1999 Thirty‐First Annual National Council on Family Relations Media Awards Competition*

• Author: Robert J. Griffore,Esther Onaga,LaRay Jones,Marjorie J. Kostelnik,Christie Eppler,Sue Carter,Francisco A. Villarruel,Marsha Carolan,June Pierce Youatt,Rosemary T. Faiver,Kelly Morrison
• Published date: 01 January 2000
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2000.t01-1-00107.x
• Date: 01 January 2000

2000, Vol. 49, No. 1 107

Literature and Resource

Review Essay

1999

Thirty-First Annual National Council on Family Relations Media

Awards Competition*

Francisco A. Villarruel,** Rosemary T. Faiver, Esther Onaga, June Pierce Youatt, Christie Eppler, Sue Carter,

Marsha Carolan, Robert J. Griffore, Kelly Morrison, Marjorie J. Kostelnik, and LaRay Jones

*Thank you to all the judges who contributed their time to this year’sMedia Awards

Competition. Special gratitude is extended to LaRay Jones who assisted in multiple phases

of this project.

**Francisco A. Villarruel, an Associate Professor of Family and Child Ecology and

the Institute for Children, Youth, and Families, 115 Human Ecology, Michigan State Uni-

versity, East Lansing, MI 48823-1030, served as Competition Director. Committeemembers

involved in the evaluation and review of videos included: June Pierce Youatt, Robert J.

Griffore, and Marjorie J. Kostelnik, Professors in the Department of Family and Child Ecol-

ogy at Michigan State University, Esther Onaga, Associate Professors in the Departmentof

Family and Child Ecology at Michigan State University, Sue Carter, Associate Professor of

Jounalism at Michigan State University, Kelly Morrison, Assistant Professor of Communi-

cation at Michigan State University, Marsha Carolan, Assistant Professor of Family and

Child Ecology at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, Rosemary T. Faiver,National

HACU-ETS Policy Fellow and LaRay Jones, an undergraduate major in Anthropology at

Michigan State University.

(Family Relations, 2000, 49, 107–114)

The 1999 annual National Council on Family Relations

(NCFR) Media Competition was hosted by the Depart-

ment of Family and Child Ecology and the College of

Human Ecology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

during June and July of 1999. The purpose of the annual com-

petition is to evaluate the quality and conceptual content of vi-

deos, to endorse excellence in the production of f‌ilms with

themes relevant to family issues, to promote the effective use of

these resources, to encourage high standards in the development

of creative learning opportunities, and to disseminate media

competition results.

Entries solicited were placed in one of the following 14

categories: Addiction/Substance Abuse; Aging; Contemporary

Social Issues; Families with Special Needs; Family Violence/

Abuse; Human Development; Marital and Family Issues and

Communication; Mental Health, Stress, Transitions and Crisis

Management; Diverse Family Systems; Parenting Issues; Sexu-

ality and Sex Role Development; Teenage Pregnancy and Sex-

uality; STD/AIDS; and other Public Service Announcements.

Guidelines for submission required that all videos be f‌irst-

time entries to the competition, carry a release date of no earlier

than January 1, 1997, and be available for purchase, rental, or

loan on a nation-wide distribution basis. Multiple entries for pro-

ducer/distributor within categories were permissible. All entries,

which were to be 1/20videocassette recordings, were to be re-

ceived by May 15, 1999. Entries could also be submitted on CD-

ROM if available.

A total of 101 entries (videotapes) were received; 99 video-

tapes and two CD-ROMs. Two categories (Sexuality and Sex

Role Development; Teenage Pregnancy and Sexuality) did not

receive more than three videos this year. In these situations, all

videos were nonetheless reviewed by a full committee, and rec-

ognized only if they met the criteria of excellence def‌ined by the

review committees.

The video, The farmer’s wife, is receiving special recogni-

tion from NCFR this year. This 6-hour PBS documentary was

reviewed separately by two different review teams. Both felt it

was appropriate for recognition within their respective catego-

ries, but it was deemed by two other committees that this might

also be an appropriate video in their categories as well. Because

of its length, its relation to multiple categories, and overall ex-

cellence, a decision was made to single this video out as separate

and unique.

The judging panels included university faculty, graduate,

and undergraduate students from several academic departments

at Michigan State University (e.g., Family and Child Ecology,

Journalism, Psychology, Communication) and Michigan State

University Extension. Individuals from various community-

based organizations in East Lansing, MI also participated in this

year’s review panels.

Following the viewing of each entry, judges were asked to

independently make both quantitative (79 possible points) and

qualitative assessments. The evaluation form consisted of four

major quantitative categories designed to measure the entries

based on: (1) content (30 possible points); (2) general issues (9

possible points), which included length, pacing, and f‌low of me-

dia entry; (3) artistic quality (20 possible points); and (4) ability

to meet stated goals (20 possible points). This was followed by

an overall rating which was the sum of the four categories, and

a qualitative section that asked judges for comments on the major

strengths and weaknesses, as well as suggestions for improve-

ment.

Each video was reviewed by at least two judges. In the event

of a tie, the videos were evaluated by a third independent re-

viewer. If a duplicate score was awarded, the videos were hon-

ored with a duplicate award.