Great News Network Video Contest

Best News Channel (BNN) Video Contest

The Contest: Participants must create and submit a short video raising awareness of “positive news or events” happening around us everywhere, from our neighborhood to the farthest region on earth.

Objective: Narrative or content must transmit a positive story based on Catholic values and true facts, and must include a short ending reflection on how or why it makes our lives and society better.

Eligibility: Entrants must be at least 4 years old and not older than 18. Both traditional and homeschooled children are welcome. Entries from outside the United States are eligible.

Submission of Videos: Completed videos should be sent to videocontest@greatnewschannel and the online Entry Form completed at that time. Entrants should save a copy of the submitted video. Videos must be in English. After receiving the entrant’s video and documentation, BNN will confirm by email a receipt confirmation to the entrant.

Title Screen: Entries should include a 10-second title screen that includes the contest title “Good News”, the name(s) of the entrant(s), the title of the video, the entrant’s school if applicable, and the city in which the entrant is located. A sub-title naming the story is optional.

Length: Video should be at least two minutes and not exceed five minutes in length, including the title screen.

Video Equipment: Videos may be produced on any equipment available to the entrant, including cell phones, video cameras, and computers. Videos may be in color or black and white, with or without sound, and with or without animation. Always set to record in the highest quality setting of your recording device and keep a good and clear soundtrack if recording sound.

Accepted Video Formats: MOV, MP4 (MPEG4), AVI, WMV, FLV, 3GP, MPS, WebM.

Assistance: Entries may be produced by a single person, by groups of students, or by a class. Entries submitted by groups of students or a class must designate a lead entrant who will serve as the contact.  Entrants may consult with family, teachers, and mentors for assistance. However, the primary work of creating the video must be done by the entrants, with exception of students in grades PreK-4 to 5th who can be assisted in filming, editing and submitting the video. Professional assistance is not allowed.

Dates: The contest begins on April 15, 2018 and is carried out on a weekly basis. All entries must be submitted in digital format during weekdays. Winning videos will be selected by a panel on the following week and will be posted on the Best News Network web site two weeks after their selection. 

Prizes: Winning entries will receive cash awards. Prize money of $1,000.00 will be awarded every week as follows: First prize $300; Second prize $200; Third prize $100; 15 Honorable Mention prizes of $20 each; a $100 award will be presented to the school department with the best participation. Prize money can only be used in one of two ways: It can be applied towards the Participant's own Tuition or other education expenses; or it can be donated to the Participant's favorite charitable work (which must be consistent with Catholic principles).  Participant will select in advance at the time of registration how the prize money is to be used (if towards own tuition or education expenses, or specify to which charitable work it will be paid to). Prizes will be made out to the Participant’s selection whose name is on the Parental Permission Form. If an entry is made by a Team, the prize will be divided in equal parts among the Team’s participants and payment made out to the specified purpose as set in the Parental Permission Form.

Other Prizes: In addition to the cash prizes, other prizes may be offered by sponsors. This prizes could be offered in forms of gift certificates or promotions in accordance with BNN's guidelines.

Winning Entries: In additional to cash prizes, winning videos will be posted on the website of BNN if actor releases, sources, and copyright permissions are in order. Winners must be able to provide a list of sources for their video, documenting any factual statements.

Ownership of Videos and Right to Use: Entrants own all rights to their entries, but BNN may freely reproduce, reprint, distribute, or exhibit winning videos for promotional purposes on their website or affiliated websites, at conferences, or in publications.

Copyrights: Videos must not use copyrighted material without permission of the copyright holder. Videos containing copyrighted material used without permission will not be eligible for prizes.

Citation of sources: Winning videos will be required to cite the sources of the factual information contained in the video.

Parental Permission: Entrants who are under 18 years of age when they enter the contest should submit a Parental Permission form prior to undertaking production of their video. The Parental Permission form releases BNN from liability resulting from the entrant’s participation in the contest, including any harm, injury, or death resulting from travel or work with video equipment incident to participation in the contest. After completing the Parental Permission form, please scan and send it (or email a photo) to videocontest@bestnewsnetwork.org If videos requiring parental permission are submitted without a Parental Permission form, they will be disqualified.

General: BNN may disqualify an entry that fosters any anti-Catholic behavior, violates these rules, or is inappropriate in the judgment of BNN. If the operation, security, or administration of this contest is compromised for any reason, including plagiarism, BNN may, at its discretion, suspend the contest or terminate it, without recourse by the entrants.

