Third Coast International Audio Festival :: COMPETITIONS :: TC/RHDF Competition

Third Coast Festival
Navy Pier
848 East Grand
Chicago, Illinois
60611-3509

312-948-4682
info@thirdcoastfestival.org

I need help uploading my audio. Who should I contact?

The folks over at PRX are best-equipped (believe us!) to help you navigate the entry process, and would be happy to lend their assistance. Call (617-576-5455) or email them any time.

May I pay for my entry by check?

We encourage you to pay via PayPal, but will accept checks for entries submitted (entirely, including uploaded audio) by the early deadline - Wednesday, June 19, at noon PDT. You can indicate you'll be paying by check during the entry process.

- Paying by check is not an option if you enter after noon PDT on Wednesday, June 19.

- For your entry to be eligible, your check must be postmarked by the early deadline - Wednesday, June 19.

Please read the above information carefully, and email us if you have any questions.

Is there a limit to how many documentaries or features I can enter?

Nope. But we recommend that individual producers submit their top three stories and that radio shows/podcasts enter their top six stories produced within the two-year eligibility window (July 2011 - July 2013.)

May I enter a series?

Sorry, nope. Each individual episode or story from your series is a single entry. We recommend you enter the strongest episode/story from the series and if one wins an award, the entire series will be recognized.

May I enter a program or show that includes a number of separate stories and interviews?

Each story within a program or show that presents multiple stories, such as All Things Considered or This American Life, is a separate entry. Enter the strongest story, and if it wins a prize, the program will be recognized too.

Do I have to make my entry public/available for broadcast on PRX after I've uploaded it for the Competition?

You're not required to designate your work as available for public review or broadcast once it's uploaded into PRX's system. You have full control over this decision, via your account settings. But we believe in the PRX model for distribution and strongly encourage you to engage with the opportunities PRX offers.

How should I enter my podcast?

Each episode from your podcast constitutes a separate entry. If a podcast episode wins an award, the entire podcast will be recognized.

Should I include the host lede/intro that was read before my story aired, as part of my entry?

Nope! Please submit a written version of the host lede/intro when you upload your entry at PRX.org. The audio portion of your entry should consist only of the actual story.

How should I decide whether to enter my work into the Best Documentary or Best News Feature category?

BNF entries should be driven by events and news. It's okay if content becomes dated or if these works have a local feel. Documentaries should be timeless in nature, and should transcend geographic location. Also, BNF entries can not exceed ten minutes, while BD entries can run up to 60 minutes.

How will the Best News Feature category be judged?

Accomplished editors and reporters from a public radio station (to be announced) will make the selection.

Is my Best News Feature eligible for the Best Documentary category?

Nope. On the entry form you must choose to submit your piece for either the Best Documentary or Best News Feature category. The categories will be judged separately.

Is my Best New Feature entry eligible for the Best New Artist or Radio Impact Awards?

While in the past the answer to this question has been "nope," this year you have the option of designating a Best News Feature entry for a Best New Artist and/or Radio Impact Award.

How is the Best New Artist category judged?

This prize is awarded to someone who entered the audio field in the past two years, and who demonstrates both considerable skill and potential in his/her work. To qualify, a producer must have recorded, written, and mixed their entry. If you're wondering if you qualify, please contact us directly.

What information should I include in my Radio Impact statement?

First and foremost describe the real impact that your story had on a life or a commmunity. For example, did your story encourage policy-makers to take a new approach, neighbors to protest the staus quo or individuals to make changes in their lives? Did your story get picked up by other news/information outlets so that it was heard beyond its original audeince? See the sample RI statement by Sally Herships in the right hand column for additional guidance.

How do I secure international music rights for my entry?

You’ll need to take care of this before you submit your entry. If you have questions, check in with the station or outlet that first presented the work for guidance.

May co-producers submit an entry together?

Sure, with one exception. Co-productions are not eligible for the Best New Artist Award.

May I submit an entry for the Best New Artist Award if I've collaborated with musicians?

We do want to encourage this sort of thing, so at the risk of complicating matters, yes!

May I enter the same piece two years in a row?

Yes, as long as your entry fits into our window of eligibility – meaning it was first presented publicly on the radio, Internet or in a public setting (such as a gallery/museum/classroom) between July 2011 and July 2013. Repeat entries have indeed won awards the second time around.

May I submit work produced for commercial radio and other commercial venues?

Yes.

When will you announce the judges?

We’ll post the judge roster online by August 1.

When will winners be notified?

Winners will be notified in late August with the good news. They’ll learn which specific award they've won at the 2013 Third Coast Awards Ceremony. This year's ceremony will take place on the final night of the Third Coast Filmless Festival on October 20, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, IL.

More Information

Awards
Entry Guidelines
FAQ
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Sample Radio Impact Statement

From Sally Herships, winner of the 2011 RI Award:

When I first began reporting The Five Percent Rule you could buy a pack of Marlboro reds at the military base at Fort Hamilton, NY, for 50% less than outside the gates. That’s a lot more than the legal discount mandated by the Department of Defense – only 5 percent. This illegal discounting of tobacco products by the military is a serious problem. When prices are cheap, people buy more, sickening service members and burdening tax payers with an enormous health care bill. A few months after I began making phone calls Fort Hamilton raised their prices by almost 50 percent. Tobacco Free kids estimates this will save the government over $36 million in health care costs over the lifetimes of the service members who quit using tobacco because of the price increases

In addition to saving taxpayers tens of millions of dollars the story also shed light on two common misconceptions: first, that tobacco use only has long term health care effects. Tobacco use decreases service-member’s fitness in the here and now, decreasing motor coordination, stamina and even wound healing. Second, many service members believe that tobacco relieves stress, when in reality, all it does is relieve the stress caused by nicotine addiction.

On June first The Five Percent Rule aired on Marketplace. Eight days later it was picked up by the BBC World Service and went on to be included on the websites of ProPublica’s Muckraker, PBS Newshour and Mother Jones Magazine.

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