It’s time to submit your entries for this year’s GABBY Awards.

New this year are additional categories in both radio and television, video entry requirements as well as consolidated categories. And we have made the process simpler by partnering with RockOurAwards. 

Entries must be received by Saturday, March 3, 2018.  The 2018 GABBY Awards will take place on October 20th in Savannah, Ga. as part of GABCON 2018. 
 

Only stations in good standing with their GAB membership may submit entries.  Please contact our office at 770-395-7200 if you have questions regarding your membership status.
 

All entries must be locally produced by station personnel or independent producers used by the station, and must have aired on the station between January 1 and December 31, 2017. Entries submitted outside of those dates will be automatically ineligible for any GABBY Award.
 

Entries may be submitted in only one category. 
 

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

Along with your official entry you will need to include a clip no longer than :40 seconds which will be played should your entry win. The clip title must match the entry title. For radio members, upload the short clip to RockOurAwards.com with your other materials.  For TV members, please paste your clip URL at the END of your entry materials.  Please add “CLIP” to the title of all clip entries.

 

Please add your current logo as an attachment to at least one of your entries. This will ensure that GAB has your updated logo for the awards dinner presentation.
 

You may list up to three individuals most responsible for the total production.
All entries must be submitted by 11:59pm on Saturday, March 3rd, 2018.

CATEGORIES

This year we have consolidated and updated several categories for both radio and television. Please see the category description pages for complete details. Listed below are the new categories. (Please see the bottom of this post for the complete list.)

RADIO

            Best Use of Digital Platforms: (consolidated) Website, Social Media, Apps.

            Best Morning Show

            Best of GABBYs Award for Radio

TELEVISION

            Best Use of Digital Platforms: (consolidated) Website, Social Media, Apps.

            Best Sports Reporter

            Best of GABBYs Award for Television

NARRATIVES

Entrants are encouraged to include brief narratives about their entries, but these are not required. If you believe a narrative explaining the entry or putting it in context will be useful for the judges, please include it with your entry in the comments section of your entry or as an attached .doc or .pdf file.

JUDGING

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” section. Judges will select a first-place winner in each category. Judges may choose to recognize other outstanding work in certain categories with a “GAB Award of Merit.” 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.

HOW TO ENTER

• All entries must be submitted on-line.
• Entries must be submitted to www.rockourawards.com. Be sure to read the information on the home page concerning the entry process and appropriate file sizes and types.
• Create a profile (username and password) by clicking the “Register” button on the top of the homepage.  Complete the information, click submit and you’ll be taken to the Georgia Association of Broadcasters 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 “Submit Entry” button at the top of the GAB homepage. Then fill in the necessary etnry information.  The headline/title should be what you would want shown on a plaque.
• Acceptable file formats to upload to the site are .mp3, .jpg, .gif, .png, .bmp, .doc, docx, .wma, or .pdf files.
• Once your entry has been submitted, you will receive a green “Your Entry Has Been Successfully Submitted!” message.
• You can then view your entry, view all your entries or submit a new entry.

IMPORTANT

To ensure server space for all states, RockOurAwards.com requires video entries to be linked from YouTube, Vimeo, other video hosting sites, or a station website.  Simply copy/paste the videos URL in the “Add Link” section.           

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

If you have questions or are running into trouble, email info@rockourawards.com or call 800-471-1875. 

Complete Instructions:

RADIO
Radio Awards will be presented in two categories:  Class A (Large Market) and Class AA (Mid/Small Markets).

For purposes of the 2018 GABBY Awards, Class A will consist of all stations located in cities with a population of over 50,000. Class AA will consist of all stations located in cities with a population of less than 50,000 (based on the 2010 census). View the market breakdown at the bottom of this page.

There is a $20 charge for each Class A and $10 charge for each Class AA Radio entry.

2018 RADIO CATEGORIES
BEST NEWSCAST

This category reflects the best regularly scheduled newscast aired by the station between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2017. Judges will consider writing, production, use of sound and compelling delivery.

 

BEST FEATURE STORY OR SERIES – NEWS

This category covers feature stories or series aired by the station. Judges will consider writing, production, use of sound, and compelling delivery. Entry must not exceed 15 minutes.

 

BEST FEATURE STORY OR SERIES – SPORTS

This category covers sports feature stories or series aired by the station. Judges will consider writing, production, use of sound, and compelling delivery. Entry must not exceed 15 minutes.

 

BEST LOCALLY PRODUCED PROGRAM (NON-NEWS OR SPORTS)

This category covers locally produced programs on the station outside of news and sports coverage. Judges will consider writing, use of sound, and compelling delivery.

 

BEST SPORTS PLAY BY PLAY BROADCAST

This category will recognize the best sports play by play. Entries may be of a one-time event or from a regular scheduled series of sports events. Judges will consider compelling delivery, production quality, and informative nature of the submission relative to the event covered.

 

BEST STATION PRODUCED COMMERCIAL, PSA, OR PROMOTIONAL SPOT

This category will recognize the best short-form “spot,” either a commercial, public service announcement, or promotional announcement for the station. Judges will consider original writing, production, use of sound and compelling delivery.

 

BEST USE OF DIGITAL PLATFORMS

This category recognizes a station’s innovative use of new technology for digital platforms. Criteria include the level of innovation involved, how the innovation expands the station’s audience, creative interaction with digital audience, delivery and overall quality.

Submission: submit URLs, examples of ways in which website was promoted and its metrics and screengrabs as needed to show social content.

