In this YouTube video contest, The Pulitzer Center has partnered with YouTube to present Project:Report, an opportunity for non-professional, aspiring journalists to tell stories that might not otherwise be covered by traditional media. There are three rounds of competition, and the assignment for Round 1 is to “profile someone in your community, in three minutes or less, highlighting a story you think deserves to be heard by a wide audience. Even if you did not participate in or advance past Round 1, you may still complete the assignments for Rounds 2 and 3, though you will not be eligible for the grand prize.”

The Grand Prize winner will receive a $10,000US travel grant and the opportunity to work with The Pulitzer Center in the development of an international reporting project. Grant will be awarded in the form of two separate checks: $5,000US upon The Pulitzer Center’s approval of the international reporting project and $5,000US upon the satisfactory completion of that project. Five finalists will also get a Sony Handycam Digital Camcorder with case to assist in the completion of the 3rd video assignment. The site also says that 10 Semi-Finalists will receive a  Sony Vaio Z Laptop Computer and a 3-day/2-night trip for the Semi-Finalist to attend the Pulitzer Center Journalism Summit December 12.

I really like this contest because it encourages entrants to look beyond themselves for a story they want to share with the world. There are so many interesting people out there and I can’t wait to hear from them through this contest. I spend a lot of time at YouTube looking at videos, and I am very excited to see the videos everyone will submit. Make sure you read the complete contest rules and also check on the various deadline dates for the different rounds of competition.