Griot Drum Awards Rules

The Griot Drum Awards – Rules and Categories

The Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists is calling for entries to its Griot Drum Awards – an awards ceremony designed to honor the best journalism on issues related to people of color in the Tampa Bay area.

Rules and Eligibility
Entries must have been published within the Tampa Bay area, including Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota counties.
Submissions will be grouped by media and circulation numbers. Entries must have been published between January 1, 2007 and Dec. 31, 2007. Entries must be postmarked and sent to TBABJ by Friday, March 14, 2008.

Only one category is allowed per entry. But numerous entries [each with its own entry fee] are permitted.

Each entry must be accompanied by an entry fee of $25 for non-chapter members and $10 for chapter members.

Entries must involve issues or concerns related to people of color, especially African Americans.

Entries will be judged by other National Association of Black Journalists chapters in other parts of the country, so the contest is open to chapter members and officers of TBABJ, except those serving on the awards committee.

The contest is open to journalists of all ethnicities. Entrants do not have to belong to TBABJ; awards will be presented to individuals, groups or organizations.

Instructions for submitting in each category must be followed; each entry must have its own separate entry fee, though entrants can write a single check for all fees.

Judges have the right to choose not to present an award in any category.

Finalists will be announced before the awards ceremony, but winners will not be announced until the awards ceremony. Entries will not be returned.

Judging: Entries will be judged by an affiliate chapter of the NABJ. Broadcast entries will be judged based on content, production value and impact. Print entries will be judged on content, readability and impact.

Television
Instructions: Entries can be submitted on VHS TAPES or standard DVDs only. A series should be entered on one tape and be limited to no more than five stories. Do not use color bars. A five-second slate is permitted. PLEASE be sure to use the correct category number. Category number is indicated directly in front of the category name.

TV-1 Spot news: Live and/or packaged coverage of a story on which the reporter had no more than a 24-hour deadline.TV-2 Non-Deadline Reporting: News story or feature, non-deadline.

TV-3 Investigative/Series: Investigative story or series of no more than five non-deadline stories on a single subject.

TV-4 Investigative Reporting: In-depth, original reporting by an individual or team of reporters.

TV-5 Community/Public Affairs: Regularly scheduled program, which presents an issue of public interest.

TV-6 Documentary: In-depth coverage of a serious issue that cannot be thoroughly covered in a regularly scheduled newscast.TV-7 Sports News: Analysis or commentary on a news event or issue.

Print [Circulation 100,000 or more]
Instructions: Entries with loose clippings, poster boards or ringed binders will be disqualified. Entries are best delivered on 8.5” x 11” sheets, either photocopied into this form (preferred) or cut up and taped down. Entries also may be mounted on pressboards. If submission is a series, it must be limited to no more than seven stories. PLEASE be sure to use the correct category number [See attached rules and categories].

Category number is indicated directly in front of the category name.
P-1 Deadline/Spot news Reporting: Breaking news story on which the reporter had no more than a 24-hour deadline.

P-2 Investigative Reporting: In-depth, original reporting by an individual or team of reporters.

P-3 Features: Any news feature, profile, review or analytical piece on a specific topic or issue, including arts and entertainment.

P-4 Community/Public Affairs: Story which presents an issue of public interest.

P-5 Sports News: Any news article or series devoted to a sports topic or issue.

P-6 Sports Feature: Any feature article or series devoted to a sports topic or issue.

P-7 Commentary: Any editorial, opinion column or commentary article, or cluster of related pieces on a specific topic or issue.

P-8 Criticism: Any arts criticism including analysis and reviews for fine arts, pop music, television movies and any other artistic areas.

Print [Circulation below 100,000]
Instructions: Same as print above 100,000.

PP-1 Deadline/Spot news Reporting: Breaking news story on which the reporter had no more than a 24-hour deadline.

PP-2 Investigative Reporting: In-depth, original reporting by an individual or team of reporters.

PP-3 Features: Any news feature, profile, review or analytical piece on a specific topic or issue, including arts and entertainment.

PP-4 Community/Public Affairs: Story which presents an issue of public interest.

PP-5 Sports News: Any news article or series devoted to a sports topic or issue.

PP-6 Sports Feature: Any feature article or series devoted to a sports topic or issue.

PP-7 Commentary: Any editorial, opinion column or commentary article, or cluster of related pieces on a specific topic or issue.

PP-8 Criticism: Any arts criticism including analysis and reviews for fine arts, pop music, television movies and any other artistic areas.

Radio
Instructions: Entries must be on a cassette tape or CD. PLEASE be sure to use the correct category number. Category number is indicated directly in front of the category name.

R-1 Spot News Reporting: Live and/or packaged coverage of a news story on which the reporter has no more than a 24-hour deadline.

R-2 Features Reporting: Issue oriented story, that can also be a profile, human interest, slice-of-life or humorous story.

R-3 Documentary/News Series: In-depth coverage of a serious issue that cannot be thoroughly covered in a regularly scheduled newscast.

R-4 Investigative Reporting: In-depth, original reporting by an individual or team of reporters.

R-5 Public Affairs: Story which presents an issue of public interest.

Photo/Graphics
Instructions: Entries may include original copies of work, in color. PLEASE be sure to use the correct category number.

P-1 Deadline/Spot news: Breaking news story on which the photographer had no more than a 24-hour deadline.

P-2 Features: Any feature photo, either with a story or stand alone .

P-3 Sports News: Any news photo devoted to a sports topic or issue.

P-4 Sports Feature: Any feature photo devoted to a sports topic or issue.

P-5 Editorial Cartoon: Any cartoon published as an editorial commentary.

P-6 Graphic or Photo Illustration: raphic or photo illustration published to augment and/or tell a single story.

P-7 Photo Essay: Any series of photos used to tell a story without text, or with a minimum of text.

New Media
Instructions: Entries must be submitted on CD, DVD, USB flash drive or by providing Internet links, with no more than one entry per storage unit. PLEASE be sure to use the correct category number. Category number is indicated directly in front of the category name.

NM-1 Best Multimedia News story: Open to Web-only news stories and/or news projects that have companion elements in print or broadcast. Entries should demonstrate in detail how the online project differed from what was broadcast or published in print.

NM-2 Best Web site: Best site for news and information; variety, original material and frequency of updating all count.

NM-3 Best Blog: Open to all news and information Web logs which feature a significant amount of material relating to issues concerning people of color. This category is specifically for the diary-style, continually updated form of a blog, to be judged on information quality, immediacy, style and impact.