The 32nd Annual National Council on Family Relations Media Awards Competition*

Abstract

The 32nd Annual National Council on Family Relations Media Awards Competition* The 32nd annual National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) Media Competition was hosted by the Department of Family and Child Ecology and the College of Human Ecology, Michigan State University, during May and June of 2000. The purpose of the annual competition is to evaluate the quality and conceptual content of videos, to endorse excellence in the production of films with themes relevant to family issues, to promote the effective use of these resources, to encourage high standards in the development of creative learning opportunities, and to disseminate media competition results. Entries solicited were placed in 1 of the following 14 categories: Addiction/Substance Abuse; Aging; Contemporary Social Issues; Families with Special Needs; Family Violence/ Abuse; Human Development; Marital and Family Issues and Communication; Mental Health, Stress, Transitions, and Crisis Management; Diverse Family Systems; Parenting Issues; Sexuality and Sex Role Development; Teenage Pregnancy and Sexuality; STD/AIDS; and other Public Service Announcements. Guidelines for submission required that all videos be firsttime entries to the competition; carry a release date of no earlier than January 1, 1998; and be available for purchase, rental, or loan on a nationwide distribution basis. Multiple entries for producer/distributor within categories were permissible, although only one video was eligible for an award within any given category. All entries, which were to be half-inch videocassette recordings, were to be received by May 15, 2000. Entries could also be submitted on CD-ROM if available. We received 97 entries, including 94 videos and 3 CDROMs. One category (STD/AIDS) did not receive more than three videos this year. All videos within this category were nonetheless reviewed by a full committee and recognized only if they met the criteria of excellence defined by the review committees. Submissions were solicited from commercial and entertainment networks (e.g., Home Box Office [HBO], Discovery Channel), educational institutions and clearing houses (e.g., universities, InJoy, Sunburst), and amateurs (both youth and adults). The judging panels included university faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students from several academic departments at Michigan State University (e.g., Family and Child Ecology, Journalism, Psychology, Communication) and Michigan State University Extension. Individuals from various community-based organizations in East Lansing also participated in this year's review panels. Following the viewing of each entry, judges were asked to independently make both quantitative (79 possible points) and qualitative assessments. The evaluation form consisted of four major quantitative categories designed to measure the entries based on (a) content (30 possible points); (b) general issues (9 possible points), which included length, pacing, and flow of media entry; (c) artistic quality (20 possible points); and (d) ability to meet stated goals (20 possible points). This was followed by an overall rating, which was the sum of the four categories, and a qualitative section that asked judges for comments on the major strengths and weaknesses, as well as suggestions for improvement. Video production designations (i.e., commercial or entertainment, educational, amateur) were also considered evaluators. Each video was reviewed by at least two judges. In the event of a tie, the videos were evaluated by a third independent reviewer. If a duplicate score was awarded, the videos were honored with a duplicate award. This year's competition marks a departure from previous years in that three winners per category were identified if (a) entries from the three classifications (amateur, commercial or entertainment, and educational) were available and if (b) they were deemed meritorious. Hence, winners are listed honoring educational, amateur, commercial/entertainment entries, or a combination of these categories. …