Free The Net: Video Contest

By Duke Schempp
Contributing Writer

The People’s Press Project works diligently in the Fargo-Moorhead region to create a culture of citizen journalism and media justice. Since the nonprofit’s launch in April of last year, PPP has trained community members in audio podcasting, camera operating and studio editing. PPP multi-media members have been making local government visible and accountable by filming Cass County Commission and Fargo School Board meetings and by putting the films on the web. PPP has also made important impact on national communication rights policy issues. Representatives of PPP and HPR have testified and lobbied legislative representatives and members of the FCC on the issues of Net Neutrality. We at PPP and HPR know the importance of a open Internet that is equally accessible to everyone who uses this important mode of communication.

Recently, PPP learned through the National Media Justice Alliance that Congressman Collin Peterson (District 7 - MN) recently flip-flopped on his position about Net Neutrality. Without Net Neutrality consumers are subjected to intentional manipulation of their services by the Internet providers, which slows down website traffic, blocks access to web content and controls what we can see and do on the Internet. Collin Peterson had voted in favor of Net Neutrality rules to protect his constituents from abuses by Internet providers. Then, in an about-face, he recently voted to withhold FCC funding from Congress to stop the FCC from applying those very rules!

PPP’s plans to generate local calls to Peterson to hold him accountable for abandoning his constituents on Net Neutrality issues. Peterson needs to hear from his constituents that consumer protection and Internet freedoms are still high priorities!

PPP and HPR are putting media Justice into action with a video contest. The aim of the videos is twofold: (1) to tell Peterson why Net Neutrality is important to you and (2) to generate calls to Peterson from local constituents urging him to protect Internet freedoms. Your video explaining what Net Neutrality is and how the absence of net freedoms or open Internet with would affect you, could be the video that convinces someone to call Peterson’s office. Or, better yet, it could be the video message the convinces Peterson to support Net Neutrality once again.

Cash prizes will be awarded to three winners by The People’s Press Project for the most creative, interesting and effective video short.  During the next two weeks, submit a video that is less than three minutes long and does these two things:

1) Tells the community about the importance of Net Neutrality for (insert yourself here). Tell us how net neutrality benefit artists, musicians, teachers, writers, non-profits, businesses, etc., and make sure your video informs the public about Net Neutrality while entertaining them.

2) Encourages constituents to call Collin Peterson (including the congressman’s contact info in the video) to make a statement supporting Net Neutrality. Rep. Collin Peterson should not support any action that reverses the FCC’s decision on net neutrality. Calls should be directed to Peterson’s Detroit Lakes office at (218) 847-5056, and email should be directed toward Chris Lacaruso: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Then, submit your video for judging by posting it to YouTube and posting the link to our PPP Facebook page. Full contest rules and guidelines will be posted on the People’s Press Project Facebook page. Also, follow us on Facebook to get more information on Net Neutrality, tips on how to make your video and samples of videos others have made. There is not much time, so keep your video simple and effective. To help get your creative contest juices flowing, PPP has posted a sample video on our Facebook page that was commissioned from two teenagers using a flip cam and simple video editing software. If these two teens can do this, so can you.

Sample Video:

If you have questions, comments or need help with securing a video camera or software, contact Duke Schempp at the People’s Press Project by email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or give him a call at 218-789-1487.

Questions or comments: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)