2023 Call for Entries

Unless otherwise noted, entries must be broadcast over-the-air by a Georgia Radio or TV station between January 1st, 2022 and December 31st, 2022. The station itself must be an active GAB member in good standing. Exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the GAB office at 770-395-7200 with any questions regarding membership status.

Divisions Based on Market Size
Unless otherwise noted, categories are awarded to one radio and one tv station for both large and small markets. Market size is based on 2010 US Census data and is broken down as followed:

Large Market TV
All TV Stations broadcasting from within the Atlanta DMA

Small Market TV
All TV Stations broadcasting from markets outside of the Atlanta DMA

Large Market Radio
All Radio Stations broadcasting from markets with populations of 50,000 or more. This includes the following cities:

Atlanta (City) 498,715
Columbus 206,922
Augusta-Richmond County 206,607
Macon-Bibb County 157,346
Savannah 147,780
Athens-Clarke County 128,671
Sandy Springs 108,080
Albany 69,647
Valdosta 55,378

Small Market Radio
All Radio Stations broadcasting from markets with populations under 50,000. This includes but is not limited to the following cities:

Gainesville 42,296
Newnan 42,549
Rome 37,713
Hinesville 34,891
Dalton 34,417
Statesboro 33,438
Canton 32,973
LaGrange 30,858
Carrollton 26,738
Pooler 25,711
Griffin 23,478
Cartersville 23,187
Thomasville 18,881
Brunswick 15,210

Entry Deadline

All entries must be submitted no later than Friday, March 31st, 2023 at 11:59 PM. Submissions received after this date will not be included in the judging process.

Purchasing Entry Credits

Credits are now required to submit entries. These may be purchased individually or in bulk at a cost of $15 each. Additionally, users may choose to pay for their credits now or be invoiced following the call for entries deadline. If you choose the latter option, payment must be received prior to judging in order to qualify. We encourage all entrants to purchase only the number of credits that they intend on using. Credits do no carry over to future entry windows. Click "Purchase Credits" above to get started.

Refund Policy

Refunds for unused credits are not processed automatically and must be requested by emailing admin@gab.org or calling 770-395-7200. Refund requests will be processed following the call for entries deadline.

How to Enter

If you do not already have a profile, you can create one by clicking the “Register” button at the top of the homepage. Complete the information, click submit and you’ll be taken to the Georgia Association of Broadcasters using the form homepage.

From the homepage you can review GABBY Awards rules, submit an entry, view and edit an entry, or edit your station’s information.

To enter a category, click the “Enter” button located on the menu above. Then fill in the necessary entry information. The headline/title should be what you would want shown on a plaque.

Acceptable file formats to upload to the site are .mp3, .wav., wma, mp4.

Unless otherwise noted, links to media clips are not accepted. Files must be uploaded directly .

We ask that video clips be uploaded in high definition (720p or higher) in order to ensure the best quality production during the awards ceremony.

You can then view your entry, view all your entries or submit a new entry.

Entries may only be submitted in only one category.

Composite vignettes may be used as a representative entry where appropriate.

Special characters should be avoided in file names. Stick with letters, numbers, &, dots, dashes and underscores.

You may list up to six individuals most responsible for the total production of each entry. For newscasts and other large productions, we suggest crediting “The Team at WGAB-FM” or “The WGAB Newsroom” instead of listing everyone involved.

Misrepresentation

The Georgia Association of Broadcasters assumes each submitted entry is original work and is credited to those individuals who made a significant and substantive contribution to its production.

Claims of misrepresentation are taken seriously and will be investigated to the fullest extent of the association's capabilities to ensure the stature of the GABBY awards remains intact.

Any misrepresentation of entries will be cause for disqualification. Misrepresentations may include but are not limited to, misrepresenting programming as original work or the intentional falsification of credits. If evidence of misrepresentation materializes at a later date, the entry may be disqualified retroactively. Such a retroactively-disqualified entry will require the return of any award.

Judging Process

To ensure objectivity, judging is conducted by a panel of broadcast experts from outside the state of Georgia. They will evaluate all entries based on the criteria listed in the “Awards Categories” sections. Judges will likely select a first-place winner in each category but are under no obligation to do so and may choose to award no prize in a category. There will only be one winner in each category. Judges may choose to recognize other outstanding work in a category with a “Merit Award.” If the judges think an entry was submitted in the wrong category, they may move it to the proper category. The decision of the judges will be final.

