2024-2025 School PSA Video Contest – #UnitedNotDivided

Crime Stoppers of Houston is hosting their 6th Annual Public Service Announcement (PSA) video contest for Statewide-Texas High School students. The 2024-2025 #UnitedNotDivided campaign aims to educate the public about the seriousness of bullying and cyberbullying and bringing awareness to the unfortunate reality students and school staff are faced with daily on campuses.

What is Bullying and Cyberbullying?

Bullying is an aggressive behavior that involves intentional harm or intimidation, often repeated over time, directed toward someone who is perceived as vulnerable. It can take many forms, including physical, verbal, relational, and psychological abuse. Bullying can occur in schools, on the playground, or any other setting where young people interact.

Cyberbullying is bullying that occurs through digital platforms such as social media, text messages, or gaming platforms. It involves harmful behavior like sending threatening messages, spreading rumors, or publicly shaming someone online. The anonymous nature of online interactions can make it more difficult to stop and can lead to severe emotional distress for the victim.

What Does Bullying Look Like?

Physical Bullying: Hitting, pushing, or physical intimidation.
Verbal Bullying: Name-calling, insults, threats, or hurtful comments.
Relational Bullying: Social exclusion, spreading rumors, or damaging someone’s reputation.
Cyberbullying: Harassing messages, creating fake profiles, public shaming, or spreading false information online.

Why Awareness is Important?

Raising awareness about bullying and cyberbullying is essential in creating a safe environment for all students. Victims of bullying may suffer from anxiety, depression, and lower self-esteem, and in severe cases, they may be at risk of self-harm or suicidal thoughts. By promoting awareness, students, teachers, and communities can better recognize the signs of bullying, intervene early, and provide support to those affected. It also empowers bystanders to become upstanders, encouraging them to take action when they witness bullying, whether in person or online.

The team PSA submissions should address one or more of the following campaign focal points:

How risk factors and/or peer pressure can contribute to bullying or cyberbullying
Explore how social dynamics, peer pressure, or personal struggles can lead someone to engage in bullying or online harassment.
Warning signs in friends, peers, or classmates that may indicate they are involved in bullying or cyberbullying
Identify the signs that someone may be a victim or perpetrator of bullying or cyberbullying, and how peers can recognize and address these behaviors.
Psychological and emotional consequences for the person being bullied, the bully, close friends, family, classmates, etc.
Highlight the emotional toll bullying and cyberbullying take on everyone involved, from the victim to the bully and those witnessing it.
Legal consequences for actions related to bullying and cyberbullying: David’s Law
Discuss the potential legal ramifications for engaging in or contributing to bullying, including harassment and cyberbullying, and how these consequences can affect a person’s future.

Participants will have the chance to win exciting prizes, gain recognition for their work, and, most importantly, contribute to the greater good by helping to combat Bullying and Cyberbullying. Together, we can create a safer and healthier future for our communities. Your voice matters, and together, we can make a difference.

Educating the Public - Bullying and Cyber Bullying

Visit David’s Legacy Foundation Website Here!

Bullying Prevention Teen Tips:

11.9% of Texas High School students reported being electronically bullied in the last year
13.8% of Texas High School students reported being bullied on school property in the last year
13.3% of Texas High School students reported they did not go to school because they felt unsafe at school or on their way to or from school
44.6% of Texas High School students reported feeling safe or hopeless almost every day for 2 or more weeks in a row the last year
21.7% of Texas High School students reported seriously considering attempting suicide within the last year
(CDC, YRBS Texas 2021 results)

A teacher must sponsor high school students who wish to take part. Teams of one to four students must register online and must submit a 45-60 second original video.

Registration – October 9th – December 4th (Click here to register)

Video Submission and Forms Deadline – March 7th

Organization Voting and YouTube Campaign – March 17th – April 11th

Winning Teams Announcement – April 16th

Awards Ceremony – Tentatively May 14th

1. The contest is open to all Statewide area high school students in grades 9-12. Each team will consist of ONE TO FOUR STUDENTS and a TEACHER SPONSOR who will assist the team as needed and be responsible for submitting all contest forms and the video PSA entry.

2. Entries must be 45-60 seconds (including credits) and only contain original and non-copyrighted material. No copy-written music, branded material, logos, etc., may be used without express written permission for the copyright or trademark holder. Please utilize technology to mask logos or names of corporations that may appear in the video, unless specific permission is granted to use logos or company names.

3. All team members must not attempt to include or perform video stunts, dangerous situations, or film at dangerous locations during the production of the video. The Teacher Sponsor will guide teams through the planning and filming / submission process, in order to ensure safety and security for all students involved in the project.

4. The screening committee reserves the right to disqualify any submission for any reason deemed necessary. Submitted videos will not be eligible if they contain or appear to contain:
a. Profane or obscene material or language
b. Nudity, profanity, or gratuitous violence
c. Endorsement of illegal drug use, alcohol abuse, prescription drug abuse, or any other illegal activity
d. Derogatory characterization of any person or group
e. Any copyrighted or trademarked materials without express written consent form the copyright or trademark holder

Information coming soon!

Registration has ended!

Release Forms (Click form name to open)

–Registration Form
– Parent/Guardian Release
– Actor Release
– Media Release
– Location Release

YouTube Channel – PSA Video Contest
Click here to visit our YouTube playlist!

Contact us:

If you have any further questions, please contact us at: kfrey@crime-stoppers.org