Twenty-Eighth Annual National Council on Family Relations Media Awards Competition

Abstract

Twenty-eight Annual National Council on Family Relations Media Awards Competition* Francisco A. Villarruel,** Gloria Gonzalez-Kruger, Daniel F. Perkins, Yolanda Sanchez, June Pierce Youatt, Esther Onaga, Marsha Carolan, Beverly Schroeder, and Marjorie J. Kostelnik The 1996 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 1996. The purpose of the annual competition is to evaluate the quality and conceptual content of videos, 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 one of the following 15 categories: Addiction/Substance Abuse; Health Issues: Infancy, Adolescence, & Adult; Contemporary Social Issues; Families with Special Needs; Family Violence/Abuse; Human Development Across the Life Span; Human Reproduction & Family Planning; Marital & Family Issues & Communications; Mental Health, Stress, Transition, & Crisis Management; Diverse Family Systems; Parenting Issues; Sexuality & Sex Role Development; Teenage Pregnancy & Sexuality; STD/AIDS; and Other (e.g., PSAs). Guidelines for submission required that all videos be first-time entries to the competition, carry a release date of no earlier than January 1, 1994, and be available for purchase, rental, or loan on a nation-wide distribution basis. Each producer/distributor could submit only one entry per category. All entries, which were to be 1/2 videocassette recordings, were to be received by April 15,1996. A total of 100 entries (videotapes) were received. The judging panels included university faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students from several academic departments at Michigan State University, Michigan State University Extension, and faculty and students from the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Nevada-Reno. Individuals from various community based organizations in East Lansing, MI also participated in this year's review panels. No entries were received for the Human Reproduction and Family Planning category. 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: (1) content (30 possible points); (2) general issues (9 possible points), which included length, pacing, and flow of the media entry; (3) artistic quality (20 possible points); and (4) ability to meet stated goals (20 possible points). This was followed by an overall rating that 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. Each video was reviewed by at least two judges. In the event of a tie, the videos were evaluated by an independent third reviewer. If a duplicate score was awarded, the videos were honored with a duplicate award. The following list identifies the Winner, Runner Up, and Honorable Mention recipients for each of the fifteen categories. The synopsis, goals and objectives of each entry was provided by the producer/director and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of NCFR, the competition coordinators, or the judges. Purchase and rental prices are provided courtesy of the producer. Intended audiences are noted in the following manner: PG for primary grades, JH for junior high, HS for high school, C for college, G for general, P for parents, and PRO for professionals. An additional category is other, as specified by the entrant. 1. …