Best of Photojournalism 2007: TV News Editing: Winners
TV Editor of the Year Finalists
(In Alphabetical Order)
- Matthew Rafferty WJW/Cleveland
- Joshua Shea/KCNC Denver
- Benjamin West KMSP/Minneapolis
Runner Up
Matthew Rafferty, WJW/Cleveland
TV Editor of the Year
Judges' comments
- Mike Humphries-
The winning entry displayed good natural sound, shot selection and pacing throughout. The editing was tight, clean and felt seamless. While some entries were decidely "flashier" than this one, this editor made great storytelling choices that did not draw attention to themselves. "A New Home", a story about the 2nd Brigade Combat Team's return from Iraq, is an outstanding example of a general news piece, with great nats and sequences throughout the story. "Girl Scout Cookies", a more quiet "companion piece" to "A New Home" that deals with a returning Marine veteran's visit with a Brownie troop, is another great story with excellently-cut interplay as the Marine talks with his young supporters. Both of these stories typify the quality of work done by this editor. An excellent entry.
The runner up was also very, very good. The editor made good use of effects as storytelling tools without going overboard with them. The tension that the editor built up using slow motion and great shot selection during "Just a Matter of Time" was palpable (the judges were very disappointed that the concluding Part 2 wasn't included in the entry!). This editor's use of effects in "Red Light--Green Light" also worked as very effective storytelling tools. Another very, very good entry.
The rest of the entries all displayed many good qualities. Each had at least one really good story. Most had several. However many of the entries suffered from an overuse of effects that didn't propel the story and, in some cases, really detracted from it. Many times less is more.
- Stephanie Ottjepka-
The stories on the winning entry were clean, the shot selection was intelligent, the effects were appropriate and non-distracting, music was used sparingly, nat sound pacing was nice and there was a good variety of stories.
The winning entry's under deadline was impressive. It had a nice beginning with a surprise, the pacing with the natural sound was excellent and the overall story was told well. The other story that really stood out was the "Girl Scout Cookies". I loved the use of cutaways. The editor's choice of shots really made the story. There was an emotional depth given to that story by the editor. This editor understands pacing and good shot selection.
The runner up's entry also had a depth to it that was carried through the whole entry. I was very impressed with "Just a Matter of Time", the news feature. How many news teams can make a compelling story out of a phone call? I had chills when I watched it and the tease at the end really had me hooked. That piece had magic. It really showed good editing skills.
All of the entries had strong stories but only three entries had solid editing for every story. I saw many examples of effects used that did not advance the story, were distracting, and were not stylistic.
The finalists’ tapes also had examples of creative shot selection to tell abstract concepts or cover a part of a story which there was not obvious video to cover. They did so with a maturity, not compromising ethics and maintaining an appropriate style.
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