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vaccination

Journalism Contest

National Student Journalism Contest on Vaccination Awareness

Take a Shot at Disease

The National Education Association Health Information Network announces Take a Shot at Disease, a nation-wide contest for student journalists. The vaccination issue – pro and con – is widely covered in the press, and as new vaccines are developed, will continue to be. 

Vaccination is considered by many health officials to be the most effective and least expensive means to prevent disease. For centuries many children suffered from or died each year from Smallpox, Measles, Mumps, and Polio. These diseases can now be prevented with vaccination. 

Vaccines are not without controversy. Many do not get flu shots. Concerns over a causal relationship between the MMR and autism have some parents deciding not to inoculate their children. Recent focus on the human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) has raised questions of the state's role in recommending or requiring vaccinations.

This contest allows aspiring student journalists to explore the issues, conduct research, and produce feature or commentary pieces for their publication or broadcast outlet. 

What are the contest categories?


Here are two contest genres and a total of eight categories. All prizes may not be given if entries do not meet contest requirements that include genre, length, research and accuracy.

Print

Four categories
  • Editorial (250 to 400 words)
  • Commentary (250 to 500 words)
  • Cartoon (editorial cartoon or panel)
  • Feature (400 to 1,000 words)

Broadcast

Four categories          
  • Commentary (30- to 60-second)
  • PSA (30-second or 60-second)
  • Feature (4 to 10 minutes)
  • Podcast (1 to 4 minutes)
To submit a video entry, register on schooltube.com for a free account. Once you are logged in, go to SchoolTube for uploading details. If a teacher from your school is not registered on schooltube.com to approve your entry, it must wait in line for schooltube staff to review.


What are the prizes?


Each of the 4 print and 4 broadcast categories has three prize levels:
  • FIRST - $500
  • SECOND - $300
  • THIRD - $150
There are up to 3 $1,000 awards for schools that may not have produced the winning entries, but have produced extensive, well researched coverage of vaccination issues that has raised awareness and stimulated dialogue in their communities.

Resources to begin research


Whether you enter a print or a broadcast category, write a feature or editorial, create a PSA or cartoon, you need to do research. Know the facts and use the latest data available.These sources are good starting points for your research:

Interviews:

  • Pediatricians and physicians
  • Your school nurse
  • Infectious disease and health professionals
  • Individuals who had polio or exposure to other diseases
  • Web sites for research
For more information on the submission process, please visit schooltube by clicking on the logo schooltube

Contest rules


Students enrolled in grades 9-12 in public, charter or private U.S. high schools and those attending DOD high schools may enter.

Entrants must provide proof that their entries were published, posted and/or aired.

Newspaper entrants are to provide tear sheets and, if applicable, provide the URLs where the opinion piece, cartoon or feature was posted online.

Broadcast entries are to be submitted in DVD and/or podcast formats and, if applicable, entrants should provide the URLS where the entries may be viewed online.

How do i enter?

You will find the application packages here:

Application package for school entry (ms word .doc)

Application package for student entry (ms word .doc)

When is the deadline?

Entries must be postmarked by July 1, 2009.

Send entries to:
National Education Association
Health Information Network
1201 16th street, N.W.
Suite 216
Washington, D.C.   20036-3290

produced by nea hin through unrestricted educational grants provided by glaxosmithkline

this language has been approved by gsk

 

 

 

Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Destinations, Vaccines & Immunizations
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/

Infectious Diseases Society of America www.idsociety.org

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Vaccine Education Center
www.chop.edu

National Network for Immunization Information
www.immunizationinfo.org

Global Polio Eradication
www.polioeradication.org

NEA Health Information Network
www.neahin.org/

Vocabulary

 
NEA Health Information Network is affiliated with the National Education Association