SPECIALTY ACHIEVEMENT
100. Sports Excellence
Awarded to the individual most responsible for excellence in the overall operations of a television station’s sports department, regional sports network, sports franchise or online sports media outlet during the eligibility period. Entry should reflect the organization’s overall local product including any sports news coverage, locally produced sports programs, promotional announcements, in-arena or in-stadium content, examples of charitable events and involvement in the community, and any further evidence of excellence. Entry should emphasize the quality, breadth and efficacy of the organization’s operations, stressing substance rather than style, and exhibit performance in sustaining excellence throughout the eligibility year. Entrants are encouraged to include community outreach and video content distributed via social media and digital platforms. Exempt from the excerpt and composite limits, but the entry must be comprised only of material as actually distributed with 1 second of black between excerpts and composite elements. No introductions, post-production, montages, music or special effects may be added. This is not intended to be a “buzz” or demo reel. Entry should include a written synopsis of the organization’s operation and achievements. Synopsis may be uploaded as a PDF or typed into the available text box within the online entry form. Entry time limit: 30 minutes.
NOTE: This category is exempt from double-dipping rules.
SPORTS NEWS CONTENT
News content categories are intended for journalistic material produced by news departments within television stations, newspapers or online news reporting entities.
Producers, craft persons and other eligible entrants as listed on the entry form receive the Emmy® statuette.
Eligible entrants must have significant, creative, and hands-on involvement in the actual production of the video that is submitted. Roles peripheral to the actual video production (proposal/grant writing, fundraising, general supervision, etc.) are not substantial enough to be considered in this competition.
Executive Producers and management personnel (such as News Directors) are not eligible for Emmy® statuettes unless directly involved in the hands-on production of the work submitted. Those who serve in a managerial or supervisory role only should not be listed on the entry. To be considered, Executive Producers, General Managers, News Directors or other management personnel must have directly participated in the execution of the video. In such cases, a written request outlining the person’s involvement should be submitted via email to the Chapter’s awards committee for approval. Note: General Managers are statuette eligible for the Overall Excellence category. News Directors are statuette eligible for the News Excellence category
For single News entries, the original video and submission length must not exceed 10 minutes.
Multi-part news series entries are eligible and must include a minimum of two (2) but no more than five (5) separate reports from the series. Total submission time limit for News series entries may not exceed 15 minutes.
NOTE: One (1) second of black must be inserted between elements of a series entry or between excerpts if the original video has been edited to fit the entry time limit for the category.
Sports News content is only eligible in the appropriate News subcategories.
For Sports Story and Sportscast entries, the original video must not exceed 10 minutes.
101. Sports Story – News (Single Shift)
For excellence in news or journalistic coverage of sports, athletes, coaches and other related topics. Entry time limit: 10 minutes
102. Sports Story – News (no production time limit)
For excellence in news or journalistic coverage of sports, athletes, coaches and other related topics. Entry time limit: 15 minutes
103. Sports Story – News Feature (no production time limit)
For excellence in news or journalistic coverage of sports, athletes, coaches and other related topics. Entry time limit: 15 minutes
104. Sports Story – Human Interest – News
For excellence in news or journalistic coverage of sports stories that appeal to the human spirit. Entry time limit: 10 minutes
105. Sports Story – Texas Heritage – News
For excellence in news or journalistic coverage of sports stories regarding state or local heritage, history or natural attributes of Texas. Entry time limit: 15 minutes.
106. Sports Story – Diversity / Equity / Inclusion – News
For excellence in news or journalistic coverage focused on topics including racism, discrimination, inequity, marginalized communities, and similar social injustices, notably focused on efforts to raise awareness or effect positive change. Entry time limit: 15 minutes.
107. Sports – Interview/Discussion
For excellence in content consisting of sports interview/discussion content that is at least 75% unscripted. This category is primarily intended for formal interviews where both the interviewer(s) and interviewee(s) are visible on camera and engaged in discussion. Entry Time Limit: 30 minutes.
NOTE: Some visual elements may supplement the interview, but entries for this category are typically live or recorded live and not heavily post-produced.
108. Sportscast
For excellence in an anchored sports segment from within a newscast. Entry time limit: 10 minutes
SPORTS PROGRAM CONTENT
The person, typically the producer, who determines the overall tone, structure, look, sound, and mission of the content should be the primary entrant for these categories. Please refer to the glossary definition of Producer (INSERT PAGE #). Qualified others may be eligible if their contributions are significant to the entry’s award-worthiness. Crafts people should submit in the appropriate craft category.
