. For television stations, entries submitted for BEST NEWSCAST must consist of material from the one day designated by the AP.

1999 Radio Days: November 9; November 17

1999 Television Day: October 29

4. Stations are limited to three entries per category.

The categories

SAME DAY NEWSCAST The Associated Press selects one or two days (one for television and two for radio) in the course of the year in which newscasts from those days are eligible for this category. Entries will be from one of those days, depending on which you consider to be your best day. The entries may include more than one newscast, but radio station entries cannot be longer than 30 minutes; television station entries cannot be longer than one hour. The entries should be from tapes made on the day of the newscast.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS-DOCUMENTARY This entry must be outside of regularly scheduled newcasts. A regular program or a special one-shot broadcast would qualify. Entries must be no longer than 30 minutes.

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.

TALK SHOW A single program or a series dealing with one or more subjects, not exceeding 30 minutes.

GENERAL 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.

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.

ENTERPRISE Entries must demonstrate special or creative treatment of a subject or issue and should exhibit an extra effort at enterprise. Entries may be a single report or a composite from a series, feature or documentary. Entries must not exceed 15 minutes.

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING Special investigative, hard-edge reporting done for regularly scheduled newscasts falls in this category. A report or a series of reports may be entered, but all reports must be on the same topic.

COLLEGE STATION College stations are welcome to compete in any category, but only they are eligible for this category. Entries should be a composite of a daily newscast, not to exceed 10 minutes.

ELECTIONS Entry must be a composite of your town meeting, state primary or general election day coverage, not exceeding 30 minutes.

EDITORIALS This entry should be an editorial or commentary aired on your station. The entry can be either by script of tape or both.

SPORTS FEATURE

A sports feature consisting of a single program or a series on a single subject, not exceeding 30 minutes.

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.

BEST SPORTSCAST Composite of station's sports coverage, not exceeding 30 minutes. One entry per station.

BEST VIDEOGRAPHY Each entry may contain three samples of video by a videographer, with the total length not to exceed 10 minutes.

BEST WEATHERCAST Each entry should contain a single weathercaster's report, not to exceed 10 minutes.

Entry form

Category

Station

Number of news employees

Title of Entry

Reporter

Photographer

Brief description of entry: