First quarter results

Spot News
1st - Billy Muhammed, WJW-TV, "I Knew It Would Happen"
2nd - William Fogle, WTOL-TV, "What are you doing"
3rd - Jonathan Monk, WTOL-TV, "Carey Flooding"
HM - Jason Brainard, WTOL-TV, "Train Derailment"
 
General News
1st - Ali Ghanbari, WJW-TV, "Mail Safety, Snow, & Ice"
2nd - Jeff Ritter, WBNS-TV, "Watching for a Ray of Light"
3rd - Jeff Ritter,WBNS-TV, "Something Different"
HM - Billy Muhammed, WJW-TV, "Soldiers Return"
 
News Feature
1st - Eric Rerucha, WTOL-TV, "Wilson Football" 
2nd - David Bradford, WJW-TV, "Lucky in Love"
3rd - Matthew Pawuk, WTOL-TV, "BG Snow Day"
HM - Ali Ghanbari, WJW-TV, "Egypt's Path to Democracy"
 
In Depth/Series
1st - David Bradford, WJW-TV, "Cancer Cluster (Pt. 1 & Pt. 2)"
2nd - Shawn Dunagan,WTOL-TV, "Deadly Crossing"
3rd - Stephen Magwire, WBNS-TV, "Done with Downtown"

Stories were judged at KENS-TV, SanAntonio, TX
Jason Gonzales - 12 years experience
Mike Tristan - 13 years experience
Michael Humphries - 23 years experience
Larry Burns - 27 years experience

 Winning videos

Judges comments
Some general observations from the group:
•    More natural sound.  The winning stories in the first three categories won, in large part, because they had pretty good use of natural sound (the winner from IN DEPTH/SERIES was lacking in that department).  Many of the stories had natural sound opportunities that went unused and the stories were pretty "flat" as a result.  Even the natural sound bed was nearly inaudible in some of the stories where it was clear that sound was "happening" in the video.  Use natural sound to help pace your stories and as a tool to help take the viewer to the scene.

•    Work on basic techniques.  Many of the stories lacked sequencing, action/reaction and tight shots.  One judge commented that several of the stories had "wides and mediums, but no tight shots."   Also, some stories were hurt by having handheld shots where a tripod would've been more appropriate (it was the difference between placing and not placing for one particular story).

•    Don't use music as a "storytelling crutch".  Some of the stories used music when the story might have been told more effectively without it.

•    Make sure your story has a good visual structure with a clear beginning, middle and end.  Too many of the stories felt a little too random and haphazard.  Have a clear focus to your shooting (and editing) so the story unfolds in a logical way.  Always try to "end" your stories well.  Many of the stories (including a couple of the winners) suffered from poor endings and, in some cases, the story felt like it just "stopped".

2011 Second quarter results

Spot News
1st - Drew Yaussy - WSYX/WTTE-TV, Columbus, ", "10-3 Officer Down"
2nd - Michael Gravely Jr. - WBNS-TV, Columbus, "Suspect Interview"
3rd - William Fogle - WTOL-TV, Toldeo, "Oregon Officer Shooting"

General News
1st - Matt Pawuk - WTOL-TV, Toldeo, "Walleye Fishin"
2nd - David Bradford - WJW-TV, Cleveland, "Downtown Jesus"
3rd - Jason Brainard - WTOL-TV, Toledo, "Ty Warwick"
3rd - Drew Yaussy - WSYX/WTTE-TV, Columbus, "Free Gas"

Feature
1st - Jeff Ritter - WBNS-TV, Columbus "It’s Going to End Sometime"
2nd - Michael Melchiorre - WNWO-TV, Toledo, "1929 Tri-Motor"
3rd - David Bradford - WJW-TV, Cleveland, "Super Bus Driver"

In Depth
1st - Ali Ghanbari - WJW-TV, Cleveland, "Just Do It"
2nd - Jeff Ritter - WBNS-TV, Columbus "Crime Scene Cleanup"
3rd - Paul Kwapich - WTOL-TV, Toledo, "Toledo Sex Tra"
3rd - Shawn Dunagan - WTOL-TV, Toledo, "What’s Missing"