Eligible entrants must have significant, creative, and hands-on involvement in the actual production of the video that is submitted. Roles peripheral to the actual video production (proposal/grant writing, fundraising, general supervision, etc.) are not substantial enough to be considered in this competition.
Executive Producers and management personnel are not eligible for Emmy® statuettes unless directly involved in the hands-on production of the work submitted. Those who serve in a managerial or supervisory role only should not be listed on the entry. To be considered, Executive Producers, General Managers, or other management personnel must have directly participated in the execution of the video. In such cases, a written request outlining the person’s involvement should be submitted via email to the Chapter’s awards committee for approval.
For Short Form Content, the original video must not exceed 10 minutes.
For Long Form Content and Program entries, the original video must be longer than 10 minutes and submission length may not exceed 30 minutes (exception: Sports Documentary). No more than three (3) excerpts may be included to bring longer content to the 30-minute time limit (exceptions: Sports – One-Time Special and Sporting Event/Game Live Broadcast.) Excerpts must be presented in original, chronological order.
Series entries are eligible and must include a minimum of two (2) but no more than five (5) separate segments from the series. Total submission time limit for Short Form Content series entries may not exceed 15 minutes. Long Form Content series entries may not exceed 30 minutes.
201. Sports Story – Short Form Content (up to 10 minutes)
For excellence in content about sports, athletes, coaches and other related topics.
202. Sports Story – Long Form Content (longer than 10 minutes)
For excellence in content about sports, athletes, coaches and other related topics. This category is intended for features, segments and other storytelling vehicles of varying lengths and NOT for traditional 30 or 60-minute programs.
203. Sports Program – Live
For excellence in a sports program or series that is live or recorded live. Entry must have, as its basis, special coverage not to be taken from a newscast, including but not limited to pregame and postgame shows surrounding live sporting events. Entry may include multi-camera and pre-produced segments that cover the full spectrum of the event. Entry may not have post-broadcast edits except for the removal of commercials or to bring a program a longer program to the 30-minute entry time limit. A maximum of three (3) excerpts is permitted with one (1) second of black inserted between excerpts. Entry will be judged on overall content, presentation, enterprise, writing, format, teases, etc. Entry time limit: 30 minutes
204. Sports Program – Post-Produced or Edited
For excellence in a daily or weekly sports program or sports series (non-news). Entry must have, as its basis, special coverage not to be taken from a newscast. Content in these programs is post-produced and heavily edited. Entry may have no post-broadcast edits except for the removal of commercials or to bring a program a longer program to the 30-minute entry time limit. A maximum of three (3) excerpts is permitted with one (1) second of black inserted between excerpts. Entry will be judged on overall content, presentation, enterprise, writing, format, teases, etc. Entry time Limit: 30 minutes
205. Sports Interview / Discussion
For excellence in content consisting of sports interview/discussion content that is at least 75% unscripted. This category is primarily intended for formal interviews where both the interviewer(s) and interviewee(s) are visible on camera and engaged in discussion.
206. Sports – Human Interest
For excellence in content that appeals to the human spirit. Entry time limit: 15 minutes.
207. Sports Texas Heritage
For excellence in a program, series or special on state or local heritage, history or natural attributes of Texas. Entry time limit: 30 minutes.
208. Sports Documentary
For excellence in a creative, in-depth treatment of a sports topic presented in a factual and informative manner. Entry may include no more than three (3) excerpts to bring the entry down to the 60-minute entry time limit. One (1) second of black must be inserted between excerpts. Entry time Limit 60 minutes.
NEW – NOTE: Regional recipients in this category are eligible, at their discretion, to compete for a crystal pillar in the National Sports Awards in the following category: Outstanding Regional Sports Documentary.
209. Sports – Diversity / Equity / Inclusion
For excellence in content focused on topics including racism, discrimination, inequity, marginalized communities, and similar social injustices.
210. Sports – One-Time Special
For excellence in a one-time sports-related special program that is not part of a daily or weekly sports program, game or series. Entry may be live, recorded live or post-produced. Entry should have no post edits except for the removal of commercials. Entry may include no more than eight (8) excerpts to bring the entry down to the 30-minute time limit. One (1) second of black must be inserted between excerpts.
NOTE: Examples might include content surrounding regional coverage of the Kentucky Derby, Boston Marathon, Hockey Day Minnesota or High School Football Championship Preview.
