PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest Rules

PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest Rules

The PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is produced by WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto, and KCWC Wyoming PBS and PBS. The Contest begins on or about January 27, 2010 and entries must be postmarked by March 19, 2010. National winners will be announced on or about July 9, 2010. These contest rules are subject to modification by PBS, KCWC and WNED. This promotion is void where prohibited.

Eligibility & Entry Guidelines

• Entrants must be in kindergarten, first, second or third grade.
• Children of employees of PBS, PBS stations or their affiliates, WNED, sales representatives, subsidiaries or parent companies, advertising/sales promotion agencies, and judges are not eligible.
• To be eligible, an entrant must be a legal resident of the United States. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify ineligible entries; such entries will not be returned.
• Only one entry per person will be accepted; all subsequent entries will be disqualified.
• Only single author stories qualify (no co-authored stories).
• Stories can be fact or fiction, and prose or poetry.
• Any failure to adhere to these Contest Rules may result in disqualification from the contest.
• No purchase is necessary.

Word Count

• Kindergarten and first grade stories must have a minimum of 50 words and a maximum of 200 words.
• Second and third grade stories must have a minimum of 100 words and a maximum of 350 words.
• The word count includes “a,” “an,” and “the,” but not the words on non-story pages such as the title page or those that enhance the illustrations.
• Text must be printed or written legibly or typed.
• Children who cannot write may dictate their story to be printed, written legibly or typed.
• Text may be integrated into the illustration pages or on separate pages.
• Non-English text must be translated on the same page and the translation text must adhere to word count.
• Invented spelling is accepted.

Format & Illustrations

• Stories must have at least 5 original, clear and colorful illustrations.
• Original art can include drawings, photographs, collages, and 3-D.
• Stories must be created on one side of the paper and numbered on the back of each page.

Official Entry Form

• Each entry must include the official PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest Entry Form, with the required signature of a parent/guardian (and, if appropriate, the optional signature of the sponsoring teacher), confirming that the story and art are original, and granting certain rights to the entry materials.
• The entry form must be complete and legible.

National Judging, Awards & Notification

Entries will be judged on originality, creative expression, storytelling and integration of text and illustrations. The sponsoring PBS station will judge local submissions and send its first place winners to the national Contest. All decisions of the judges are final and not subject to appeal or review. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. National winners will be notified in June 2010. Each national winner’s story will be posted on the Contest Web site at pbskids.org/read in summer 2010. National prizes include laptops for 4 first place winners (~$1,000), digital cameras (~$200) for 4 second place winners, and MP3 players (~$150) for 4 third place winners. PBS, KCWC and WNED reserve the right to substitute any prize for a prize of equal or greater value, at the sole discretion of PBS, KCWC and WNED. Prize recipients must allow a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks from notification to delivery. Prizes are non-transferable.

Return of Entries

The Contest administrators will make every effort, but are not required, to return entries only if accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope of an appropriate size. PBS, KCWC and WNED are not responsible for late, lost, stolen, misdirected, damaged, mutilated, incomplete or illegible entries, or postage-due mail.

Rights Associated with Contest

Submission of the Entry Form constitutes permission for PBS, KCWC and WNED to use the participants’ name, likeness, biographical information, information and materials contained in the Entry Form, photographs, and any statements or remarks made about the Contest in advertising and promotion without further compensation or permission, except where prohibited by law. All entries, and any copyrights therein, become the sole property of PBS, KCWC and WNED. By entering, entrants agree to abide by the above stated rules, and warrant that their entry is their original work and does not infringe upon or violate rights of any third party, and grant to PBS, KCWC and WNED the right to edit, publish, promote, and otherwise use their entry materials without permission, notice or compensation. No royalties will be paid at this or any time.

By submitting an entry and Entry Form, each participant (and parent or guardian) assigns all right, title, and interest in and to the entry and Entry Form to PBS, KCWC and WNED and warrants that the participant (and parent or guardian) have the authority to assign such right, title, and interest. In the event that any applicable law requires certain formalities to be fulfilled to effectuate such grant of rights, each participant (and parent or guardian) agrees to cooperate with PBS, KCWC and WNED to achieve fulfillment of such formalities.

By submitting an Entry Form, each participant (and parent or guardian) agree to be bound by these Contest Rules. Each participant (and parent or guardian) agrees to release and hold PBS, KCWC and WNED, and their employees, officers, directors, shareholders, agents, representatives, subsidiaries, parent companies, or other affiliated companies harmless from any and all damages, losses, claims and liabilities arising out of participation in the Contest or resulting from acceptance or claiming of any prize hereunder. PBS, KCWC and WNED reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to terminate, suspend or otherwise cancel the Contest at any time. Income and all other taxes are the responsibility of the prize recipient. PBS, KCWC and WNED are not responsible for any expenses incurred in connection with participation in the Contest.

Sponsors: PBS (2100 Crystal Dr., Arlington, VA 22202) and WNED (P.O. Box 1263, Buffalo, NY 14240) and KCWC Wyoming PBS (2260 Peck Ave, Riverton, WY 82501).

The PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is part of PBS KIDS Raising Readers and is funded in part by a Ready To Learn grant, in a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Education and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The contents of these contest rules were developed under a grant, #PRU295B050003, from the Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.