Video confronting life-threatening impact of digital harassment ranked in top ten U.S. entries for Social Issues category

Newark, NJ, March 13, 2014 – The national finalists for Panasonic’s annual New Vision Awards will be announced on March 25, 2014. Highlighting excellence in student videography, the international contest features entries from across the world. This year, Newark Public School’s East Side High student Eric Arce has made it to the United States finals in the “Social Issues” category, and is a contender to win a spot in the international competition for his powerful short piece Cyber Bullying. The video takes a hard look at this national epidemic and confronts the dire, life threatening impact that online bullying and digital harassment can have.

“In less than 2 1/2 minutes, Eric’s video conveys the enormous pain and desperation experienced by the victims of cyber bullying, which affects approximately 43% of our youth,” said Newark Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Brad Haggerty. “Offering a peek into the potentially destructive power of online interactions, the hard-hitting message is clearly expressed, urging young viewers to ‘think twice before sending that message.’ This piece has shone the spotlight on Eric and the East Side High School team, not just for their videography skills, but for their outstanding peer leadership as well.”

The New Vision Awards contest is a part of Panasonic’s Kid Witness News — a hands-on international video education program for grades 4-12 that encourages students to develop valuable cognitive, communication and organizational skills through the use of state-of-the-art video technology. Panasonic provides students with equipment so that they can communicate stories that are important to them and their communities. 

Currently, Eric’s video is in the top ten for his category, and being judged by a panel selecting the top four submissions from American schools. If he progresses to the next stage, the East Side team will receive a trophy and banner to display in their school and the team will be invited to the annual “Winners Weekend” in Newark on May 9, 2014, where the “Best Video of the Year” video will be announced. The winning team will then represent the U.S. in the KWN Global Competition.

WHO: Assistant Superintendent Brad Haggerty, Principal Dr. Mario Santos, Eric Arce, Thomas R. Wolverton (New Media Studies teacher), students, parents

WHAT: The national finalists for Panasonic’s annual New Vision Awards will be announced on March 25, 2014. Newark East Side High School student Eric Arce has made it to the United States finals in the “Social Issues” category, and is a contender to win a spot in the international competition for his powerful short piece Cyber Bullying. The video takes a hard look at this destructive national epidemic and confronts the dire, life threatening impact that online bullying and digital harassment can have.

WHEN: Finalists announced on Tuesday, March 25, 2014

LINK TO VIDEO:  http://youtu.be/v1qiB2fOtfE