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Judges of the US National Press Photographers Association's (NPPA) best of photojournalism 2007 competition refused to award first prize in two inaugural web video categories - claiming entries were not of a high enough standard.

Judges failed to grant a first place in the 48 hours-web category.

Instead they awarded second place to Travis Fox of washingtonpost.com for his 'Paths to Escape Perilous for Lebanese' piece.

Third place went to John Paraskevas of Newsday for his report 'Tragic Flight Path.'

Speaking about the 48 hours-web category judge Joel Eagle of WJZ-TV, in Baltimore, said: "Almost all the stories in this category lacked the basic fundamentals of good storytelling.

"The entrants also need to work on their composition. Even though these stories are for a more narrow audience than broadcast, they still need the same elements that make any story memorable."

"This is a new category that has so much promise," said judge Jay Korff, of WJLA-TV in Washington.

"We watched a number of stories that - while solid - need more development and visual sophistication."

"I can remember another instance at the White House news photographers awards when I believe it also happened. It's usually because they like a video but there is something wrong with it ... but I have learned not to be surprised at the outcome of any of these contests," Travis Fox told Journalism.co.uk.

Fox can console himself with the knowledge that he won both first and second prizes in the in-depth-web category - to sit alongside the Emmy he won last year.

It was the same in the sports feature-web category where the judges awarded the pick of the crop - Brian Kaufman of NaplesNews.com - second place for his work 'Swamp Buggy Race'.

Third place went to Preston Keres of Washingtonpost.com for 'Drumline.'

Judges for the news feature-web category were more generous, awarding Ben de la Cruz of Washingtonpost.com first place for 'Being a Black Man: Off the Cuff Being Black.'

Second place went to Drew Cook of Current TV for 'Chris 2X,' and third place was Rick Gershon of the Dallas Morning News for 'Fair Finale.'

"These winners displayed a visual and journalistic maturity worthy of national recognition," Korff said. "Each story was technically vivid, candid and emotional."

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