211. Live Sporting Event / Game
For excellence in production of a single (live or recorded live) sporting event or game. A composite is required and should include examples of: Show Open, Specialty Graphics, Use of Replays, Inserted Pre-Produced Segments, Use of Statistical or Other Prepared Material, Highlights, Exceptional Coverage and any additional material at entrant’s discretion. Entry may include no more than eleven (11) excerpts to bring the entry down to the 30-minute entry time limit. One (1) second of black must be inserted between excerpts. Announcers are eligible for entries in this category, however the same material entered here cannot also be included in that announcer’s craft composite. Entry time limit: 30 minutes
212. Sports – Live Sporting Event Season
For excellence in production of a season series covering one sports team. A composite is required and should include examples of: Show Open, Specialty Graphics, Use of Replays, Inserted Pre-Produced Segments, Use of Statistical or Other Prepared Material, Highlights, Exceptional Coverage and any additional material at entrant’s discretion. Entries must include excerpts from at least 5 different games during the season. Entry may include no more than twenty (20) excerpts to bring the entry down to the 60-minute time limit. Excerpts DO NOT need to be in chronological order. One (1) second of black must be inserted between excerpts. Games from a particular season may only be submitted as a season entry in a single eligibility period. If a season entry is submitted, no single game from that season may be submitted in the Live Sporting Event/Game category. It is recommended that entrants include a content log of excerpts in their entry description. Announcers are eligible for entries in this category, however the same material entered here cannot also be included in that announcer’s craft composite. Entry time limit: 60 minutes.
NOTE: If a season occurs over 2 different eligibility periods for the Chapter, the entrant may only submit a season entry for one of those competition periods. The entrant can choose which year to submit. Example: The season runs October 15 – March 31. The Chapter’s eligibility period is the calendar year. The entrant can submit a season entry that includes games from October 15 through December 31 and submit in the current year’s competition. Or the entrant can wait to submit a season entry that includes games from January 1 through March 31 in the following year’s competition. In any case, entrants may not submit games from the same season as a season entry in competitions from 2 different years. Individual games from the section of the season NOT included in the season entry may be entered as individual games in the Live Sporting Event/Game category.
213. Sports Open/Tease
For excellence in a stand-alone sequence that opens a live or post-produced sports program. Stand-alone promos for a telecast are not eligible; the programming entered must air as part of the telecast under consideration. “Re-teases” – a tease video that occurs in the middle of a telecast – are also eligible. Composites are not eligible in this category. There are no stipulations as to the length of the video submission, but it must contain only one Open/Tease and no other programming.
NOTE: In-stadium or in-arena hype videos should be entered in this category.
214. Special Event Coverage
For excellence in coverage of a one-time-only, anticipated community or entertainment event such as a parade, holiday fireworks or a funeral procession. Entry may include multi-cameras and pre-produced segments that cover the full spectrum of the event. Live entries should include at least 75% live material, with no post edits. Entry time limit: 30 minutes
The person, typically the producer, who determines the overall tone, structure, look, sound, and mission of the content should be the primary entrant for these categories. Please refer to the glossary definition of Producer (INSERT PAGE #). Qualified others may be eligible if their contributions are significant to the entry’s award-worthiness. Crafts people should submit in the appropriate craft category.
SPOT ANNOUNCEMENTS & BRANDED CONTENT
Content submitted in the Spot Announcement and Branded Content categories must be regionally conceived, produced and distributed. Submissions that contain more than 50% of network or syndicator-provided material do not qualify. Music, graphics and pre-edited video constitute such material.
Spots may be 5 seconds to 2 minutes in length, except for the Long Form Promotional Spot category. For campaigns, a minimum of two (2) up to a maximum of five (5) spots from the campaign should be edited together for a single video upload. One (1) second of black must be inserted between each spot. If a campaign is entered, no spots from that same campaign may be submitted in a single-spot category.
Branded Content Short Form entries must be submitted in their entirety as originally distributed. The original video and submission length must not exceed 15 minutes.
For Branded Content Long Form the original video must have been longer than 15 minutes and the submission length must not exceed 30 minutes. A maximum of three (3) segments/excerpts is permitted to bring longer videos to the required entry time limit.
NOTE: One (1) second of black must be inserted between elements of a campaign.
301. Sports Promotion (Single Spot)
For excellence in announcements that promote content produced outside the news department. This includes spots that promote a broader station/company image as well as regionally produced spots for network, local and/or syndicated programming. Entry Time Limit: 2 minutes
NOTE: Intended for promos produced for content that would be entered in the Sports Content section with the exception of Sports Story – News. May include cold opens and in-show teases.