Acceptance of Rules: Entrants give their full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Rules and the decisions of BNN, which are final and binding.

Questions: Questions about these rules may be directed to: videocontest@bestnewsnetwork.org.

Fill out this form after you have finished making your video and uploaded it.

Top of Form

• Name*

First, Last 

• Email*

• Phone*

• Link to video submission*

• School Name*

• Grade Level*

Bottom of Form

· Teacher's Name*

· If this is a group project, list the names of all students who worked on the video.

Please submit only one of these forms for each video entry.

· Have all participants submitted a scanned, signed consent form with parental signature to  videocontest@bestnewsnetwork.org 

Failure to do so may mean your video is disqualified.

• Yes, signed consent forms have been submitted by all participants. 
• Signed consent forms have been submitted by some participants (and the others will be submitted).
• No, signed consent forms have not yet been submitted (but will be). 

Best News Network Video Contest: 

ACTOR RELEASE

(Submitted with final video)

Actor’s Name(s): 

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Producer’s Name(s): 

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Title of Video: 

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Contest Sponsor:

1. Great News Network, and____________________________________, (“Actor”) understand that the above-named Producer is producing a videotape program and that my name, likeness, image, voice, appearance and performance is being recorded and made a part of that production ("Video"). I understand that the Video is being produced for entry in a contest sponsored by Great News Network (“Sponsor”). I grant Producer and Sponsor, and their designees the right to use my name, likeness, image, voice, appearance and performance as embodied in the Video whether recorded on or transferred to videotape, film, slides, photographs, audio tapes or other media, now known or later developed. This grant includes without limitation the right to edit, mix or duplicate and to use or re-use the Video in whole or part as Producer may elect. Producer and Sponsor or their designee shall have complete ownership, including copyright, of the Video in which I appear. I also grant Producer and Sponsor, and their designees the right to broadcast, exhibit, market, sell and otherwise distribute the Video, either in whole or in parts, and either alone or with other products, for commercial or non-commercial television or theater, closed-circuit exhibition, home video distribution or any other purpose that Producer or Sponsor or their designees may determine. I confirm that I have the right to enter into this Agreement, that I am not restricted by any commitments to third parties, and that Producer and Sponsor have no financial commitment or obligations to me as a result of this Agreement. I hereby give all clearances, copyright and otherwise, for the use of my name, likeness, image voice, appearance and performance embodied in the Video.

2. In consideration of all of the above, I hereby acknowledge receipt of reasonable and fair consideration from Producer and Sponsor. I have read the foregoing and understand its terms and stipulations and agree to all of them:

Actor's Name(s) (Please Print) 

________________________________________________________

Signature ____________________________Date________________ 

(If the person signing is under age 18, a parent or legal guardian must sign below.) 

I hereby certify that I am the parent or legal guardian of the Actor named above and I give my consent without reservation to the foregoing on behalf of him or her.

Signature ____________________________Date________________ 

(Signature of parent or guardian)

Great News Network Video Contest: 

ENTRY/ PARENTAL PERMISSION FORM

Name of Student: 

________________________________________________________

Date of Birth: 

________________________________________________________

Student’s Contact Information

Street Address: 

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

City: ______________________

State: __________ 

Zip Code: __________

Country: _____________________________­________

Student’s Email:________________________________

Student’s Phone:_______________________________ 

School Name:

________________________________________________________

School Address:

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Teacher’s Name (if applicable):

________________________________________________________

Student’s Signature

I agree to follow all the Rules of the Contest. I understand that my video may be disqualified if I violate any of the Rules.

Student

________________________________________________________

Date

________________________________________________________

Parental Permission

I understand that my child 

________________________________________________________ 

wishes to enter the “Best News Network” Video Contest sponsored Best News Network (“Sponsor”). I give permission for my child to enter the contest and, if my child’s video wins a prize in the contest, for his or her video to be used, reprinted, distributed or exhibited by the Sponsor on its website, at conferences, or in publications. I further release the Sponsor from any and all liability resulting from my child’s participation in the contest, including any harm, injury or death resulting from travel, work with video equipment or other acts incident to participation in the contest. 

Parent or Guardian 

____________________________

Date

____________________________

(Form should be signed and submitted to the Sponsor after signing)