National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration
proudly presents


THE CHALLENGE: SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER* 

A new President will take office on January 20, 2009. He or she will face a myriad of challenges and choices. Here is your chance to influence the President from Day One. 

You choose a public policy problem, current issue, or societal challenge that you believe the new president should tackle as part of his/her first term. You have 90 seconds to frame the issue and to offer your solution on video. The topic you choose may be either domestic or foreign. Your issue should be framed so that it clearly advocates a distinct policy proposal with projected outcomes. Your approach should be non-partisan. You should use evidence and analysis to bolster the persuasive power of your video policy proposal. The overarching idea is for you showcase your MPA/MPP skills and knowledge in your video entry.
 

*
Speak Truth to Power by Aaron Wildavsky http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Wildavsky


WHAT YOU WILL WIN

1. YOUR VIDEO WILL BE PRESENTED TO PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN POLICY DIRECTORS: 

The grand prize winning video will be presented to the policy director of each major party (democratic and republican) candidate. If the video is persuasive enough, the policy director will consider sharing your video with key campaign advisors and, if it warrants, the presidential nominee.

2. WINNING VIDEOS (TOP 3) WILL BE FEATURED ON THE WEB & TV: 

The winning videos will be highlighted on NASPAA's website and will also be featured on the MPA/MPP ‘You Tube’ Channel and the MPA/MPP Facebook page. The grand prize winning video will be presented to producers at the Chris Matthews show for possible airing dependent on show schedule and news demands.

Your winning video will be shown at the NASPAA national conference in October, 2008 during the awards luncheon. (Attending are deans, directors, faculty, and students from NASPAA member MPA/MPP schools across the country.) 

3. CASH PRIZES FOR TOP 3 WINNERS

$1,000 cash prize for 1st place
$500 cash prize for 2nd place
$250 cash prize for 3rd place

 
JUDGING CRITERIA
The winning video will be judged on:
  • How your issue/policy choice is communicated and presented on video (1/3rd)
  • How you use both evidence and analysis to persuade the audience/viewer (1/3rd)
  • Creativity, originality, and quality of your video (1/3rd)
Format and Length: The video(s) must be no longer than 90 seconds in length. (This does not count your 10 second self introduction which is to be placed at the end of your video. Simply state your name, what school attending, degree and why you chose the policy you did).

Participants must upload video submissions to ‘You Tube’ using any of the following formats: QuickTime .MOV, Windows .AVI, or .MPG files. ‘You Tube’ recommends the MPEG4 (Divx, Xvid) format at 320x240 resolution with MP3 audio for optimal quality. 

Remember, if you haven’t shot, edited or uploaded a video to ‘You Tube’ that is not a problem or issue in participating. The chances are very good you know someone (friend, classmate, undergraduate, colleague, family) who has done this before and can assist or do it for you. Your topic choice, content, creativity, etc; are what matters. Not the technical stuff!


HOW TO ENTER : 3 steps to complete to win 

1. FILL OUT WEB ENTRY FORM: Takes less than 1 minute to enter the Contest. Fill out the one page web application form. Click here to fill out the entry form

2. CREATE YOUR VIDEO: Next step is to create your 90 second video on your chosen topic problem and proposed policy solution. Please add a 10 second self introduction which is to be placed at the end of your video. Simply state your name, what school attending, degree and why you chose the policy you did.

3. REGISTER AT YOU TUBE & UPLOAD YOUR VIDEO: You have to register on You Tube to enter the competition. To register click here: www.youtube.com/signup (It is free and takes just 1 minute.) Then, after you've registered on You Tube, upload your video to your account and join the MPAMPP Group Contest Page at: www.youtube.com/group/mpachallenge (Click 'Join Group' in Yellow box). Finally, click the "add videos" link, and select your video. After MPA/MPP web staff approves your video, it will show up on the group page, and you're done!




DEADLINE

Videos can be submitted anytime until midnight, Sunday, June 15th, 2008The winner will be selected by July 15 and announced at that time. 

FAQ  

What if I don’t have a video camera or have never shot or uploaded a video?
Not a problem. Why? You most likely have friends or classmates who have a video camera and can do these things. Or use a digital camera as many now have a video function and so do some cell phones. More important is your idea and how you bring it to video reality. 

Can I work with others?
Yes, you can work with others. Team collaboration is encouraged. But only one person wins the prize money, etc. We will list the names of all those who contributed to your video on our websites, emails, award etc. 

Do I have to register on You Tube?
Yes. If you are not already a member, you'll need to register on ‘You Tube’. It's free and takes less than 1 minute. 

For technical, video or YouTube upload questions, email Jon Hickey (last year's winner) at jon.r.hickey@gmail.com

Any other questions about the challenge, please email Scott Talan at YTPPC@naspaa.org


HELPFUL TIPS  

Think of how you can educate and entertain. Make public policy come alive.

How can you combine public policy with video visuals.

How can you win people to your point of view, inform and persuade people.

We're looking for original, creative, and exciting ideas from students that deliver a clear message to their peers and others.