302. Sports Promotion (Campaign)
Entry Time Limit: 10 minutes (up to five spots, each spot up to 2 minutes in length)
303. Sports Branded Content
For excellence in a complete, stand-alone video or video series produced with the intention of connecting or engaging an audience with an organization’s brand. The content integrates the brand or brand messaging in the story-telling in an entertaining, creative, or emotional way. The video includes some visual branding, product placement or overt mention of the organization at the center of the production. Because of the nuanced nature of what constitutes “Branded Content,” final determination of category placement is at the discretion of the Chapter’s Awards Committee.
NOTE: Video may not contain a call for commerce. Website URLs or requests to follow social media accounts do not constitute calls for commerce. Program length commercials (infomercials) are not eligible. Content from projects identified as “branded” may not be entered in other content categories.
EXAMPLES:
- Content produced by businesses or non-profits to highlight their own establishments or services
- Hospital or medical stories promoting a particular health care facility or cause such as organ/tissue donation
- Videos in which organizations explore topical issues or put forth chosen experts to offer advice on topics with a focus on the organization’s viewpoint or services
- Travel content produced by or for specific destinations such as “what to do when you’re in Las Vegas”
- Local power company vignettes telling the story of the company’s evolution in the community
- Police/fire department recruitment videos
- College tour or recruitment videos
CRAFTS ACHIEVEMENT
For excellence in a specific craft discipline demonstrating the skills of one or more individuals. Each entry may contain a single example of the craft or a composite of material as originally distributed. While craft entrants may submit more than one entry per craft discipline, only one of those entries may be a composite. Elements of the composite may not be separately entered as individual craft entries in the same craft category. Craft awards are intended for hands-on craft persons, not those who supervise craft persons. Time Limit: 15 minutes (unless otherwise indicated.)
401. Director
402. Editor
403. Graphic Arts
Entries must contain graphical elements originally created for regional markets. Re-purposed content from national sources is not eligible. Graphics Composites may include more than 5 examples of work, for up to five minutes of entry video, as long as each example is separated by one second of black and there is no other post-production to the entry.
404. Live Sports Producer
Enter a composite not to exceed 30 minutes. Material entered in this category cannot be entered by the same entrant in any Sports Content categories.
405. Live Sports Director
406. Anchor – Sports – Within a Traditional Newscast
407. Anchor – Sports – Sports Program
For Anchor categories only: A segment is an excerpt from a sports news program with the material that doesn’t include the entrant edited out. An entry may include up to five segments. Each segment can include material from only ONE news program: think of this as “five segments equals five changes of clothing” rule. Entrants may not cherry-pick short segments from various points throughout the program and edit those together; that would be a montage. It’s allowed, but not required, for the co-anchor’s and reporters’ video to be edited out of a segment. Anchor entries may include examples of studio anchoring, field anchoring, specials, breaking, etc., but NOT reporter packages (if an anchor also does reporter packages, they must enter those in one of the reporter categories.)
408. Sports – Reporter – Within a Traditional Newscast
409. Sports – Reporter – In Game, Pre or Post Game
410. Sports Analyst – Studio
411. Sports Analyst – Game
412. Sports Play-by-Play
413. Sports – Program Host/Moderator
414. Sports – Commentary/Editorial
415. Photographer
416. Writer
NOTE: Script PDF attachment preferred.
417. Solo Storyteller
For excellence by a single, cross-discipline individual serving as videographer/photographer, editor and writer to create a single or multi-part video story or topic outside of news. If the video includes a narrator or host, it must be the Solo Storyteller listed as the entrant on the submission. Entries in this category may be informational in nature but are not part of a traditional newscast. Entry may not be entered in any other craft category. Composites are permitted.NOTE: No more than 10% of the video should be archival material, file footage, VNR or provided video. Introductory stand-ups, bridges or end tags shot by other individuals should not be included on the entry.
Examples (all of which need to have been produced by a single, cross-discipline individual):
- Travel vignette (what to do in North Texas!)
- Behind the scenes tour of AT&T Stadium
- Profile of Luka Doncic and his puppies
418. Multimedia Journalist
For excellence by a single, cross-discipline individual, serving as photojournalist, editor, talent, and writer (also known as an MMJ, VJ, MSJ, VS); covering a single or multi-part video story or topic intended for a news audience. Entry may not be submitted in any other craft category. Composites are permitted.