Bangkok--3 Jun--Polyplus PR
Panasonic Group in Thailand is continuing its project “Panasonic Kid Witness News 2011” for the eighth consecutive year, a significant stage for students 12 to 17 years old to express their creativity in competition to produce high-quality news and documentary content.
The winning team will be awarded a Baht 50,000 scholarship plus a plate of honor as well as represent Thailand in the Asia-Oceania regional competition with a chance to compete on the global stage.
Mr. Hirotaka Murakami, CEO of Panasonic Group in Thailand, said Panasonic Kid Witness News: KWN began first in the United States in 1988. Highly successful, the contest has been expanded worldwide to more than 26 countries, with Thailand joining the program in 2004. Now in its eighth consecutive year, the contest in Thailand puts priority on youths to explore modern technology and open doors for them to bring out their best in creativity and develop high-quality news and documentary content. The winning team will compete internationally at the regional Asia-Oceania level and on the global stage.
In 2010, a team from Narivooth School, Ratchaburi province, which produced “Gold of Earth,” won the best documentary award at the Asia-Oceania tournament held in Singapore. The work was also sent to join the global level in the United States. It has been well-demonstrated that Thai youths are as talented and creative as their peers around the world.
At the launch event, representatives from Narivooth School, Ratchaburi province, and a winning team of Assumption College Sriracha School shared their experiences from joining KWN at the regional and global levels. In addition, talented actress Jenny Tienposuwan also shared her media and communication background with participants.
Khun Sirirat Yongcharoenchai, Manager, Corporate Communications and Environmental Management Team, Panasonic Management (Thailand) Co., Lt.d said Panasonic Kid Witness News: KWN 2011 is a stage for junior and senior high school students at Mathayom 1-5 levels, 12 to 17 years old, to form six-member teams (five students and one advisor per team) and produce a news or documentary segment of 4-5 minutes. To provide more choices and chances, this Panasonic has added two more topics to the competition: environment and communication.
Each team can pick one topic and produce content non-offending to religion and culture. Panasonic will provide equipment to each team including a Panasonic HD Camcorder, microphone, and KWN T-shirts to help the youths fully express their creativity.
In the contest’s first round, judges will screen applications from around the country on Friday 8 July 2011 to select 10 teams from each region. Each team will then prepare and make a presentation to a committee, which will select two teams from each region, or eight teams total, to enter the final round.
Once selected, the eight teams will join a workshop at Pattaya Learning Resort, Thammasat University and at Channel 3 MCOT to learn about producing news and documentary programs in theory and practice under the close supervision of experts at every stage of their skill development. The teams will receive hands-on experience and prepare to join the championship competition on Thursday 8 September 2011 at World Ballroom C, the 23th floor of the Centara Grand CentralWorld.
The winning team will receive a Baht 50,000 scholarship. The team’s school will be given Baht 5,000, an award certificate, a plate of honor, and a set of Panasonic products.
The team will also represent Thailand at the Asia-Oceania regional competition. Special to
this year’s competition will be special awards including “Best Announcer,” “Best Editing,”
and “Best Photography.”
Panasonic Kid Witness News: KWN 2011 is accepting applications through Thursday 30 June. For more information, please contact: Panasonic Kid Witness News Activity Project; 1213/391 Soi Lad Prao 94; Lad Prao Rd., Wangthonglang, Bangkok 10310; call 02-530-9383-4; or download an application at http://www.panasonic.co.th.
Contact Public Relations Consultant: Polyplus PR: 02-572-4444, Ext. 351, 348