2008 GOLDEN MIKE AWARDS

RULES

1. DIVISION DESIGNATION

1.1 In the competition for certain awards, the categories for radio and TV are divided into groups according to staff size. There are two groups, designated as Division A and Division B.

1.2 Radio, Division A
Six (6) or more full-time news staff members.

Radio, Division B
Five (5) or fewer full-time news staff members.

Television, Division A
Fifty (50) or more full-time news staff members.

Television, Division B
Forty-nine (49) or fewer full-time news staff members.

1.3 In determining staff size, count all persons used on the "Designated News Day" who spend full-time on News, including News Director and administrative staff, reporters and talent, technical staff including editors and field crews, writers, producers, researchers, newsroom production support staff and daily hires. The size of staff should be counted according to these criteria, on the "Designated News Day". Stations that share facilities, equipment, and/or staff with another station must consider the size of the combined operation in determining Division status. Work from an outside production company is not eligible.

1.4 A Division B station wishing to enter in Division A may do so. However, a station cannot enter in a lower division.

1.5 A station using these awards for any promotional purpose must state clearly what division they are in. Publicity announcements cannot be made before the Golden Mikes are awarded. The "Golden Mike Rule 1.5" form must be signed and returned.

2. Competition for the RTNA Golden Mike Awards is limited to the News departments of Radio and Television stations licensed and/or operated within the following Southern California counties, and local cable News departments or News services for cable companies franchised within the same counties: Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Inyo, Kern, Imperial, Kings and Tulare.
There are two exceptions in the Television Awards: Category TV-16 is for cable and broadcast networks ONLY, and Category TV-25 is the ONLY category stringers can enter. There are two exceptions in the Radio Awards: Category R-14 is for radio networks ONLY, and College-affiliated internet radio stations are eligible to enter in Division B if the school facilities are physically located within the contest area and the station produces at least one hour of news five days a week.

2.1 Only one Golden Mike will be awarded in each category, and no additional designations such as "Honorable Mentions" or "Certificates of Merit", etc., will be awarded.

3. ELIGIBILITY PERIOD

3.1 Entries must have been originally broadcast between October 4, 2007, and October 3, 2008.

4. All entries must be locally produced under the jurisdiction of the News department. Segments produced by network operations or syndicated services and aired by a local station outlet may be eligible only if the segments are part of a locally produced program and aired locally first, with the exception of Television category TV-16 and Radio category R-14.

4.1 Radio and TV networks with news bureaus in the contest area may compete in the network categories only. (Radio Category R-14 and TV Category TV-16)

4.2 Entries produced by networks of local stations or consortiums of stations for initial broadcast in markets beyond or in addition to the defined contest area qualify for the competition in the network categories.

5. FINALISTS

5.1 Judging of all Best Newscast categories in TV and Radio will be by individual judges whose ballots will be sealed and submitted to a monitor and a representative of an independent accounting firm.

5.2 The accounting firm will tabulate all results and will be responsible for delivering those results in sealed envelopes to the Golden Mike Awards Dinner.

5.3 There will be three (3) finalists in Television and in Radio. The winners will remain secret and will be announced at the Golden Mike Awards Dinner.

5.4 The finalists will be notified within one week after the judging weekend. The winners will remain secret and will be announced at the Golden Mike Awards Dinner.

6. DESIGNATED NEWS WEEK

6.1 All entries in the Best News Broadcast, Best Sports Segment, Best Weather Segment, Best Traffic Segment and Best Newswriting categories must have been originally broadcast during the "Designated News Day."

6.2 The "Designated News Day" will be selected by members of the Contest Coordinating Committee from the "Designated News Week," which is September 15 through September 19, 2008.

6.3 Notification of the "Designated News Day" will come in the following manner: A notice will appear on the City News Service and the AP wires at approximately midnight, 10 AM, and 4 PM, on Monday, September 22, 2008, announcing which day of the previous week was the "Designated News Day." The wire services will be the only notification you will receive concerning selection of the "Designated News Day."

6.4 It is important that you record all of your newscasts during the "Designated News Week" until the "Designated News Day" has been announced.

7. PREPARATION OF ENTRIES

7.1 The RTNA Board of Directors has established the following entry fees for the Golden Mike Awards Contest:
Radio, Division A - $80 per entry
Radio, Division B - $40 per entry

Television, Division A - $100 per entry
Television, Division B - $80 per entry

Stations must pay for each entry the fee for that category division.

7.2 A check payable to the "Radio & Television News Association of Southern California" (or "RTNA") in the proper amount must be included with a station's entries. ENTRIES RECEIVED WITHOUT ENTRY FEES WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.

7.3 The station's entry or entries must be accompanied by a cover letter to Rick Terrell, Golden Mike Awards Coordinator, identifying all of the material submitted, and an Entry form for each entry that has been filled out on-line, printed, and signed by the News Director to verify the entry. A reduced-size photocopy of the Entry Form or a reasonable facsimile must also be attached as a label to each DVD or audio CD submitted. (See Rule 7.11)

7.4 A station may submit multiple entries in any category, with the exception of all "Designated News Day" categories. As in past years, only one entry per category will be allowed for the "DND". ENTRIES SUBMITTED WITHOUT COMPLETED ENTRY FORMS WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.

