Participants

The contest is open to all primary 4 to 6 and secondary school students in Malaysia. Participation is through schools only, i.e. entries from individuals or tuition centres will not be entertained.

Registration

Schools must register online at http://contests.thestar.com.my/nie by Apr 30.

The registration list will be published on May 24 in StarEducation. Schools/contest coordinators are to check to ensure their teams are on the list.

Format/content of magazine

Each team must use the original blank magazine template published in the Star-NiE pullouts on Apr 1 and Apr 22 to create their self-titled mini magazine for the contest.

The 3-page magazine must be based on the theme of teenage angst.

The content of the magazine must be written to include (but is not limited to):
• A feature article (which is compulsory)
• AND at least three elements of the following:
Interviews, short stories, poems, advice columns/agony aunt pages, comic strips, anecdotes, advertisements, pictures, photographs, polls, surveys, dialogue boxes, etc.

The front page of the magazine (tabloid size A3) has space for a self-titled masthead for the mini magazine, followed by pages two and three on a broadsheet/centrespread.

Feature article

It is compulsory for each team to write a feature article on the topic selected. With all other elements being equal, the strength of the feature article will carry the most weight in the awarding of prizes.

The feature article must include at least one illustration, picture or photograph.

Length of the feature article:
• Primary – 500 words
• Lower secondary – 800 words
• Upper secondary – 1,000 words and above

Marks will be allocated for layout, creativity, content and use of language.

Qualification for prizes

Each student can only be the member of one team.

Participants must be in teams of four or five.

Each participating team must submit a self-titled mini magazine that is designed on three A3 pages of Star-NiE’s original template.

Teams that submit a 3-minute video clip may stand a chance to win exciting prizes in the video clip category.

The video clip should be formatted on MPEG files that are supported by Windows Media Player, and must be downloaded into a Compact Disc only. The disc must be clearly labelled with the team’s name and school.

Each team may submit more than one entry, but only one entry per team shall be eligible to compete in the Grand Prize level, i.e. the Merit Awards and Grand Prizes.

Students may conduct research from books, articles and the Internet but materials must not be plagiarised. Plagiarism will result in the disqualification of an entry.

Grand prize finalists

For students to stand a chance to take part in the Grand Prize level, the contest coordinator from each participating school MUST NOMINATE ONE ENTRY for the mini magazine category and ONE 3-minute video clip for the Video Clip category for the relevant levels – primary, lower secondary and upper secondary.

Failure to do so on the school’s part will result in the automatic disqualification of entry in the Grand Prize level.

Two finalist teams from each level are to give a formal presentation on their mini magazine in English to a panel of judges in September.

The judges’ decision is final. All winning entries will become the property of the contest organisers. Insightful articles will be published in Star-NiE’s Stuff@school.

Note: The video clip entry is solely optional. Judging for the merit and grand prize award will be based solely on the mini-magazine category.

Submission of entries

The Contest Coordinator (teacher-in-charge) who coordinates the contest in school submits the entries together with a copy of the completed registration form downloaded from the contest website.

Contest coordinators must submit their schools’ entries (as proof of participation and for judging) in one batch by June 20.

Entries must be sent to:
The Education Editor
Mag Inc 2009
Star-NiE Level 3A,
Menara Star,
15 Jalan 16/11, Section 16,
46350 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor.

Each school may submit more than one mini-magazine or video clip entry.

Every mini-magazine entry must be submitted on an original mini-magazine template published on April 1 and April 22 in Star-NiE.

In the video clip category, use an original copy of Form C as a cover/sleeve for the team’s video entry. One CD must contain only one video clip. For example, if a team sends in five video clips, the team must download each clip onto five separate discs, each attached with an original Form C.

Each entry must be a team effort of either four or five students, and should be supervised by an English language teacher.

Proof of postage is not proof of receipt.