Best of Photojournalism 2006: TV News Photography: Winners
Spot News Finalists
(In Alphabetical Order)
- Kevin Burke-NBC News
- “Under Fire”
- Jonathan Davis-KTVI/St. Louis, MO
- “Katrina”
- Steve Fedoriska-KCNC/Denver, CO
- “Panic and Confusion”
- Greg Johnson-WFAA/Dallas, TX
- “Bomb in the Bag”
- “We Were Lucky!”
- Matt Knisely-KMSP/Minneapolis, MM
- “Holy Smoke”
- Geoff Levine-KGUN/Tucson, AZ
- “A Daring Rescue”
- Dave Palmer-WPHL/Philadelphia, PA
- “Camden Boys Found”
- Marc Rice-WESH/Orlando, FL
- “New Orleans Rescue Mission”
- Danny Rogers-KWCH/Wichita, KS
- “Is That Smoke Dangerous?
- Scott Stevens-KHWB/Houston, TX
- “Camp Causeway, New Orleans”
- James Sutton-WZZM/Grand Rapids, MI
- “Coopersville Fire”
- Mike Theiss-NBC News
- “Hurricane Katrina 28 ft. Storm Surge”
Winners
- 1st Place-Kevin Burke-NBC News “Under Fire”
- 2nd Place-Mike Theiss-NBC News “Hurricane Katrina 28 Foot Storm Surge”
- 3nd Place-Steve Fedoriska-KCNC/Denver, CO “Panic and Confusion”
- HM-Greg Johnson-WFAA/Dallas, TX “Bomb in the Bag”
- HM-Scott Stevens-KHWB/Houston, TX “Camp Causeway, New Orleans”
Judges' comments
“Keeping the camera rolling in uncontrolled, stressful and life - threatening situations made the difference for the winners this year in this category,” Lou Davis said. “Every photojournalist that placed in this category made a commitment to anticipate and react to the unfolding events that came across their paths.
“The top two risked their lives. They had moments that ‘lived’ on tape and gave us the experience of ‘being there.’ They had “immediacy” with sound bites that communicated in the “active” tense of our language.
“The photojournalists that did not make a commitment to anticipate or react to the unfolding events fell short.
“It rang true again; the photojournalists who brought more to their stories… better moments, better sound bites, and sequencing that imitated the eye, scored higher than those who did not.
“An important note: stories with sound bites that were responding in the ‘past tense’ did not do well. It was clear that the questions being asked by the photojournalist out in the field were, ‘What Happened?’ instead of, ‘What’s happening’ or, ‘Tell me what you are seeing.’
In short, in spot news, “Anticipate, React or Die.” (a quote from Bob Brandon, two - time NPPA Television Photographer of the Year).
Judge Kevin Labrecque said, “Overall, I think this category fell short of my expectations. I felt as if a lot of the stories we saw were not ‘true spot news.’ Spot news to me is something that is going on right now, not something that took place two or three hours ago. I was impressed with the poise of the top qualifiers either under fire or at a fire. The natural sound was great in all of the top pieces. Reaction is what really made the pieces come alive for me. Congratulations to the winners.”
Judge Ray Meints said, “There is no better example of keeping your camera rolling in an uncontrolled stressful situation, that that shown by the 2006 Spot News winner, Kevin Burke, with his story ‘Under Fire.’
“My breath was taken away. As shots rang out around the photographer, not only did he keep the camera rolling, but the photographer even managed to shoot two stand - ups! If it were me, there is no way I would have taken my eyes off the area where the bullets were coming from. It was a life and death situation that was handled in an exemplary professional manner. It was obvious to me that the photographer had also developed a trusting relationship with the troops he was with. Great reaction shots in a very stressful situation. This story took me to a place few people have been, right in the middle of a firefight. Congratulations to the winner!”
“Second place, the story ‘Katrina 28 Foot Storm Surge,’ you have to give the photographer credit for riding out the hurricane. One of the few entries submitted that had actual Katrina storm footage. Once again another life and death situation, where the photographer kept the camera rolling, captured the storm, and thankfully lived to tell about it.
“Third place was also one of my favorites. I was amazed at everything that was captured. Great action and reaction. Sound from the officials and witness’s told the story. The photographer worked hard to gather all the elements. Way to keep thinking.
“Overall, the Spot News category was disappointing. While the winners were good choices, there were way too many entries that didn’t meet the category definition of Spot News. If the Spot News situation wasn’t stressful, then it was quickly ejected. In addition, many of the entries were better suited for the General News category. As always, story telling is important. Submitting b - roll that did not tell what was going on, those were also quickly eliminated.”
Judge Greg Stotelmyer said, “Keeping the camera rolling and on the action in the midst of a firefight or storm surge are not among the everyday challenges a photographer faces. We saw examples of photographers, thrust in the middle of the year’s two biggest stories, who handled that task very well.”
“It is surprising, in this day and time when spot news is king in newsrooms, that we did not receive more entries with real drama as it unfolded. That’s not a criticism in any way of those who entered. There were a few stories, while void of the immediate spot news challenges created by a massive hurricane or war, which provided fine examples of honing in on good reaction from those on the scene.
“The message is: if you hear something on the scanner, don’t wait for the assignment editor or executive producer to shove you out the door. It’s not easy to perform in stressful situations, but we saw several examples of how it can be done well.”
Judge Ernesto Torres said, “The thing that I came away with about Spot News is that there needs to be more stories entered. There where a lot of them that did not fit in with what Spot News is under the guidelines we need to see more of what a Spot News story is all about. The Spot News story that won this year ‘Under Fire’ was very well done under the very dangerous circumstances. ‘Keep the Camera Rolling at All Times’ was something that the photojournalist did on the story and he did it at a high standard. It was also a well - told story of how risky things are in a war setting.
“The second place ‘Hurricane Katrina 28 foot storm surge’ story was also captured very well considering how dangerous things where during the height of the Hurricane. The third place ‘Panic and Confusion’ story was a natural sound piece that was able to capture everything that was going on at the time by using people, natural sound, and emotion, to tell the story.”
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