Five Freedoms PSA Contest Rules and Instructions

 

Who:
High school and Middle school television students who value the Five Freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution: Freedom of Press, Speech, Petition, Assembly and Religion.

What:
A contest designed to challenge student journalists to create original 30 second public service announcement demonstrating the importance of the First Amendment.

When:
Segments produced this school year -- until February 19, 2009 -- are eligible. Uploading begins November 3, 2009 and ends February 19, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. CST. 

How do I submit my entry:

Students and educators are required to Create a free SchoolTube account before uploading videos. Please allow 24 hours for registration to process.

  1. Log in at www.SchoolTube.com.
  2. Click the UPLOAD button at the top of the webpage.
  3. Follow the simple steps below when prompted to ensure entry into the contest:
  4. Fill in Title, Description and tags.
  5. Important- Select for Category 1 "Contest" then select the subcategory "2010 Five Freedoms Contest" This is where your video will be seen on SchoolTube once moderated by your teacher if they are registered.
  6. Accept terms and browse to your video is uploaded in one of the formats listed. Then click upload. That's it, good luck!

Why:
Everyone should understand the importance of the Five Freedoms found in the First Amendment. By creating these PSAs, students get the opportunity to not only learn and understand the Five Freedoms, but they also get there chance to let others know about their importance to our lives as Americans.

How:
  • Teams: PSA production teams should be made up of no more then three students. Schools can send in as many PSAs as they like.
  • Prep: Read the background information on the Five Freedoms of the First Amendment and and see the contest tips at www.hsbj.org.
  • Length: Stay within your time limit in your final edit. This does not include the information slate at the beginning of your piece.
  • Slate: A 10 second, full screen slate (also known as a "title screen") should appear before your PSA with the following information:
    • Student producers’ names (no more than three)
    • School name
    • School address
    • Title of the entry
    • Total running time
  • Music: Only use music in your PSA if you have permission from the copyright holder. No music is better then illegal music. We want to protect our constitutional rights, not break them.
  • Entering:
    1. Teachers must register on SchoolTube.com. Registering will give them the ability to upload videos, and moderate their students’ submitted videos.
      In addition to uploading the PSA to SchoolTube.com, teachers must fax a signed Five Freedoms Teacher Form to RTDNF at 202-223-4007. This form verifies that students did the work with no assistance from adults and that music is copyright free or used under license.
    2. Students must register on SchoolTube.com in order to upload their entry. Their submission will have to be approved by their teacher before it is officially entered into the contest.
    3. Either students or teachers can upload a PSA entry to SchoolTube. If students submit the video, it will be moderated by their teacher before it is officially entered and posted. Teachers are notified via email of student submissions.
    4. If a teacher submits an entry, after successful upload they will receive notification when it is “live” on SchoolTube.
  • Voting:  All visitors and members of SchoolTube will be able to vote on their favorite PSAs.
  • Judging: First Amendment experts and professional broadcast journalists will choose the ($500) Grand Prize Winners after all submissions are in. There will be Grand Prize Winners for the 30 second PSA categories.
  • Prizes:

    High School

     

    Grand Prize

    30 second

    $2,000

    Second Place

    30 second

    $500

    Third Place

    30 second

    $250

    Middle School (6-9th Grades)

    Grand Prize

    30 second

    $500

    Second Place

    30 second

    $250

     

    There will also be an Early Entry Prizes for videos posted between Nov. 3, 2009 and Feb. 2, 2010.

  • On The Air: Winning videos will appear on on SchoolTube, hsbj.org and on Channel One during  the First Amendment-based Sunshine Week, March 15-21, 2009. Please save a broadcast-quality version of the PSA in the event that yours is selected to air on television.

 

The Five Freedoms PSA Contest is supported by a generous grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.