Big Brothers Big Sisters of Maui County hosts contest for junior reporters.Does your child love to write? Or do they dream of becoming a reporter for television, radio, a newspaper or the Web? If so, then your child might have what it takes to be a finalist in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Maui County (BBBSM) Kid Reporter Talent Search. The organization is looking for eight students from Maui County schools to become members of the 1st BBBSM Kid Reporter Team for the 2008-09 school year. Winners will report local and regional news stories for BBBSM, the Maui Weekly and Akaku: Maui Community Television.
A panel of professionals, staff members and professional journalists from the Maui Weekly, BBBSM, Maui United Way and Akaku will select this exclusive team of real “cub” reporters. All entries will be judged according to the following criteria: originality, clarity and news-worthiness. The panel of judges will select 15 finalists who will be notified by Nov. 3. Each of the 15 finalists will be interviewed by phone and will be asked to do a mock interview. All finalists will receive a certificate of recognition.
The panel will then choose the eight BBBSM Kid Reporters based on their poise and articulation during the interview, in addition to the overall quality of submitted videos and/or written news articles.
Upon the final selection, each winner may be asked to represent BBBSM for regional and/or local media, and will be assigned to report on behalf of BBBSM and the BBBSM Website from November 2008 to August 2009. Article assignments will be given at the discretion of the BBBSM program manager and will be edited and printed in the Maui Weekly and on the paper’s Website or online at BBBSMAUI.org. Kid Reporters may also be featured on the cable channels operated by Akaku: Community Television. Each reporter will be notified if his/her story is published or broadcast.
The eight BBBSM Kid Reporters will receive a BBBSM Kid Reporter T-shirt, press credential, letter of congratulations and a free trip to Akaku’s highly coveted Young Reporters Media Camp, which will take place the week of Jan. 5 –9. In addition, winners will have the opportunity to become Akaku-certified producers and will be trained in the professional platform of Final Cut Pro.
To enter the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Maui County Kid Reporter Talent Search:
- Include a short news article (200 words or less) or news video (maximum three minutes) about an interesting or meaningful event in your school or community. Written entries should include interview quotes and a headline, in addition to journalistic elements such as photographs, editorial cartoons, charts, maps and graphs. Video entries should include a title, in addition to camera interviews. Video entries should be submitted on a clearly labeled DVD; computer disks will not be accepted.
- Complete the official entry form (located on the BBBSM Website, www.bbbsmaui.org). The contest is open to all legal residents of Maui County who are 12 years of age or younger as of Aug. 1, 2008, To enter, send news articles, news videos and entry forms to BBBSM of Maui Kid Reporter Talent Search, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Maui, 200 Waimaluhia Lane, Wailuku, HI 96793. Applicants must include the completed and signed official entry form, including an essay of 50 words or less explaining why you would be a good reporter for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Maui.
All entries must be postmarked by Wednesday, Oct. 22, and received no later than Wednesday, Oct. 29. Children do not need to be a Little Brother or Little Sister to enter, and the limit is one entry per person. Incomplete and/or inaccurate entries and entries not complying with all rules and regulations are subject to disqualification. Decisions of the judges are final and binding. Winners will be notified by telephone and mail.
For more information, visit the BBBSM Website at www.bbbsmaui.org, or email Maui Weekly Editorial Assistant Sarah Ruppenthal at editassist@mauiweekly.com.