The 2023 GABBY Awards will take place on Saturday, September 16th at the Jekyll Island Convention Center as part of the GAB’s annual convention, GABCON. Details of the entire weekend along with ticket opportunities will be posted in May 2023

Questions and Support

For technical support and general questions regarding the entry process, please email admin@gab.org or call 770-395-7200

2023 GABBY Award Categories

General Awards (Large and Small Market)

G1. Best Community Service Project**

** Radio and television stations in this category will be judged against one another, with the only dividing factor being market size.

Category Description: Recognizes a single, planned community service project that has had a significant impact on a station's local area which can be measured by how the community benefited. Broadcasters are charged with identifying what local needs are and then meeting those needs by putting internal and external resources together. This award will honor that effort and acknowledge what broadcasters do best – serve their communities. Please enter an audio or video “montage” of your project.

Submission Requirements: Please submit a detailed narrative (maximum of two pages) that specifically correlates to tape/media file contents. The entire submission should describe how the project fulfilled a community need or improved the area’s quality of life. Describe the project, it's goals and objectives and its results. Please also include one letter of endorsement from a project beneficiary.

Entry Requirements: Narrative - max of two pages. Audio or video file must not exceed 10 minutes

Digital Awards - (Large and Small Market)

Based on previous submission trends, and feedback from judges, it has been determined that the following radio and television categories can be judged against one another, with the only dividing factor being market size.

D1. Best Online Produced Story

Category Description: Recognizes the best news story produced solely for a station’s digital platforms such as a website, social media accounts, and/or mobile app.

Judging Criteria: Writing, Use of video, sound, graphics or images, interactivity, and compelling delivery.

Entry Requirements: Maximum of 2 links (website, social media or a combination of both) that showcases the depth of reporting and effective delivery through digital platforms.

D2. Best Online Breaking News Coverage

Category Description: Recognizes the best breaking news coverage originally delivered on station’s digital platforms such as a website, social media accounts, and/or mobile app. The entry can be digital only in nature or be in conjunction with or in support of a regular newscast.

Judging Criteria: Writing, Use of video, sound, graphics or images, interactivity, compelling delivery, and demonstration of cohesive continuing coverage and updates.

Entry Requirements: Maximum of 2 links (website, social media or a combination of both) that showcases the depth of reporting and effective delivery through digital platforms.

D3. Best Podcast Series

Category Description: Recognizes the best multi-episode podcast series produced by a Georgia radio or tv station. The series must be easily accessible via the station website and be supported by broadcast, social, or other digital promotion. Only original content created for the podcast format will be considered. Recordings of broadcasts will be disqualified. Format may be video or audio in nature.

Judging Criteria: Writing, use of sound and/or video, and compelling delivery

Entry Requirements: Maximum of 3 sample clips, from the same series. Each clip should be 10 minutes or less. Include the link to your podcast's webpage, which live on your station’s website.

Radio (Large and Small Market)

The following categories for radio will be judged based on market size. Please reference the market size reference in this packet prior to submitting your entries.

R1. Best Station Produced Promo

Category Description: Recognize the best short form “spot” promoting a station. The entrant stations must have had total conceptual and creative control of the locally produced announcements which must have been designed for the local community/audience. Spots containing music must have used music in the public domain or used copyrighted music with permission.

Judging Criteria: Original writing, production, use of sound and compelling delivery.

Entry Requirements: Entry must not exceed 1 minute.

R2. Best Feature Story

Category Description: Recognizes a locally produced feature story that is not part of a series, franchise, breaking news or general assignment reporting.

Judging Criteria: Writing, production, use of sound, and compelling delivery

Entry Requirements: Entry must not exceed 10 minutes.

R3. Best General Assignment Reporting

Category Description: Recognizes the best reporting of news, which is not considered breaking, feature, or investigative. Entries should feature general news stories generated daily, not ongoing coverage that might be considered in another category.

Judging Criteria: Writing, production, use of video and sound as well as compelling delivery.

Entry Requirements: Entry must not exceed 5 minutes.

R4. Best Team Political Coverage

Category Description: Recognizes the most outstanding political coverage during the 2020 Election Cycle (Note: Entries may include coverage of either the US Presidential Election or the Georgia Special Election. Because the latter ended on January 6th, we will consider content that aired through that date, but not beyond).

Judging Criteria: Writing, production, use of sound, and compelling delivery.

Entry Limit: Entry must not exceed 10 minutes.

R5. Best Team Weather Coverage

Category Description: Recognizes the most outstanding team weather coverage broadcast predominantly to a Georgia audience.

