Applying for the Peabody Awards: What You Need to Know

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Posted on November 6, 2015

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Every year, the Peabody Awards recognize those who excel in radio, television broadcasting, and online media
in America. The judges review over a thousand documentary entries and only a select few are awarded the
prestigious gold medallion. With such stiff competition, what makes a film stand out? Earlier this week we
hosted a webinar featuring Dr. Nate Kohn and Matt Shedd of the George Foster Peabody Awards at the
University of Georgia who gave us the inside scoop.
Eligibility
The Peabody Awards honor a diverse range of stories across radio, television, and digital media. To qualify,
documentaries must have appeared online or on local or national television. Films with minor theatrical releases
(art houses, indie theaters) are eligible but those with large-scale theatricals (Friday night release, available in
3k theaters nationwide) are considered major motion pictures and are disqualified.
Submission
When you upload your project for consideration, youll be asked to include a short essay. Dont let this
requirement scare you! You wont be judged on this section, only the project itself. This is your opportunity to tell
the judges what the film is about, who was involved in making it, why its important, and the impact its had. If
you have any press reviews or additional content, you can include them in the Supplementary Material section.
While the films reach and impact can be included in the essay or supplementary materials section, its what the
judges are seeing on screen that matters most.
Judging
Although youll submit your entry into one of six subcategories, this is just a way for the Peabody Board of
Jurors to remain organized. The prizes arent awarded by category, nor are there finalists or nominees. When
the judges meet face-to-face to determine the winners, they have only one criteria on their minds: excellence.
Theyre looking for stories that matter and documentaries of substance. Films arent compared to one another,
theyre judged only against themselves. The jurors must unanimously agree on the films that they choose to
recognize.

http://beyondthebox.org/applying-for-the-peabody-awards-what-you-need-to-know/

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Applying for the Peabody Awards: What You Need to Know

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This is just some of what we covered in our conversation with Dr. Nate Kohn and Matt Shedd, For additional tips
on making your submission shine, watch the recording below. ITVS-funded films and Independent Lens
broadcasts have won 30 Peabody Awards to date. This webinar is the first of several awards-related webinars
presented for free to all filmmakers. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for more info!

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