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2012-2013 Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Radio Contest Rules

Spanish entries welcome. You must be an AP member to enter.

All entries must have aired or been posted online during 2012. All entries must be the on-air version or the online version. An entry cannot be a re-creation.

The competition is entirely online (do not mail your entries to AP).

To enter, go to: www.betterbnc.com

(NOTE: FireFox is the preferred browser). The deadline to enter is Monday, Feb. 11, 2013.

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COST/DIVISIONS:

-- Division A: Large market -- $35 per entry. (DALLAS-FORT WORTH, HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO & AUSTIN ONLY).

-- Division B: Smaller Markets -- $25 per entry. (including EL PASO, EDINBURG, ABILENE and smaller).

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All payment checks (corporate/personal) must be received at The Associated Press office in Dallas by noon (central time) Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. Checks must be made out to Texas Associated Press Broadcasters, and mailed to:

TAPB Contest

Associated Press

4851 LBJ Freeway, Suite 300

Dallas, Texas 75244

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Questions? Contact TAPB board members Matt Thomas 817-312-5736 or Jack Williams 832-250-7275.

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Winners will be announced in early March and awards will presented at an evening banquet on Saturday, April 13, 2013, during the TAPB convention at the Headliners Club in Austin. The annual TAPB business meeting, including election of board members, will be held that Saturday afternoon, April 13, at the Headliners Club.

IMPORTANT: Please check the spelling of names and other information when entering. The lists of winners will be based on spellings that you provide when you fill out the online entry form. If you have changes after the winners are announced, stations must contact Diana Heidgerd with The Associated Press (972-991-2100) within one week of when the lists move on the AP wire. TAPB will not pay for spelling changes to 1st place plaques or 2nd place certificates if contacted more than one week after winners' lists move on the wire.

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TAPB/HEADLINERS FOUNDATION HONORS: www.headlinersfoundation.org

TAPB continues its partnership with the Headliners Foundation of Texas in presenting the TAPB/Headliners Awards for Excellence in Journalism. These awards will be made to the division winners in the annual TAPB contest in the following three radio categories: reporter, spot news coverage/station and online/special content.

Each TAPB division winner in these categories will automatically be entered into the TAPB/Headliners Foundation competition.

Headliners Foundation cash awards will be given to all division winners of the joint TAPB/Headliners Foundation contest categories. Overall winners will be recognized at the Headliners Foundation awards event in Austin in fall 2013 and featured on the group's website: www.headlinersfoundation.org

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STUDENTS are welcome to enter all categories if they are paid employees of the station. All entries must be made through the station. The TAPB still has a SCHOLARSHIP competition, but students are allowed to enter the regular competition as well. Scholarship rules will move on the wire later.

NON-TEXAS STATIONS: You may enter if you get the Texas AP wire, your primary coverage area includes Texas, and the category you enter involves coverage of Texas news, or news of main Texas interest.

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Each year the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters ("TAPB") recognizes excellence and achievement in journalism with awards in various categories.

Your promotion must state the "Texas Associated Press Broadcasters" (NOT Associated Press) as the award's source.

-- Promotional use of the word "Best" will apply only to first-place winners.

Any use of a reference to a TAPB award that in any way misleads the public about a TAPB award, including but not limited to distorted or exaggerated claims, is strictly prohibited.

Violations of either the spirit or intent of this prohibition may result in the disqualification of the offending entity from TAPB contests for a one-year period.

TAPB board reserves all rights to determine the truthfulness of any promotion that uses a reference to TAPB awards. The TAPB will be the sole determiner of whether or not a violation has occurred.

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RADIO CATEGORIES:

1. Newscast (5 entries per station): Must have aired on a 2012 contest day:

Thursday, March 29

Tuesday, June 26

Wednesday, Sept. 19

Saturday, Nov. 10

Friday, Dec. 14

(Please include date and time of newscasts)

2. Sportscast (3 entries per station): Time limit 5 minutes. Must have aired on a 2012 contest day:

Thursday, March 29

Tuesday, June 26

Wednesday, Sept. 19

Saturday, Nov. 10

Friday, Dec. 14

(Please include date and time of sportscasts)

3. News Anchor or Anchor Team (3 entries per station): Time limit 5 minutes. Must feature compiled reports from individual anchor or anchor team. Entry should include examples of ability to ad-lib around breaking news, as well as to handle regular news reports, features, etc.

