University of Calgary Undergrad Essay Contest
Social media have not only invaded every sphere of social life – production, consumption, politics; they have also inserted themselves into the very core of our personal lives – our friendships, family ties, and intimate relationships. How do we, as users, make sense of this invasion? Are we able to contain and steer it? What knowledge do we have of the values and principles that guide the course of digital media design and regulation? What lessons have we learned as we try to understand and thoughtfully navigate the social dynamics propelled by these media? Where do we see risks and challenges and how do we plan to deal with them as individuals and as a society?
The Calgary Institute for Humanities Interdisciplinary Working Group on the Ethics & Politics of Social Media is announcing an undergraduate essay contest open to all undergraduate students at the University of Calgary. Entries from a diversity of perspectives are welcome.
Participants are encouraged, but not limited, to write about any of the following topics:
The Calgary Institute for Humanities Interdisciplinary Working Group on the Ethics & Politics of Social Media is announcing an undergraduate essay contest open to all undergraduate students at the University of Calgary. Entries from a diversity of perspectives are welcome.
Participants are encouraged, but not limited, to write about any of the following topics:
- Social media and democracy
- Social media and civic engagement
- Social media and social change
- Fake news, bots and trolls
- The power of algorithms
- The ethics of social media design and designers
- Social media regulation
- Commerce on social media
- Social media business models
- Computational propaganda
- Social media users - empowered or manipulated?
- Is privacy a thing of the past?
- Online bullying and harassment
- Women and gender issues in social media
- Indigenous issues in social media
- Social media and human rights
- Social media in the Middle East
- The dark web
- Immigrants and social media
- Refugees and social media
- Social media and consumer culture
- Have social media companies betrayed their users?
NEW: Check out media coverage related to this essay contest here, here, and here. Also listen to the audio in this CJSW episode (starting at 3:40).
$1000 in Prizes
1st place prize: $500
2nd place prize: $300
3rd place prize: $200
2nd place prize: $300
3rd place prize: $200
Contest Requirements
Style: Op-ed style (Learn more about op-ed style in these three links)
(does not have to have academic citations or footnotes, but can if you want)
Length: 1,500 to 3,000 words. One entry per student.
Language: English language entries only.
Format: Essays must be submitted in the form of a published Medium.com post.
Before submitting your essay, please review plagiarism guidelines.
Click here for complete contest rules, terms and conditions.
(does not have to have academic citations or footnotes, but can if you want)
Length: 1,500 to 3,000 words. One entry per student.
Language: English language entries only.
Format: Essays must be submitted in the form of a published Medium.com post.
Before submitting your essay, please review plagiarism guidelines.
Click here for complete contest rules, terms and conditions.
Who is Eligible?
All students enrolled in a full-time undergraduate program at the University of Calgary during the Winter 2019 term are eligible to participate in this contest.
Competition Deadline
Deadline to Submit: 11:59pm on February 22, 2019
Award Ceremony:
March 1, 2019, 4:00pm-6:30pm in the Taylor Institute Forum (TI 160), University of Calgary
Award Ceremony:
March 1, 2019, 4:00pm-6:30pm in the Taylor Institute Forum (TI 160), University of Calgary
How to Enter
Use the submission form here:
Questions?
For questions, email:
Andrea Whiteley at [email protected]
or
Safaneh Neyshabouri at [email protected]
Andrea Whiteley at [email protected]
or
Safaneh Neyshabouri at [email protected]
Sponsors
Calgary Institute for the Humanities (main sponsor)
|
Department of Communication, Media and Film
|
School of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures & Cultures
|
Haskayne School of Business
|