Glendale, Arizona high school student Alyssa Jackson loves film and creating videos. So when she learned of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s inaugural Cronkite Content Creator Challenge, Jacskon knew it was a chance to showcase her skills.
The contest provides an opportunity for high schoolers across Arizona to harness their video skills to create captivating content that promotes their community. This year’s challenge called for students to imagine they had been hired by their city to create an Instagram Reel-style video that would inspire tourists to visit.
Jackson, a student at Mountain Ridge High School, won the contest for “Food Truck Friday,” a video highlighting a food truck event in Glendale. Jackson and her teacher, Jen Kain, each received a $500 prize. A panel of judges composed of Cronkite School faculty praised Jackson for her use of natural sound, background music and shots of the food.
The contest was sponsored by Neon, a digital signage software company founded by Cronkite Assistant Teaching Professor Eli Chmouni.
The Cronkite School is advancing the creator economy with programs such as the Bachelor of Science in Digital Audiences, Media Content Creation minor and Master of Science in Digital Audience Strategy, and immersive learning experiences like the L.A. Content Studio, which helps students grow and monetize brand and influencer content. To learn more about content creation opportunities at the Cronkite School, reach out to attendcronkite@asu.edu.