7.5 All entries must have commercials deleted and, in their place, either a three-second leader (radio entries) or three-seconds black (television entries). On individual entries for television you may have a slate at the beginning to identify material. Note: Casual reference to sponsors is permitted.

7.6 Except for the deletion of commercials, all entries must be submitted as they were originally broadcast, including any network inserts or features.

7.7 Television entries must be submitted on DVD. NO COLOR BARS OR TONE. Entries on videotape will not be accepted.

7.8 Radio entries must be submitted on audio-format Compact Disc, NOT a computer file. No cassettes please.

7.9 Each entry must be submitted on a separate DVD or Compact Disc. Do not combine, for example, Best News Broadcast with Best Sports Segment, even though both are part of the same program.

7.10 You may give the judges a brief explanation of how the entry was produced or explain some special problem overcome in putting it on-the-air. This explanation must be on a single 8 1/2" X 11" sheet of paper. No sales pitches, please. You also have the option of including the anchor lead-in script.

7.11 Each entry DVD/CD must have a label affixed to it with the following information: Category#; Division (A or B); Date of Broadcast; Entry Title; Length; Station (AM, FM, TV); Contact Name; Telephone; E-mail. For Best Newscast entries in Radio and Television include the time of day the entry was broadcast.

7.12 Television entries submitted in a foreign language must include 3 copies of a written English translation OR an audio English translation on an audio-format CD OR on-screen English subtitles. Radio entries submitted in a foreign language must submit either 3 copies of a written English translation or an audio English translation.

7.13 DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF ALL ENTRIES IS 5:00 P.M., Friday, October 17, 2008. Entries submitted via U.S. mail must be postmarked no later than 11:59 pm, October 17, 2008. Entries can be hand-delivered by 5:00 p.m., October 17, 2008, to Rick Terrell, 646 Quincy Ave., Long Beach, CA 90814.

7.14 ALL ENTRIES WILL BE JUDGED IN THE CATEGORY SUBMITTED. JUDGES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO MOVE AN ENTRY TO ANOTHER CATEGORY FOR JUDGING. PLEASE DO NOT GUESS IF YOU ARE UNSURE. CALL RTNA FOR CLARIFICATION - 562-987-4545.

8. JUDGING RESULTS
Winners will be notified within one week after the judging weekend. This excludes those winners in the secret categories. (See Rule 5.) RTNA will announce all known winners.