4. Reporter (5 entries per station): Entry should include three to five reports written, edited and produced by a full-time reporter in the news department. Time limit is 5 minutes.

NOTE: FIRST PLACE WINNER IN THIS CATEGORY IS ELIGIBLE TO ADVANCE TO TAPB/HEADLINERS FOUNDATION COMPETITION.

5. Investigative Report (3 entries per station): May include a single story or series of stories, which show initiative and in-depth research. A written presentation is required (please attach) and may include: what prompted the story, a chronology of the investigation, copies of records and documents obtained for the report, the effect of the story on the local community and a summary of follow-up stories. Judges will consider the written presentation and impact of the story on the local community along with the production values and quality of the story telling.

6. Documentary (3 entries per station): Please submit complete program. Any paperwork that helps to explain the scope of the project should be attached. Must be a study of a single subject or related subjects, with the documentary presented outside a regularly scheduled news program. The entry will be judged on writing, production and presentation.

7. Special Series (3 entries per station): Please submit complete series. The category involves a multi-part story with a single subject. The entry will be judged on writing, production and presentation.

8. Specialty or Beat Reporting (3 entries per station): Entries must include body of work, minimum of 3 stories on the same subject matter or beat. Each story must be on a different topic. Max entry time of 10 minutes. (Series entries not accepted in this category.)

9. Sports Play-by-Play (3 entries per station): PBP originated by a local station. Time limit is 15 minutes. The entry must come from a single event and must be unedited, except for commercial removal.

10. Spot News by a Reporter (3 entries per station): Report from the scene of an UNEXPECTED, BREAKING NEWS EVENT! Must include sound from the scene, but does not have to be live sound. Judging will include reporter's handling of story, ad-lib ability and delivery.

11. Spot News by a Station (3 entries per station) May be several stories aired in tandem relating to a SINGLE, UNPLANNED NEWS EVENT.

NOTE: FIRST PLACE WINNER IN THIS CATEGORY IS ELIGIBLE TO ADVANCE TO TAPB/HEADLINERS FOUNDATION COMPETITION.

12. Use of Actuality-Production (3 entries per station): Entries will be judged on quality of actuality, use of natural sound, creative editing, writing and production technique.

13. General Assignment (3 entries per station): Any general assignment story, sports, medical, business, etc.

14. Commentary-Editorial (3 entries per station) Commentary by station personnel regarding significant community issues. Originated by a local station. NOTE: This category will have just one winner, with combined judging of Divisions A and B.

15. Sports Story or Sports Series (3 entries per station): Single story or multi-part series pertaining to sports.

16. Continuing Coverage (3 entries per station): Ongoing coverage of a single story, more along the lines of hard news or breaking news. This is NOT a category for series involving human interest, lifestyle or entertainment.

17. Radio Website (1 entry per station): Please provide the link to your website. Any additional supporting materials are welcome and should be attached.

18. Feature (Serious) (3 entries per station): Must be a single story. The entry will be judged on creativity, writing, production and presentation.

19. Feature (Light) (3 entries per station): Must be a single light or humorous story. The entry will be judged on creativity, writing, production and presentation.

20. Online/Special Content. (3 entries per station). Any specific spot news/topic/feature/unique content on your website. Please provide that particular link to your website, which should be archived to include all supporting materials.

-- Entry should represent a robust multimedia approach to storytelling and/or utility in covering a major news event, investigative project or feature subject. Entry should demonstrate a creative and effective use of a range of appropriate multimedia tools such as text, graphics, audio, video, still photography, and interactivity that combine to produce a smart, high-impact package.

NOTE: FIRST PLACE WINNER IN THIS CATEGORY IS ELIGIBLE TO ADVANCE TO TAPB/HEADLINERS FOUNDATION COMPETITION.

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