Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham is encouraging all local A-level students to take part in the Political Studies Association’s Schools’ Video Competition.
Now in its seventh year, the competition – which is sponsored by YouGov – is part of a wide array of activities designed to engage young people in the study of politics, and is open to post-16 students who will be studying during the 2017-2018 academic year.
This year’s competition asks students to explore the question: “Fake News: Is this the end of facts?” and groups of students are invited to submit short videos on this subject, examining what fake news is, what effect it may be having on the political landscape and what it means for expert opinion and ‘factual’ knowledge.
Alex said:
“The high levels of political engagement displayed by young people during this year’s general election demonstrates an increased interest in and awareness of current political issues.
“We know that “Fake News” is not a new phenomenon, but its influence in recent political events is a worrying trend. This competition is a great initiative that both tackles this issue, and gets more young people involved in politics.
“I’d encourage all local A-Level students to take part in this competition”.
Shortlisted groups will be invited to Speaker’s House in the Palace of Westminster to discuss the ideas raised in their video with a panel of politicians, journalists and academics. The winners of the Schools’ Short Video Competition will receive their award at the PSA’s Annual Awards Ceremony in Westminster. This year’s ceremony takes place on 5 December in London. On top of this, the winning students get a week’s work experience with the YouGov political team during their school holidays.
