C-SPAN Announces Winners in 2007 'StudentCam,' A Political Student Video Competition

C-SPAN Announces Winners in 2007 'StudentCam,' A Political Student Video Competition

Contest reveals issues important to YouTube generation

C-SPAN to air videos on Monday, May 14-Friday, June 15, 2007

WASHINGTON, May 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- C-SPAN's annual video documentary competition, "StudentCam," http://www.studentcam.org/, asks middle and high school students, "Which political issues are of greatest importance to you and why?" The answers are revealed today when the 2007 C-SPAN StudentCam winners are announced during "Washington Journal," C-SPAN's live, viewer call-in program, at approximately 8:30 a.m. ET.

The grand prize winning video is "Jupiter or Bust: The El Sol Solution," by Zach Chastain, Bryan Cink and Ryan Kelly of Jupiter, Fla. which explores the national issue of illegal immigration and the proposed solution in their community. This marks the second consecutive year that the grand prize winning entry focuses on immigration. The award is accompanied by a cash prize of $3,000. The video will air on C-SPAN Friday, June 15, at 6:50 a.m. ET, followed by a live interview with one of the winners.

The competition is sponsored by C-SPAN Classroom, http://www.c-spanclassroom.org/ , a free membership service dedicated to support educators' use of C-SPAN in their classes or for research.

"Young people are more interested than ever in using video to communicate their views and opinions about the issues that matter to them, especially with the growth of sites such as YouTube," said Joanne Wheeler, vice president of education relations at C-SPAN. "That's why StudentCam is so relevant and interesting every year. As the political network of record, we're committed to sharing with our audience the unique views expressed by the students by interviewing the winners, and airing and posting the winning videos online."

The StudentCam competition names 45 total winners and awards $25,000 in cash prizes, including a grand prize winner plus two, first prize winners; eight, second prize winners; 14, third prize winners; and 20 honorable mentions in middle and high school categories. The top 25 videos air on C- SPAN, one each weekday, starting with third prize winners on Monday, May 14, 2007, at 6:50 a.m. ET, followed by a live phone interview with the winner around 8:30 a.m. ET.

The top political issues based on the entries in the 2007 StudentCam competition are:

-- Global warming and the environment, representing 24% of entries;
-- The Iraq War; and
-- Education/No Child Left Behind.

The Israeli/Palestinian conflict, affirmative action, same-sex marriage and the situation in Darfur round out the list of most popular topics based on submissions. Winners represent 23 states including California, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Virginia.

The first prize winners and their local cable affiliate follow:

First Prize-Middle School
"When the Boys Come Home: Controversy at Walter Reed"
Ian Scott Wilson, Falls Church, Va. (Cox)

First Prize-High School
"Our Duty"
Anthony Hernandez & Dustin Gillard, Austin, Minn. (Charter)

All 45 winning videos are available online for streaming or downloading at http://www.studentcam.org/. Videos are 10 minutes or less and must incorporate C-SPAN video as stated in the contest rules.

About C-SPAN Classroom

C-SPAN Classroom, http://www.c-spanclassroom.org/, is a free membership service dedicated to support educators' use of C-SPAN programming in their classes or for research. Members may access free, downloadable C-SPAN video clips for use in the classroom, that are selected from signature programs and event coverage. C-SPAN Classroom has reached more than one million students since its inception in 1987.

About C-SPAN

C-SPAN, the political network of record, was created in 1979 by America's cable companies as a public service. C-SPAN is currently available in nearly 91 million households. For more information about C-SPAN, visit http://www.c-span.org/.

Contact: Jennifer Moire, C-SPAN, +1-202-626-8797, jmoire@c-span.org or Meredith Rapp, C-SPAN, +1-202-626-4861, mrapp@c-span.org.

Source: C-SPAN

CONTACT: Jennifer Moire, +1-202-626-8797, jmoire@c-span.org or
Meredith Rapp, +1-202-626-4861, mrapp@c-span.org, both of C-SPAN

Web site:

http://www.c-span.org/

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