Project: Report 2010 - Launch - Official Press Release

Project: Report 2010 (http://youtube.com/projectreport) kicked off today, a partnership between YouTube and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, made possible by Sony and Intel. The contest invites non-professional, aspiring reporters to share their stories with the world.

With two rounds over three months, short documentary assignments will be judged on the quality of the stories reported and the production value of the videos. Ten finalists will be chosen from the first round to receive technology prizes from Sony and Intel, and will compete to receive one of five $10,000 grants to work with the Pulitzer Center on an under-reported international story. Winners will be featured on the YouTube homepage.

"Project: Report is a unique opportunity for aspiring reporters to share stories they feel the world needs to know about, and to gain the skills and knowledge they need to become first-rate journalists," said Jon Sawyer, the Pulitzer Center's executive director. "The energy, excitement and great reporting that came out of last year's contest is a testament to the power of this kind of initiative," Sawyer said. "Project: Report is a terrific pairing of YouTube's global reach and popularity with one of our core missions: to spark global conversations around critical issues. We're eager to hear—and learn—from these aspiring journalists."

"The number of aspiring reporters who use YouTube to document and share important, untold stories is growing fast," said Steve Grove, head of News and Politics at YouTube. "We're proud to bring the Pulitzer Center's standards of excellence to YouTube and give these talented new reporters the opportunity to practice 21st century journalism on a global scale."

Round 1 launches today. The assignment: Document a single day in the life of a compelling person the world should meet and showcase how that person is making a positive impact in his or her community. All videos must be three minutes or less. Submissions will be open through February 28.

An expert panel led by the Pulitzer Center will choose the top 10 entrants. Each of the 10 finalists will receive a Sony VAIO notebook with the new 2010 Intel Core i7 processor and a SONY HD video camera. The second round of the program will call on the finalists to create a video of five minutes or less to tell a local story with global impact that is under-reported by the national media.

The top five videos will be chosen through public voting by the YouTube community and judging by the Pulitzer Center. The five winners will each receive a $10,000 travel fellowship with the Pulitzer Center and also invitations to Washington, DC, for a public screening of their work and to participate in a workshop with the Pulitzer Center's international journalists.

The contest channel page features videos with tips on technique, from Sony and Intel, and links to model videos and guidance from the Pulitzer Center as to judging criteria.

The first Project: Report launched in September 2008 with individuals competing for technology prizes and the opportunity to work with the Pulitzer Center on an international reporting project. Arturo Perez Jr. won the competition and traveled to Jerusalem, producing a story on dialogue between Palestinians & Israelis. He called it a "life-changing" opportunity.

Project Report: http://youtube.com/projectreport

About YouTube YouTube is the world's most popular online video community allowing millions of people to discover, watch and share originally created videos. YouTube provides a forum for people to connect, inform and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small. YouTube, LLC is based in San Bruno, Calif., and is a subsidiary of Google Inc.

About the Pulitzer Center The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting supports in-depth coverage of international affairs, focusing on topics that have been under-reported, misreported – or not reported at all. The Center funds reporting on all media platforms and partners with both traditional and new-media news outlets. The Center's Global Gateway program engages directly with high school and university students, building a constituency among younger audiences for quality global news coverage. Honors include an Emmy and a National Press Foundation Award for Excellence in Online Journalism. To learn more visit www.pulitzercenter.org and www.pulitzergateway.org

Contact:

Pulitzer Center: Ann Peters, Director of Development and Outreach, 202-797-5267 or pressATpulitzercenter.org

YouTube: pressATyoutube.com