REGIONAL EMMY® AWARD RULES
PROGRAM ENTRIES
Program entries may be entered in only one programming category. In programming categories, an entry is defined as a single program or segment or, in the case of news, one story or a series of stories directly related to each other. A maximum of three 
segments/lifts/edits are permitted to bring longer program entries to the required time limit. Unless otherwise noted, a straight lift from a long work may be included as an element of a composite, but there must be no editing of the lift.
If a PROGRAM entry has more than THREE lifts, the ENTRY will be DISQUALIFIED.
CRAFT ENTRIES
COMPOSITES: A composite is defined as a sampling of two or more representative segments or elements that convey to a judging panel the scope, breadth, or range of an individual’s talents or of coverage of a special event. The elements within a composite, unless otherwise noted, are to be “as aired” with no internal edits or post production work, such as music or special effects. Demo reels or montages are not allowed. One to two seconds of black between cuts, with no audio or slates must be added to separate segments within the composite. Unless otherwise noted, a straight lift/edit from a long work may be included as an element of a composite, but there must be no editing of the lift. For program entries, composite may only contain content from one episode of the series, not multiple installments.
If a CRAFT entry has more than THREE lifts, the ENTRY will be DISQUALIFIED.
LIFT: LIFT=EDIT EXAMPLE – When you shoot a story, you do not broadcast the raw footage necessarily….You edit the work together to make a package for air. These edits equal a LIFT.
A lift is considered a “portion” of your work. EXAMPLE: You have 12 Apples on a Tree…GIVE ME YOUR BEST 3 APPLES.
DOUBLE-DIPPING
To avoid any confusion, the basic formula for “double-dipping” is the following:
An individual entrant can only be recognized once for the same job function, utilizing the same program content. You cannot enter the same material in both news and program categories.
No single entry may be submitted in its entirety in more than one programming category. Exceptions are given for content that was part of a full newscast, or included as an excerpt in the “overall excellence,” “news excellence,” “community service,” and “journalistic enterprise” categories.
To be eligible for this exception in the newscast categories, the same entrant cannot be listed on the newscast entry and then use the same material and enter in another programming category.
If the ENTRY is certified as Double Dipping, the ENTRY will be DISQUALIFIED.
WHAT DOES “DOUBLE DIPPING” MEAN?:
TO AVOID ANY CONFUSION,
The basic formula for “double-dipping” is the following:
AN INDIVIDUAL ENTRANT CAN ONLY BE RECOGNIZED ONCE FOR THE SAME JOB FUNCTION, UTILIZING THE SAME PROGRAM CONTENT.
Craft persons, like writers, photographers, editors, etc., are allowed to enter in programming categories if they directly contributed to the content of the program or segment, and have the permission of the primary producer. If a craft person performed dual roles in a program category, they may enter the same content again in their respective craft category.
Examples:
- If a craft person is a writer/photographer, they could enter the program category as only the writer and then the photographer craft category.
- If they are not an entrant on the program entry, they could enter either the writer or photographer category, using the same material since they performed different job functions.
- If they list themselves as both writer and photographer on the program entry, they are ineligible to enter either the writer or photographer craft categories.
- They cannot enter either craft category using the dual job title since one category is only for writer and the other only for photographer.
Example:
- An investigative reporter is listed on a newscast entry. Under this “double-dipping” rule, a portion of the newscast content could be entered in “Investigative Report,” but the same reporter cannot be listed since their name already appeared on the newscast entry.
You cannot enter the same material in both news and program categories.
A single or multi episode full-length program or a multi-part news series, all on the same subject, may only be entered in only one programming category. If the subject matter varies, different episodes from the same overall program series can be entered in other program categories as appropriate based on its content. This exception rule does not apply to individual stories from news series (see below).
Examples:
- Your entry is a four-part series, Saving the Bay. Part one of the series is entered in the “Informational/Instructional” category. Part three cannot be entered in the “Environment” category.
- Your program is called Community Weekly, an on-going weekly series. Though it is basically a “Public Affairs” series, episode 204 may be about music, episode 216 about sports, while other episodes are more generic. Under our rules, episode 204 could be entered in an “Entertainment” category, while episode 216 could be in “Sports.” Episode 222 could stay in “Public Affairs.”
Content produced as both a multi-part news series and a full-length program may be entered only once, regardless of the amount of new material added. Example:
- An investigative team does a three-part series within a newscast on gun control. Once the three parts have aired, and the same material re-purposed as a news or program special, the team would need to decide if they should enter the original series or the special, not both.
If you enter a full program or episode from a series in a programming category, you cannot also enter a segment from the same show in another program category.
DEFINITIONS OF TERMS:
COMPOSITE: A composite is defined as a sampling of two or more representative segments or elements that convey to a judging panel the scope, breadth or range of an individual’s talents or of coverage of a special event. The elements within a composite, unless otherwise noted, are to be “as aired” with no internal edits or post production work, such as music or special effects. Demo reels or montages are not allowed. One to two seconds of black between cuts, with no audio or slates must be added to separate segments within the composite. Unless otherwise noted, a straight lift from a long work may be included as an element of a composite, but there must be no editing of the lift. For program entries, composites may only contain content from one episode of the series, not multiple installments.
PROGRAM/SEGMENT: Categories with a Program/Segment designation allow for entry of a full-length program or a complete segment from a full-length program. Time limits are noted in the category description. To bring longer formatted programs into time compliance, the entrant may take three complete lifts from the original program.
SHORT FORM: Think “spot length” – or generally 1:00 minute or less. Examples would be PSA’s, commercials, news promotions, pre-produced cold opens, teases, etc.
SERIES (News): Two or more reports covering the same story. A composite of unrelated stories is not a series. Series entries must include a minimum of 2 reports.
SERIES (Program): A program that appears in essentially the same format two or more times a year.
SPECIAL: A one-time-only program or a program from a series that appears in a substantially different format and may or may not be broadcast or cablecast in a period other than its regular time.
PRODUCER: The person(s) most be directly responsible for the majority of the content and production elements of the entry. Anchors, hosts, reporters, writers, photographers, editors, assignment editors, producers, directors and qualified others may qualify as a “Producer” if their contributions are significant to the entry’s award-worthiness. Executive Producers are not eligible for EMMY® statuettes unless directly involved in the hands-on production of the work submitted.
NOTE: Unless otherwise indicated in the category description, program entries may be entered in only one programming category. In programming categories, an entry is defined as a single program or segment, or in the case of news, one story or a series of stories directly related to each other.