The procedures used by the Ohio News Photographers Association in selecting the 1979 Ohio "News Photographer of the Year" are described in this paper, and questions are raised about their adequacy. The paper tells how the judges analyzed the photograph portfolios on which the award was based, relates the judges' standards for evaluation, and reports judges' comments made while comparing the portfolios of the four finalists. It raises doubts about the use of the portfolio competition as the single criterion for the award and discusses an alternative system--a point system in which the award is given to the photographer whose photographs have earned the most points in the various award categories. Tables are presented to show the differences in rankings of photographers that would have resulted from use of a point system. The paper also discusses issues involved in judging color and black and white entries together versus in separate categories, and it outlines a recommended approach to the competition that would refine and combine features of portfolio and point system judging. Appendixes present the 1979 contest rules and list the winning photographers in 23 categories. (GT)