Video Editing Division Judges

Bari Soash

Bari Soash has been the News Director at WTOC-TV in Savannah, GA since August 2018. She has 15 years of experience in local news, working as a producer, assignment editor, executive producer, and News Director. She has worked in five television markets during her career to include WLNS-TV in Lansing, MI, WBTV in Charlotte, NC, WTOL in Toledo, OH, and WALB-TV in Albany, GA. She has a Bachelor of Science in Electronic Media and Film Studies and a minor in Journalism from Eastern Michigan University. Bari is a recent graduate of the Leadership Savannah class of 2022 and has completed the Carole Kneeland Project for Responsible Journalism in 2017, and the Raycom Media Leadership Training program in 2012. Bari is married and the mother of two daughters, Autumn (7), and Taylor (4). In her free time, she enjoys running and spending time outdoors with her family.

Kirk Cratty

A lifelong Moxie loving Mainer, I've been a photojournalist for more than 23 years. The last 20 of which have been at WCSH in Portland, Maine, where I was recently awarded the National Edward R. Murrow award. I'm an avid outdoorsman, drive the ugliest but best car known to mankind, a Honda Element, and make a mean omelet..

Annette Lawless

Annette Lawless is an anchor-reporter from KAKE News in Wichita. In the past 15 years, she's had the honor of working at stations in Topeka, Wichita and Cleveland. Her storytelling's been recognized across the country, including for her daily investigative series "Missing in Kansas," where she digs into stories of missing people every day. Outside of work, she enjoys baking and taking care of her family. Her husband works at a competing station in town, which often leads to entertaining chats at home. They have two children and a dog.

Chip Baysden

Chip Baysden's career as a photojournalist began in the city he grew up in, Charleston, SC. In 2000, He graduated with a degree in Communications from the College of Charleston and began work at the local ABC affiliate, WCIV. In 2004, Chip made a big leap to a big market station. WTTG Fox 5, in Washington, DC, would be Chip's home for the next 14 years. His beat included, The White House, Capital Hill, and the Washington Football Team. Baysden returned to South Carolina in 2018, working as a News Photographer for WYFF, the NBC affiliate in Greenville, SC. In February of 2022, Chip retired his 'news' cap and started a successful Video Production company. Chip has won an amazing 39 Emmy Awards and 10 White House News Photographers Association Awards(10 Oval Office visits). In 2016 and 2017, Chip was named WHNPA's 'Videographer and Editor of the Year.' In October of 2022, Chip was awarded the National Edward R. Murrow Award for Large Market Videography.

First Round Judges, Video Editing Division

Jennifer Castor
Anthony Durso
McKenna Ewen
John Gibson
Becca Habegger
Chris Hansen
Jed Henry
Chance Horner
Tyler Horst
Todd Hougaard
Rachel Kim
Frank Koumaros
Evan Kruegel
Megan Mackel
Jon Menell
Tony Mirones
Chad Nelson
Bob Pearce
Matt Rafferty
Kevin Reece
Jeff Ritter
Peter Rosen
Evan Stulberger
Julianne Varacchi
Jenna Watson