Winning videos

Judges : WAVE3-TV Louisville, Kentucky

2011 Third quarter results

Spot News
1st - Scott Doelling - WBNS, Columbus, "Building Collapse"
2nd - Eric Rerucha - WTOL, Toledo, "Thornbrook Stolen Items"
3rd - Jason Brainard - WTOL, Toledo, "Armed Robber Thief"

General News
1st - David Bradford - WJW, Cleveland, "Youth Helmet Safety" 
2nd (tie) - Kris Sproles - WDTN, Dayton, "Dayton Air Show"
2nd (tie) - Steve Maguire - WBNS, Columbus, "Packages from Home "
HM - David Bradford - WJW, Cleveland, "100 Year Old B-Day"

Feature
1st - Steve Maguire - WBNS, Columbus, "Short North Symphony"
2nd (tie) - Ali Ghanbari - WJW, Cleveland, "Pianist"
2nd (tie) - Billy Muhammed - WJW, Cleveland, "Still the Champ"
HM - Joe Cromer - WTOL, Toledo, "Mustang Rally"

In Depth / Series
1st - Kris Sproles - WDTN, Dayton, "War Hero Jesse Adams"
2nd - Jeff Ritter - WBNS, Columbus, "Disc Golf"
3rd - Scott Doelling - WBNS, Columbus, "Inhalent Abuse"

Judges: KXAS/Dallas-Fort Worth

2011 Fourth quarter results

Winning videos

Spot News
1st - Scott Doelling, WBNS-TV, Columbus, "I Can't Reach Her"
2nd - Eric Rerucha, WTOL-TV, Toledo, "Morin Point Duck Hunters"
3rd - Joe Cromer, WTOL-TV, Toledo, "Fiery Summit Street Accident"
 
General News
1st - Ali Ghanbari, WJW-TV, Cleveland, "Walking with Unknown"
2nd - David Bradford, WJW-TV, Cleveland, "Let's Roll"
3rd - Kris Sproles, WDTN-TV, Dayton, "2.99 Gas"
HM - Jeff Ritter, WBNS-TV, Columbus, "Zombies in Delaware"
 
Feature
1st - David Bradford, WJW-TV, Cleveland, "Trick or Treat Test"
2nd - Kris Sproles, WDTN-TV, Dayton, "Black Friday Shopping"
3rd - Scott Doelling, WBNS-TV, Columbus, "Blake Haxton"
 
In Depth
1st - Jeff Ritter, WBNS-TV, Columbus, "Metro Park Mountain Biking"
2nd - Ali Ghanbari, WJW-TV, Cleveland, "Courage to Heal"
3rd - Steve Maguire, WBNS-TV, Columbus, "Westerville Fire Memorial"
HM - Jason Brainard  WTOL-TV, Toledo, "Bad Warrant"

 

Entries judged at WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA

2011 Final Point Standings

1st - David Bradford, WJW-TV, Cleveland - 72
2nd - Jeff Ritter, WBNS-TV, Columbus - 60
3rd - Ali Ghanbari, WJW-TV, Cleveland - 58
4th tie - Scott Doelling, WBNS Columbus - 36
4th tie - Kris Sproles, WDTN-TV, Dayton - 36
6th tie - Stephen Maguire, WBNS-TV, Columbus - 35
6th tie - Eric Rerucha, WTOL-TV, Toledo - 35
8th - Billy Muhammed,WJW-TV, Cleveland - 26
9th - Matthew Pawuk, WTOL-TV, Toledo - 24
10th - Jason Brainard, WTOL-TV, Toledo - 20
11th - Shawn Dunagan, WTOL-TV, Toledo - 19
12th - Drew Yaussy, WSYX/WTTE Columbus - 18
13th - William Fogle, WTOL-TV, Toledo - 17
14th - Michael Melchiorre, WNWO-TV, Toledo - 14
15th - Joe Cromer, WTOL-TV, Toledo - 13
16th - Paul Kwapich, WTOL-TV, Toledo - 12
17th - Michael Gravely, WBNS Columbus - 10
18th - Jonathan Monk, WTOL-TV, Toledo -9
19th - Annette Lawless,WJW-TV, Cleveland - 6
20th - Doug Herman, WJW-TV, Cleveland - 2