CNN Domestic has teamed with non-profit organization Reporters Without Borders to create a national contest for university students.

The competition encourages students to create a public service announcement with the theme, “Why should we care about freedom of information?”. The winning spot will air on CNN Domestic and CNN.com.

Full details on the competition (which is only open to students in the United States) follows below.

CNN Press Release: CNN and Reporters Without Borders launch a video contest in the United States

CNN and Reporters Without Borders USA are launching a nationwide contest, challenging American university students to create a video PSA that will air on World Press Freedom Day, May 3, 2012. The PSA will seek to answer the question “Why should we care about freedom of information?” the PSA will air on CNN.

“We are proud to partner with CNN for this contest,” Jean-Francois Julliard, Reporters Without Borders’ General Secretary said. “Our organization believes that freedom of information is essential for democracies to thrive, and that citizens should work to preserve it. It is great to work with American college students, who are the leaders of tomorrow.”

Students at more than 100 universities are expected to participate in the contest. A student may enter alone or partner with up to two other students, and submit their PSA no later than March 19, 2012. An international jury of journalists and human rights defenders will select the winning video. On May 3rd, 2012, the winners may attend a press conference in New York and see their video go live, running several times that day on CNN and CNN.com.

“We hope that this contest will raise awareness about the importance of freedom of information” said Mark Whitaker, Managing Editor of CNN Worldwide. “CNN is committed to creating a safe environment for reporters around the world, and we are pleased to partner with Reporters Without Borders in supporting this competition”.

Reporters Without Borders was created in 1985 to defend journalists and media rights worldwide. It is a non-profit organization based in Paris, with more than 150 correspondents on the ground and a dozen offices abroad, including in Washington D.C.

Launched in 1980, CNN was the first cable network to provide 24/7 news coverage, first in America and then around the globe. It remains committed to delivering nonpartisan news and analysis across all its television and digital platforms and is widely seen as the world’s most trusted news and information source.

For more information on the contest, visit rsf.org/videocontest, get updates on facebook/rsfusa and twitter.com/rsf_rwb. Use the twitter hashtag #RSFcontest to ask your questions or send an email to contest@rsf.org.