Contest W: Multimedia Storytelling

IMPORTANT

Student safety is KSPA’s first concern. Please do not put yourself or others in jeopardy of being infected with COVID-19 through your reporting for this contest. Please see ideas below on how to do your reporting online.

The reporting, videos and images submitted in this contest should be created after the release date of these prompts (March 20, 2020). Failure to do so will result in disqualification.

ASSIGNMENT

Students enter as individuals or in a team of no more than four students to create a multimedia story package based on the prompt below. All entries will be submitted by creating a publicly accessible web page and submitting the URL to that page. Students will produce original work and will use only lawfully acquired copyrighted material.

Note: Because the web page will likely be part of your school’s online news site, this contest can not be anonymous. Judges will be able to see the school for each entry by virtue of being on the school’s online news site. Additionally, students should credit the journalists who worked on coverage in the entry with photo credits, bylines, etc. as they would normally.

In the package, students must have 3 or more types of media. Students are required to have one type of media from each of the lists below:

    • Type #1: Written story: original story or transcript of audio/video package
    • Type #2: Visuals: Infographic, video or multiple photos
    • Type #3: Other: video (if not used to satisfy Type #2), multiple photos (if not used to satisfy #2), audio, audio/photo slideshow, infographic, embedded maps, use of social media or other online coverage

TOPIC

For this project, complete a multimedia storytelling package that documents how people at your school are remaining connected at a time of social distancing for most Kansans because of the outbreak of COVID-19. Your readers want to know how people are communicating, given the risks of gathering in person.

We Repeat: Student safety is KSPA’s first concern. Please do not put yourself or others in jeopardy of being infected with COVID-19 through your reporting for this contest. Consider how you can report  through any of these methods: online chats, telephone interviews, email research, online documents, submitted photos, social media, submitted videos, submitted recordings, screen captures, texting transcripts, journals, governmental sources and oral histories. These are just a few ideas of the kinds of research you might do and report.

DIRECTIONS

This contest is meant to be completed as a student team. Please refrain from seeking help from your adviser while completing this contest.

Failure to follow these directions may result in disqualification from the contest without refund. Please read and follow carefully.

The 2020 State Contest will use Better Newspaper Contests (BNC), for submission.

    • On April 1, the system opens for students to submit work.
    • Digital submission entries will be due on Saturday, April 18 by 11 p.m. Central Time. (This is a change from the previously published date on the KSPA calendar.)

SPECIFICATIONS

The entry must be uploaded to the KSPA online submission according to these specifications:

    • Please create a publicly accessible web page that contains all of the multimedia coverage on it (or links to the coverage)
    • Submit the URL of the coverage using the link below
    • When you submit your link, you will provide the names of up to four students who created the coverage and your school name
    • The entry must be uploaded by Saturday, April 18 by 11 p.m. Central Time

Failure to follow these requirements will result in disqualification.

Here is a link to this contest’s frequent judging comments.