Back to the Awards Page

Last Updated: 08/11/2008

1.	DIVISION DESIGNATION
1.1	In the competition for certain awards, the categories for radio and TV are divided into groups according to staff size. There are two groups, designated as Division A and Division B.
1.2	Radio, Division A Six (6) or more full-time news staff members. Radio, Division B Five (5) or fewer full-time news staff members. Television, Division A Fifty (50) or more full-time news staff members. Television, Division B Forty-nine (49) or fewer full-time news staff members.
1.3	In determining staff size, count all persons used on the "Designated News Day" who spend full-time on News, including News Director and administrative staff, reporters and talent, technical staff including editors and field crews, writers, producers, researchers, newsroom production support staff and daily hires. The size of staff should be counted according to these criteria, on the "Designated News Day". Stations that share facilities, equipment, and/or staff with another station must consider the size of the combined operation in determining Division status. Work from an outside production company is not eligible.
1.4	A Division B station wishing to enter in Division A may do so. However, a station cannot enter in a lower division.
1.5	A station using these awards for any promotional purpose must state clearly what division they are in. Publicity announcements cannot be made before the Golden Mikes are awarded. The "Golden Mike Rule 1.5" form must be signed and returned.
2.	Competition for the RTNA Golden Mike Awards is limited to the News departments of Radio and Television stations licensed and/or operated within the following Southern California counties, and local cable News departments or News services for cable companies franchised within the same counties: Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Inyo, Kern, Imperial, Kings and Tulare. There are two exceptions in the Television Awards: Category TV-16 is for cable and broadcast networks ONLY, and Category TV-25 is the ONLY category stringers can enter. There are two exceptions in the Radio Awards: Category R-14 is for radio networks ONLY, and College-affiliated internet radio stations are eligible to enter in Division B if the school facilities are physically located within the contest area and the station produces at least one hour of news five days a week.
2.1	Only one Golden Mike will be awarded in each category, and no additional designations such as "Honorable Mentions" or "Certificates of Merit", etc., will be awarded.
3.	ELIGIBILITY PERIOD
3.1	Entries must have been originally broadcast between October 4, 2007, and October 3, 2008.
4.	All entries must be locally produced under the jurisdiction of the News department. Segments produced by network operations or syndicated services and aired by a local station outlet may be eligible only if the segments are part of a locally produced program and aired locally first, with the exception of Television category TV-16 and Radio category R-14.
4.1	Radio and TV networks with news bureaus in the contest area may compete in the network categories only. (Radio Category R-14 and TV Category TV-16)
4.2	Entries produced by networks of local stations or consortiums of stations for initial broadcast in markets beyond or in addition to the defined contest area qualify for the competition in the network categories.
5.	FINALISTS
5.1	Judging of all Best Newscast categories in TV and Radio will be by individual judges whose ballots will be sealed and submitted to a monitor and a representative of an independent accounting firm.
5.2	The accounting firm will tabulate all results and will be responsible for delivering those results in sealed envelopes to the Golden Mike Awards Dinner.
5.3	There will be three (3) finalists in Television and in Radio. The winners will remain secret and will be announced at the Golden Mike Awards Dinner.
5.4	The finalists will be notified within one week after the judging weekend. The winners will remain secret and will be announced at the Golden Mike Awards Dinner.
6.	DESIGNATED NEWS WEEK
6.1	All entries in the Best News Broadcast, Best Sports Segment, Best Weather Segment, Best Traffic Segment and Best Newswriting categories must have been originally broadcast during the "Designated News Day."
6.2	The "Designated News Day" will be selected by members of the Contest Coordinating Committee from the "Designated News Week," which is September 15 through September 19, 2008.
6.3	Notification of the "Designated News Day" will come in the following manner: A notice will appear on the City News Service and the AP wires at approximately midnight, 10 AM, and 4 PM, on Monday, September 22, 2008, announcing which day of the previous week was the "Designated News Day." The wire services will be the only notification you will receive concerning selection of the "Designated News Day."
6.4	It is important that you record all of your newscasts during the "Designated News Week" until the "Designated News Day" has been announced.
7.	PREPARATION OF ENTRIES
7.1	The RTNA Board of Directors has established the following entry fees for the Golden Mike Awards Contest: Radio, Division A - $80 per entry Radio, Division B - $40 per entry Television, Division A - $100 per entry Television, Division B - $80 per entry Stations must pay for each entry the fee for that category division.
7.2	A check payable to the "Radio & Television News Association of Southern California" (or "RTNA") in the proper amount must be included with a station's entries. ENTRIES RECEIVED WITHOUT ENTRY FEES WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.
7.3	The station's entry or entries must be accompanied by a cover letter to Rick Terrell, Golden Mike Awards Coordinator, identifying all of the material submitted, and an Entry form for each entry that has been filled out on-line, printed, and signed by the News Director to verify the entry. A reduced-size photocopy of the Entry Form or a reasonable facsimile must also be attached as a label to each DVD or audio CD submitted. (See Rule 7.11)
7.4	A station may submit multiple entries in any category, with the exception of all "Designated News Day" categories. As in past years, only one entry per category will be allowed for the "DND". ENTRIES SUBMITTED WITHOUT COMPLETED ENTRY FORMS WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.
7.5	All entries must have commercials deleted and, in their place, either a three-second leader (radio entries) or three-seconds black (television entries). On individual entries for television you may have a slate at the beginning to identify material. Note: Casual reference to sponsors is permitted.
7.6	Except for the deletion of commercials, all entries must be submitted as they were originally broadcast, including any network inserts or features.
7.7	Television entries must be submitted on DVD. NO COLOR BARS OR TONE. Entries on videotape will not be accepted.
7.8	Radio entries must be submitted on audio-format Compact Disc, NOT a computer file. No cassettes please.
7.9	Each entry must be submitted on a separate DVD or Compact Disc. Do not combine, for example, Best News Broadcast with Best Sports Segment, even though both are part of the same program.
7.10	You may give the judges a brief explanation of how the entry was produced or explain some special problem overcome in putting it on-the-air. This explanation must be on a single 8 1/2" X 11" sheet of paper. No sales pitches, please. You also have the option of including the anchor lead-in script.
7.11	Each entry DVD/CD must have a label affixed to it with the following information: Category#; Division (A or B); Date of Broadcast; Entry Title; Length; Station (AM, FM, TV); Contact Name; Telephone; E-mail. For Best Newscast entries in Radio and Television include the time of day the entry was broadcast.
7.12	Television entries submitted in a foreign language must include 3 copies of a written English translation OR an audio English translation on an audio-format CD OR on-screen English subtitles. Radio entries submitted in a foreign language must submit either 3 copies of a written English translation or an audio English translation.
7.13	DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF ALL ENTRIES IS 5:00 P.M., Friday, October 17, 2008. Entries submitted via U.S. mail must be postmarked no later than 11:59 pm, October 17, 2008. Entries can be hand-delivered by 5:00 p.m., October 17, 2008, to Rick Terrell, 646 Quincy Ave., Long Beach, CA 90814.
7.14	ALL ENTRIES WILL BE JUDGED IN THE CATEGORY SUBMITTED. JUDGES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO MOVE AN ENTRY TO ANOTHER CATEGORY FOR JUDGING. PLEASE DO NOT GUESS IF YOU ARE UNSURE. CALL RTNA FOR CLARIFICATION - 562-987-4545.
8.	JUDGING RESULTS Winners will be notified within one week after the judging weekend. This excludes those winners in the secret categories. (See Rule 5.) RTNA will announce all known winners.