Put yourself in the seat of someone viewing your video before you create it.

WEB HELP RESOURCES

Recording, Editing & Uploading on ‘You Tube’:
http://www.google.com/support/youtube/bin/topic.py?topic=10521 

For Tips on How to Make a Video: ‘You Tube’: 
http://www.youtube.com//t/howto_makevideo 

Advice from Professionals on How to Make a Better Video
http://www.youtube.com/video_toolbox


RULES & REGULATIONS  

Participants will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), its board members, staff, schools and programs, individually and collectively, including their heirs, personal representatives, officers, directors, successors and assigns, from and against all claims, demands, losses, damages, costs, judgments, liabilities and expenses (including attorney’s fees) arising out of or in connection with any and all claims of third parties, including without limitation other contestants, based on any screenplay or other materials submitted at part of the MPA/MPP You Tube Public Policy Challenge: Speak Truth to Power.
Participants hereby grant NASPAA the nonexclusive right to use participants name in connection with any and all publicity and promotional activities regarding the YTPPC competition including posting of videos on You Tube, NASPAA’s website etc. All material (videos) submitted to as part of the YTPPC (the “Submissions”) become the property of NASPAA. Without affecting any of your ownership rights to the Submission, by submitting your Submission, you grant NASPAA an irrevocable worldwide right, in all media (now known or later developed) to use, publish, alter or otherwise exploit your Submission and to share it with whomever NASPAA deems appropriate. You hereby forever release NASPAA and any of its board members, staff, schools, programs from any and all claims you might have in connection with its use and exhibit of your Submission as set forth above. 

Your Submission must be your own original work and, by submitting your Submission, you represent and warrant that: it is your sole original work; and you have obtained any and all consents, approvals or licenses required for you to submit your Submission (including obtaining the written consent of all 3rd parties, where applicable). 

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless NASPAA, its board members, staff, schools, programs from and against any and all claims, losses, costs, damages, liabilities, losses, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys; fees) which arise out of any breach of this agreement or any of these covenants, agreements, obligations, rights, representations or warranties set forth herein. You waive any claim of infringement (including without limitation copyright, trademark, patent, trade name, trade secret, etc.) against NASPAA, its board members, staff, schools, programs based upon access to or use of your Submission. NASPAA is not obligated to use the Submission or may choose to do so at a later date.

APPROPRIATE CONTENT: All Submissions will be reviewed for content before being published or judged to ensure it does not contain prohibited, or inappropriate content as determined by the NASPAA, in its sole discretion, and if so determined will be disqualified and will not be published or considered for a prize.

Your video submission must not contain material which is violent, pornographic or otherwise obscene, illegal or racially or otherwise morally offensive.

GENERAL CONDITIONS: All Entrants must complete their one page application and submit a video to be considered in the YTPPC competition. Finalists are solely responsible for any taxes on their respective prizes, and will receive an IRS Form 1099 for the value of their prize. No substitution of prize is offered, except at the sole discretion of the NASPAA. Prizes are non-transferable.

By participating, entrants agree that NASPAA, its board members, staff, schools, programs, agents and representatives, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising, promotion and fulfillment agencies and legal advisors are not responsible or liable for, and shall be released and held harmless from: (i) telephone, electronic, hardware or software program, network, Internet, or computer malfunctions, failures or difficulties of any kind; (ii) any condition caused by events beyond the control of Sponsor that may cause the Contest to be disrupted or corrupted; (iii) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Contest; (iv) any and all losses, damages, rights, claims and actions of any kind in connection with or resulting from participation in the Contest, or acceptance of the prize, including without limitation, claims based on publicity rights, defamation or invasion of privacy. 

NASPAA reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify, extend, or suspend the Contest should computer virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention, fraud, or other causes beyond its control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, or proper conduct of the Contest. In such case, judges may, at their discretion, select the winners from all eligible entries received prior to and/or after (if appropriate) the action taken by NASPAA. NASPAA reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual(s) it finds to be tampering with or attempting to influence the entry process or the operation of the competition.

NASPAA makes the final determination as to which Submissions are eligible to take part in this Contest and be considered for a Finalist Prize. Certain Submissions may be featured from time to time on the Web Site during the Contest Entry Period, in NASPAA’s sole discretion; being selected as a featured Submission is unrelated to the Judging Criteria and does not guarantee selection as a Finalist in the Contest.

In the event that an insufficient number of contestants enter and submit a qualified video NASPAA reserves the right to cancel, postpone or otherwise extirpate the competition.

 

Check out last challenge winning videos

The MPA/MPP YouTube Channel

 


Whether or not you create a video, you can participate and see who wins by subscribing to the MPAMPP channel on You Tube. 

It takes about 1 minute to sign up and there is no cost. Go to www.youtube.com/signup. Then search for or go to MPAMPP Channel page and click yellow-colored ‘Subscribe’ box. This way you’ll be able to watch (and share) videos created by fellow MPA/MPP students.


Questions: ytppc@naspaa.org