Sinclair students have the opportunity to earn a $5,000 scholarship by tweeting.
The second ever “Free to Tweet” campaign is taking place from Dec. 1 to Dec. 15.
Last year’s celebration of the First Amendment rights generated more than 17,000 submissions via the social media application Twitter, according to Ken Paulson, president and chief executive officer of the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University and in Washington D.C.
“It’s important for all Americans to be reminded now and then that the core freedoms of the First Amendment are truly American freedoms,” Paulson said. “We are encouraging American’s at least once a year to reflect on the importance of protecting freedom of speech and the press and the other core freedoms.”
To enter the competition, students must tweet their support for one of the specific core freedoms of the First Amendment with the hashtag #FreeToTweet. There is no limit to the amount of submissions a student can make.
The First Amendment granted citizens of the United States freedom of speech, press, religion, peaceful assembly and to petition the government.
Paulson said there is probably no other scholarship competition in the world with as big of a potential payoff per word.
“For 140 characters, you have the chance to win a $5,000 scholarship,” Paulson said.
“It’s quick, it’s easy and it’s patriotic.”
The competition ends on the 221 birthday of the First Amendment.
The initiative is funded by the John S. and James L. Knight foundation and is organized by 1 for All, (founded by Paulson) which serves as an educational and public service campaign to build understanding about the First Amendment and its five freedoms, according to its press release.
Updated information about the competition can be followed @FreeToTweet2012 and judging criteria and complete rules can be found at freetotweet.org.