Skinny jeans, platform heels, bell-bottoms, avocado green kitchen appliances, mix tapes, crimped hair, jelly shoes, and friendship pins. Styles and fads come and go, but one thing that NEVER goes out of style is the First Amendment. That is why for the past eight years SchoolJournalism.org invited students to enter the The First Amendment Matters PSA contest.  

Teachers like Stacy Gerst know how important the First Amendment is. She has used this contest as an opportunity to create a deeper understanding of the First Amendment with her students. 

This is the perfect opportunity to spread the message that all five of our freedoms should be revisited, reviewed, and kept in the forefront of self-expression discussions. It is SchoolJournalism’s sincere hope you will not only participate in this contest, but also share your entry with your school and community to remind everyone that the First Amendment NEVER goes out of style. 

Judges will look for PSAs that not only follow the specifications as listed below, but also demonstrates a clear understanding of the First Amendment and creatively emphasizes this year’s theme: the First Amendment NEVER goes out of style.

Here are a few resources to help: First Amendment 101, History Channel’s First Amendment, Creating a Winning PSA, and How to Create the Perfect PSA. 

THE GRAND PRIZE WINNER(s) WILL RECEIVE: 

1. A total of $100 in Amazon Gift Card(s) for the winning entry to use at their discretion courtesy of the East Central College, Union, Mo., Media Studies Program.
2. A “prize box” of a variety of goods that may include but is not limited to: T-shirts, office/school supplies, etc. from an anonymous donor, the Academy of Scholastic Broadcasting and our main sponsor the East Central College, Union, Mo., Media Studies Program

In the event of a tie, the award will be divided. 

Also, two “Runners-Up” will be chosen and each entry will receive $50 in Amazon Gift Card(s) for the winner(s) to use at their discretion courtesy of the East Central College, Union, Mo., Media Studies Program.

SPECIFICATIONS:

1. Students who reside in the United States may enter individually, or in teams of up to four people (no more than four).
2. Students may not enter more than one PSA with their name upon the entry.
3. Students in seventh to 12th grade may enter. NOTE: This is open to home school students, too.
4. There is no entry fee to enter.
5. Students will have until midnight Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, to enter.
6. Each entry will be judged.
7. All winning PSAs will be listed on the SchoolJournalism.org website and promoted and shared on our social media platforms.
8. All winning PSAs grant SchoolJournalism.org permission to share, post, or embed their entry.
9. SchoolJournalism.org will not provide written feedback due to the fast turn-around time involved with judging.
10. Students may note that judges will not just look at only the technical aspects of video production; they look for PSAs that address the topic of the First Amendment and include this year’s theme: the First Amendment NEVER Goes out of Style. 
11. PSAs must be 30 seconds long from start to finish.
12. Students will be disqualified if copyright is violated, entry requirements are not met, or it is found out that content used was not written, recorded, created, etc. by the students creating the PSA. Content should be original.
13. Students must upload their finished PSA to YouTube or Vimeo.
14. They will need to submit the link HERE by midnight Friday, Nov. 18, 2024.
15. The submission will include the following information: Student(s) first and last name(s), name and contact phone number and email address for adult who oversaw the project (including and not limited to: teacher, adviser, youth group leader, or a parent if home school), PSA title, and PSA link. NOTE: Link should be set to where playback is allowed through platforms such as via Vimeo or YouTube. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SEND VIDEO FILES. 
16.  We look forward to your participation. Our hope is that, win or lose, YOU are increasing awareness, knowledge, and understanding of the First Amendment in your community and across our nation.