Best of Photojournalism 2006: TV News Photography: Winners
48 Hour Feature Finalists
(In Alphabetical Order)
- Kristen Bergeron, KTVT-TV, Dallas, TX
- “Some Sense of Christmas”
- Lorri Burchett, KSTP-TV, Minneapolis, MN
- “The Jumper”
- Travis Fox, washingtonpost.com, Washington DC
- “Voices from the Line”
- Jonathan Davis, KTVI-TV, St. Louis, MO
- “Pet ER”
- Michael DelGiudice, News12, Long Island, NY
- “This is the Reason”
- David Hodge, WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN
- “A Couple of Clowns”
- Todd Krupa, R News, Rochester, NY
- “Dollar Man”
- Thomas McDonald, KDVR-TV, Denver, CO
- “The Artist’s Stroke”
- “Pearl St. Beat”
- Arturo Quezada, KMEX-TV, Los Angeles, CA
- “La Cucaracha”
- Corky Scholl, KUSA-TV, Denver, CO
- “Act of Kindness”
Winners
- 1st Lorri Burchett, KSTP-TV, Minneapolis, MN, “The Jumper”
- 2nd Jonathan Davis, KTVI-TV, St. Louis, MO, “Pet ER”
- 3rd Thomas McDonald, KDVR-TV, Denver, CO, “The Artist’s Stroke”
- HM Kristen Bergeron, KTVT-TV, Dallas, TX, “Some Sense of Christmas”
- HM Thomas McDonald, KDVR-TV, Denver, CO, “Pearl St. Beat”
Judges' comments
"What do you do when you have great stories that had great access up against a story that was challenging to visualize, yet told a complete story using creative techniques? Hmm?," Lou Davis said. "I think the stand-up did it for me (but don't tell anyone).
Kevin Labrecque said, "This category was cause for a lot of discussion amongst all of the judges. All the finalists did a great job of bringing out emotion and showing creativity and I think that's what made it so difficult to choose. It came down to this: what did the photographer bring to the table? I would like to say congratulations to all of the finalists.
Ray Meints said, "This was a good, solid category with a very good selection of solid, creative finalist. The judges had a wide variety of opinions on what entry would finish first. First place, 'The Jumper,' finished first based on creativity, editing and technical skill. Granted, the story revolved around stupid human behavior, the photographer still showed great imagination in making a good story with little to work with, a challenge we're faced with every day. Good teamwork, and a creative standup also.
"Second place was a great look inside a 'Pet ER.' Great sound, mixed with great moments and good shots, added up to make a powerful story. Good Job!"
Greg Stotelmyer said, "Animals, animals, animals. Yes, we saw too many stories with animals and pets in them. Yet, animals are a TV news staple, a fact driven home by the number of barks, meows, and duck quacks that were on the tapes. That's not to say there weren't some very good animal stories. Even the five of us, judges hardened by five days inside a dark room watching tape after tape, found "Pet ER" worthy of a treat, second place.
"The top five stories were very close. 'The Jumper' won for its creative after-the-fact approach to a story about a really stupid guy. He decides to jump off a busy bridge as a dare and his buddy tapes it. Surprise, surprise, people driving by see him and call 911. He emerges from the river unscathed, but apparently with a sliver of remorse. He calls the cops and fesses up. He's arrested.
"Let the story telling begin for the photographer and his reporter. They interviewed the jumper, the clerk in the convenience store where the jumper went to call the cops, and they delivered the hook. The dare could cost the jumper $10,000 to $15,000 because of the emergency response. The photography was fast paced, technically sound, and even had a clever stand-up. Combined, those elements delivered a compelling story. The story telling did not stop with a few interviews and use of the jumper's tape. Instead, it turned a normal story about a stupid guy into an award winner."
Ernesto Torres said, "This category was the tightest completion of all of them to this point. The wining story 'The Jumper' was an example of great team effort and being creative to tell a story. It had all the elements of storytelling, editing, photography and teamwork between both reporter and photographer. The rest of the stories where all excellent and had great moments that where captured very well from all the photojournalist."
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