Judging Criteria: Compelling delivery, use of technology, and usefulness of the forecast to the audience.

Entry Requirements: Entry must not exceed 10 minutes.

R6. Best Newscast

Category Description: Recognizes the best regularly scheduled newscast airing between January 1st, 2022 and December 31st, 2022. Entrants are encouraged to pick a newscast from an ordinary day and avoid those newscasts that are heavy in breaking news or severe weather coverage.

Judging Criteria: Content, performance, technical aspects, opening and style.

Entry Requirements: Entry must not exceed 30 minutes.

R7. Best Program (Non-News or Sports)

Category Description: Recognizes locally produced programs broadcast by the station outside of news and sports coverage. Entries can be of a one-off production or part of a regularly scheduled or multi-part series.

Judging Criteria: Writing, use of sound, and compelling delivery.

Entry Requirements: Entry must not exceed 30 minutes.

R8. Best Sports Program

Category Description: Recognizes locally produced sports programs. Entries can be of a one-off production or part of a regularly scheduled or multi-part series.

Judging Criteria: Writing, use of sound, and compelling delivery.

Entry Requirements: Entry must not exceed 30 minutes.

R9. Best Sports Play-by-Play

Category Description: Recognizes the best sports play by play, by market size. Entries may be of a one-time event or from a regular scheduled series of sports events.

Judging Criteria: Compelling delivery, production quality, and informative nature of the submission relative to the event covered.

Entry Requirements: Entry must not exceed 10 minutes

R10. Best On-Air Personality

Category Description: This category will recognize the most outstanding Georgia-based on-air talent. Nominated talent must be a station employee or contract employee aired on the submitting station.

Judging Criteria: Entertainment value, compelling delivery, variety of skill set, and community involvement of the talent.

Entry Requirements: Entry must be a compilation of work that best represents the talent’s capabilities. Entry must not exceed 10 minutes.

R11. Best Reporter

Category Description: This award recognizes the best performance by an individual reporter of local news events or stories. Entry must have been developed for the local community/audience. Entrants must submit an audio montage representative of their on-air performance.

Judging Criteria: Significance, presentation of facts, delivery and/or creativity, entertainment value, and effective use of audio.

Entry Requirements: Entry must be a compilation of work that best represents the talent’s capabilities. Entry must not exceed 10 minutes.

R12. Radio Station of the Year

Category Description: Recognizes a Radio Station that demonstrates overall excellence in their local communities, regardless of market size.

Judging Criteria: Judges will consider programming, promotions, community relations and service, public affairs/public service programming, and station awards and recognition. It is recommended that entries include a list of boards/organizations in which station personnel are actively engaged; estimates of how much money was raised for charitable purposes; estimates of how many hours of public service were performed by personnel and how many public service campaigns aired on the station.

Entry Limit:
Edited audio and/or video entry which describes/highlights the efforts of the station from January 1st, 2022 to December 31st, 2022, incorporating the factors listed above. Length should be 5 minutes or less.

Television (Large and Small Market)

The following categories for radio will be judged based on market size. Please reference the market size reference in this packet prior to submitting your entries.

T1. Best Station Produced Promo

Category Description: Recognize the best short form “spot” promoting a station. The entrant stations must have had total conceptual and creative control of the locally produced announcements which must have been designed for the local community/audience. Spots containing music must have used music in the public domain or used copyrighted music with permission.

Judging Criteria: Original writing, production, use of video and sound as well as compelling delivery.

Entry Requirements: Entry must not exceed 1 minute.

T2. Best Feature Story

Category Description: Recognizes a locally produced feature story that is not part of a series, franchise, breaking news or general assignment reporting.

Judging Criteria: Writing, production, use of video, pictures, graphics and sound, as well as compelling delivery.

Entry Requirements: Entry must not exceed 5 minutes.

T3. Best General Assignment Reporting

Category Description: Recognizes the best reporting of news, which is not considered breaking, feature, or investigative. Entries should feature general news stories generated daily, not ongoing coverage that might be considered in another category.

Judging Criteria: Writing, production, use of video and sound as well as compelling delivery.

Entry Requirements: Entry must not exceed 5 minutes.

T4. Best Investigative Reporting Series

Category Description: Recognizes the best investigative reporting series aired by the station between January 1st and December 31st, 2022.

Judging Criteria: Writing, production, use of video and sound, compelling delivery, cohesiveness between each aired segment, and a demonstrated commitment by the reporter(s) to see the story through to the end.

