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The determination of broadcasting excellence culminating in the awarding of a New York Emmy® is the work and responsibility of the dedicated judges who comprise the Blue Ribbon Panels. Each year, the Emmy Awards are judged by thousands of television professionals in peer groups convened around the country.

THE JUDGING PROCESS

Programming and Individual Craft Achievements are judged by Blue Ribbon Panels assembled by any of the 19 Academy Chapters: Boston /New England, Chicago/Midwest, Cleveland, Heartland Chapter, Lone Star, Michigan, Mid-America, Mid-Atlantic, Nashville/Midsouth, National Capital/Chesapeake Bay, New York, Ohio Valley, Pacific Southwest, Rocky Mountain/Southwest, San Francisco/Northern California, Northwest, Southeast, Suncoast and Upper Midwest, as well as by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (ATAS) in Los Angeles. Judges come from local television stations, networks, cable programming services and independent production facilities, and are often themselves Emmy and other industry award winners. Careful attention is paid to impartial judges who represent a balance of news and programming areas together with various craft disciplines.

PEER JUDGING

In order to serve as a peer judge for a local chapter's Emmy Awards, a person must have experience performing the work being judged or directly supervising or teaching the work being judged with "hands on" involvement. To judge program areas or categories, a peer judge must have produced, directed or written programs or program segments, preferably in the specific discipline being judged (i.e. "News"). Associate producers and similar titles may be qualified, depending on active involvement in the producing craft. Job descriptions govern over Job titles. To be eligible to judge, teachers must either teach the specific craft being judged or have had professional experience performing the craft being judged.

VOTE TABULATION

Screening sessions are conducted with the utmost discretion and impartiality, giving each entrant an equal chance of achieving nominee or Emmy Award status. At the completion of all screenings, the secret ballots are tabulated by the independent accounting firm contracted by the chapter. An Emmy is awarded only when an entry's total point score reaches a certain cut-off point; if that point is not reached, no award is given and the area is eliminated from the competition. The Awards structure is based on one award, more than one award or no award...the only criterion being EXCELLENCE.

YOUR ROLE

The success of our award is dependent upon the willingness of qualified professionals to serve as judges. The most important element in giving awards with maximum judiciousness is to have judges who are serious minded about this activity. We ask you to devote a portion of your valuable time to be an Emmy judge. We know that you yourself, as a highly qualified professional, want your own work to be judged by the best possible people. Your professional expertise in identifying the outstanding achievements of your peers is an important and meaningful contribution you can make on behalf of your colleagues and the viewing public. We look to you to participate. If you think you qualify and would like to participate, please email us at: awards@nyemmys.org

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