 

BEST ON-AIR PERSONALITY

This category will recognize the best Georgia-based on-air talent. Nominated 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.

 

BEST MORNING SHOW

This category recognizes the most outstanding local on-air team broadcasting primarily to a Georgia audience. Entry must be produced by a local station and reflect compelling delivery, production quality, and informative nature of the submission relative to the event covered.

 

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

The GABBY Community Service Award for Radio will recognize outstanding performance by a station through on-air campaigns and promotions, on air public service announcement/ commitment, special events, and community fundraising efforts.

 

2017 BEST OF THE GABBYS – RADIO

This award is given to the Georgia radio station judged to be best given the quality of the station’s program service, community involvement and content as determined by the number of winning entries in this year’s GABBYs. No separate entry required to win this category. Winner is decided based on submissions in previous categories.

 

 
TELEVISION

Television Awards will be presented in two categories:  Class A (Large Market) and Class AA (Mid/Small Markets).

For purposes of the 2018 GABBY Awards, Class A will consist of all stations located within the Atlanta DMA.  Class AA will consist of the remaining markets in the state.

There is a $25 charge for each Class A and $15 charge for each Class AA entry.

2018 TELEVISION CATEGORIES
BEST NEWSCAST

This category reflects the best regularly scheduled newscast aired by the station between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2017. Judges will consider writing, production, use of graphics, use of sound and compelling delivery.

 

BEST NEWS STORY – SAME DAY

This category reflects the best news coverage of a major story of the day.  Entry will consist of single or multiple reports (i.e. team coverage) of a story that occurred on the same day as the coverage aired. This entry must be about a story that was aired within the eligibility period, Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2017. Judges will consider writing, production, use of graphics, use of sound. compelling delivery and other means of showcasing the coverage.

 

BEST STATION PRODUCED COMMERCIAL, PSA, OR PROMOTIONAL SPOT

This category will recognize the best short-form “spot,” either a commercial, public service announcement, or promotional announcement for the station. Judges will consider original writing, production, use of sound and compelling delivery.

 

BEST NEWS REPORTER

This category reflects the best local on-air reporter broadcasting predominantly to a Georgia audience.  Judges will consider writing, production, use of graphics, use of sound and compelling delivery.

Submission: Submit a video montage representative of the entrant’s on-air performance.

 

BEST FEATURE STORY OR SERIES

This category covers feature stories or series aired by the station. Judges will consider writing, production, use of sound, pictures and graphics, and compelling delivery.  Entry must not exceed 10 minutes.

 

BEST SPORTSCAST

This category requires submission of your best regularly scheduled sportscast or sports series.  Judges will consider writing, production, use of sound, pictures and graphics, and compelling delivery.

 

BEST SPORTS REPORTER

This category reflects the best local sports reporter broadcasting predominantly to a Georgia audience and recognizes the best same-day coverage or sports feature work.  Judges will consider writing, production, use of graphics, use of sound and compelling delivery.

Submission: Submit a video montage representative of the entrant’s on-air performance.

 

BEST WEATHER COVERAGE

This category will recognize the most outstanding television weather coverage broadcast predominantly to a Georgia audience.  Judges will consider compelling delivery, use of technology, and usefulness of the forecast to the audience.

 

BEST METEOROLOGIST

This category reflects the best overall performance by an individual weather anchor in presenting daily weather segments, severe weather coverage and weather-related stories broadcasting predominantly to a Georgia audience.  Judges will consider writing, production, use of graphics, use of sound and compelling delivery.

Submission: Submit a video montage representative of the entrant’s on-air performance.

 

BEST USE OF DIGITAL: WEBSITE/APP/SOCIAL MEDIA

This category recognizes a station’s innovative use of digital platforms. Criteria include the level of innovation or creativity involved, how the innovation expands the station’s audience, creative interaction with digital audience, the overall quality of the entry and metrics that prove it was effective.   

Submission: submit URLs, examples of ways in which website was promoted and its metrics and screengrabs as needed to show social content.

 

GAB COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

The GABBY Community Service Award for TV will recognize outstanding performance by a station through the totality of the station’s efforts to provide unparralled service to the community. This can include on-air campaigns and promotions, on air public service announcements, life-threatening severe weather warnings and special and/or exclusive events, community fundraising efforts.

 

2017 BEST OF THE GABBYS – TELEVISION

This award is given to the Georgia TV station judged to be best given the quality of the station’s program service, community involvement and content as determined by the number of winning entries in this year’s GABBYs.  No separate entry required to win this category. Winner is decided based on submissions in previous categories.

 

Georgia Cites Ranked by Population
(Based on 2010 U.S. Census)

 

Class A (Large Market)

Population over 50,000

Atlanta (City):                                 420,003

Augusta/Martinez/Evans:            260,650

Columbus:                                       189,885

Macon/Warner Robbins:             157,939

Savannah:                                       136,286

Athens:                                              115,452

Albany:                                             77,434

Valdosta:                                          54,518

 

Class AA (Mid/Small Market)

Population under 50,000

Rome:            36,303

Gainesville: 33,804

Hinesville:      33,437

Dalton:          33,128

Newnan:      33,039

LaGrange:   29,588

Statesboro:  28,422

Carrolton:     24,388

Griffin:            23,643

Canton:        22,958

Cartersville: 19,731

Pooler:           19,140

Thomasville: 18,413

Brunswick:    15,383

Comprehensive 2010 Georgia Census information used for this list can found at http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/citypopulationrank.htm.