Entry Requirements: Entry must not exceed 15 minutes.

T5. Best Team Political Coverage

Category Description: Recognizes the most outstanding political coverage during the 2022 Calendar Year

Judging Criteria: Writing, production, use of sound, and compelling delivery.

Entry Limit: Entry must not exceed 10 minutes.

T6. Best Team Weather Coverage

Category Description: Recognizes the most outstanding team weather coverage broadcast predominantly to a Georgia audience.

Judging Criteria: Compelling delivery, use of technology, and usefulness of the forecast to the audience.

Entry Requirements: Entry must not exceed 10 minutes.

T7. Best Newscast

Category Description: Recognizes the best regularly scheduled newscast airing between January 1st, 2022 and December 31st, 2022. Entrants are encouraged to pick a newscast from an ordinary day and avoid those newscasts that are heavy in breaking news or severe weather coverage.

Judging Criteria: Content, performance, technical aspects, opening and style.

Entry Requirements: Entry must not exceed 30 minutes.

T8. Best Program (Non-News or Sports)

Category Description: Recognizes locally produced programs on the station outside of news and sports coverage. Entries can be of a one-off production or part of a regularly scheduled or multi-part series.

Judging Criteria: Writing, use of sound, and compelling delivery.

Entry Requirements: Entry must not exceed 30 minutes.

T9. Best Sports Program

Category Description: Recognizes locally produced sports programs. Entries can be of a one-off production or part of a regularly scheduled or multi-part series.

Judging Criteria: Writing, use of video and sound, as well as compelling delivery.

Entry Requirements: Entry must not exceed 30 minutes.

T10. Best News Anchor

Category Description: Recognizes the best Georgia-based television news anchor. Talent must be a station employee or contract employee aired on the submitting station. Judges will consider entertainment value, compelling delivery, and community involvement of the talent.

Judging Criteria: Compelling delivery, Ability to juggle anchor responsibilities while also getting out in the field to produce features, series and general assignment reporting, and overall community involvement of the talent.

Entry Requirements: Entry must be a compilation of work that best represents the talent’s capabilities. Entry must not exceed 10 minutes.

T11. Best Sports Anchor

Category Description: Recognizes the best performance by an individual television sports anchor. Entry must have been developed for the local community/audience. Entrants must submit a video montage representative of their on-air performance.

Judging Criteria: Compelling delivery, entertainment value, ability to juggle anchor responsibilities while also getting out in the field to produce features, series and general assignment reporting, and overall community involvement of the talent.

Entry Requirements: Entry must be a compilation of work that best represents the talent’s capabilities. Entry must not exceed 10 minutes.

T12. Best Reporter

Category Description: Recognizes the best performance by an individual reporter of local news events or stories. Entry must have been developed for the local community/audience. Entrants must submit a video montage representative of their on-air performance.

Judging Criteria: Significance, presentation of facts, delivery and/or creativity, entertainment value, and effective use of video and audio.

Entry Requirements: Entry must be a compilation of work that best represents the talent’s capabilities. Entry must not exceed 10 minutes.

T13. Best Meteorologist

Category Description: Recognizes the most outstanding local meteorologist presenting daily weather segments, severe weather coverage and weather-related stories.

Judging Criteria: Compelling delivery, use of technology, and ease of translating technical meteorology terms and concepts to a general audience.

Entry Requirements: Entry must be a compilation of work that best represents the talent’s capabilities. Entry must not exceed 10 minutes.

T14. Best Videographer

Category Description: Recognizes the most outstanding videographer in their ability to convey news in a visual form as demonstrated in a compilation video.

Judging Criteria: Creativity, continuity, lighting, and technical production.

Entry Requirements: Entry must be a compilation of work that best represents the talent’s capabilities. Entry must not exceed 10 minutes.

T15. TV Station of the Year

Category Description: Recognizes a TV Station that demonstrates overall excellence in their local communities, regardless of market size.

Judging Criteria: Judges will consider programming, promotions, community relations and service, public affairs/public service programming, and station awards and recognition. It is recommended that entries include a list of boards/organizations in which station personnel are actively engaged; estimates of how much money was raised for charitable purposes; estimates of how many hours of public service were performed by personnel and how many public service campaigns aired on the station.

Entry Limit:
Edited audio and/or video entry which describes/highlights the efforts of the station from January 1st, 2022 to December 31st, 2022, incorporating the factors listed above. Length should be 5 minutes or less.