[Of possible interest to some list members - I tried to forward the actual email to the list but it got bounced] A new competition offers $100,000 in prizes for creative and provocative digital media pieces that offer new ideas and fresh perspectives to help improve American democracy. The competition - Looking@Democracy <http://www.lookingatdemocracy.org/> - aims to spark a national conversation about why government is important to our lives and how individuals and communities can come together to strengthen American democracy. "Given our perception that the political system has failed to adequately address major issues confronting the nation, MacArthur seeks to stimulate discussion about the future of the Republic and invests in promising ideas to help enhance democratic ideals, institutions, and practices," said MacArthur President Robert Gallucci. "This new public competition is all about engaging citizens and encouraging them to apply their creative talents and offer their ideas to strengthen American democracy." By welcoming submissions in any digital format (e.g., videos, apps, data visualizations, podcasts, graphic art), the competition hopes to engage independent media makers, investigative reporters, students, graphic designers, and artists - anyone with creative ideas to help engage Americans and shift the political discussion in a fresh and engaging way. Examples of successful approaches could include addressing a critical topic that is absent from the national debate, looking at data and exploring the stories behind them, or highlighting an aspect about democracy taking place on a local level. Looking@Democracy is a project of the Illinois Humanities Council and funded by MacArthur. Submissions are due by April 30 and will be reviewed by a panel of expert judges from media and the nonprofit community. Read the press release >> <http://www.macfound.org/press/press-releases/challenge-offers-prizes-fr esh-ideas-democracy/> Julie E. Cohen Professor of Law Georgetown University Law Center jec@law.georgetown.edu http://www.law.georgetown.edu/faculty/jec/