Philippines, ASEAN launch video contest vs ‘infodemic’

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines, along with other member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has launched a video competition aimed at addressing the “worsening” information epidemic (infodemic) in the region.

The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), through its youth-oriented program Youth For Truth, spearheaded the RISE (Right Information Saves and Empowers) ASEAN, a short video contest on countering the so-called infodemic.

“The contest is meant to check and counter the proliferation of fake news that has grown rapidly in the region during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the PCOO said in a statement yesterday.

The competition is open to “young, smart, and creative content creators” who can make a short video with a maximum of one minute that shows the negative effects of fake news and on how the right kind of information can help save and empower citizens.

Participants may be an individual or group with a maximum of three members, and must be a Filipino citizen aged 18 to 25 years old.

The participants must have a Facebook account and a YouTube channel.

Deadline of entries is on Friday, May 27.

Ten finalists will be selected and announced on June 6.

The videos of the 10 finalists will be released on the Youth for Truth Facebook page. Winners will be announced on June 24.

The first-place winner will receive $1,500, while the second and third placers will get $1,000 and $500, respectively.

A Special Judge’s prize will receive $100.

Interested parties may send their inquiries and clarifications through the Youth For Truth Facebook page.