Viral Awards : Germ 2
February 22, 2007
Whether it’s a celebrity spoof image or a laugh-out-loud video blooper, virals have been described as ‘fag-break entertainment’, ‘water cooler moments’, ‘work avoidance schemes to relieve the daily monotony of life’ and ‘a college degree’. A college degree? Virals have come a long way. The annual international viral awards ‘Germ’ has launched and is open to individuals from around the world. In addition, for the first time, the organisers are giving students across the UK an opportunity to study virals as part of their degree course.
Germ, a collaboration between broadcaster Channel 4 and viral site BoreMe.com, encourages creative individuals from around the world to pick up the tools around them - like laptops, cameras and mobile phones - and create a viral that will get the whole world talking, with a chance to win some fantastic prizes. There are three main categories:
Best Video Viral
Best Still Image Viral
Best Interactive Viral
The Germ viral awards are free to enter at www.channel4.com/germ and individuals from all over the world can submit as many entries as they wish. Entries can be submitted from now until the end of March and details on how to submit entries can be found at www.channel4.com/germ. The site also provides advice from industry experts on what makes a good viral. Last year’s winners included Neil Hepburn, who won the Best Still Image viral with a spoof signpost outside Camden Town tube station directing visitors to ‘Charity Muggers’ and ‘Skunk’, and Dick Thompson, who won the Best Video Viral with an entertaining domino toppling style clip involving thousands of cigarette packets. Entries for last year’s winners/runners-up can be seen at www.channel4.com/germ.
One winner from each category will receive a main prize and have their work seen by millions around the world. There is also one runner up prize for each category. In addition, the winner’s and runners-up entries, as well as the shortlisted entries, will be showcased at the annual Germ viral exhibition at London’s ICA (Institute of Contemporary Arts) which, in 2006, broke attendance records for a digital exhibition. The next Germ viral exhibition at the ICA is scheduled to take place later in 2007.
The Germ judging panel, made up of prominent practitioners from the online and broadcast industries, will select a shortlist of finalists which will be put up for a public vote from the beginning of April 2007.
Not only can individual members of the public from around the word enter the awards but, for the first time, the organisers are giving students in the UK a unique opportunity to study virals as part of their degree. The viral phenomenon has permeated society to such a degree that its link to graphic communication and related contemporary media has become an increasingly relevant part of many Arts & Design courses. Initially, BoreMe.com will be working with 7 courses to integrate Germ into relevant Graphics, Design and Advertising degrees via projects, workshops and presentations. Colleges involved include Kingston University (BA (Hons) Graphics and BA (Hons) Illustration & Animation), Central Saint Martin’s College of Art & Design (BA (Hons) Graphic Design), Leeds Metropolitan University (BA (Hons) Graphic Arts), London College of Communication (BA (Hons) Graphic & Media Design) and the University of Central England (BA (Hons) Media & Communication - Web & New Media). Students will be allowed to submit their work as part of their coursework as well as entering it into Germ.
Adam Gee, New Media Commissioner at Channel 4, responsible for the channel’s 4Talent initiative, said: “Channel 4’s 4Talent is committed to identifying and nurturing hot new talent and showcasing some of the best ideas around. The Germ awards are now a valued annual fixture in the viral calendar. Last year we received a phenomenal response from all manner of creative individuals and the level of creativity was exceptionally high. This year’s awards will be even bigger as we actively open the competition to individuals around the world. The concept of viral has moved on significantly in the last year, broadening out to cover a range of platforms. The entertainment value, impact and reach of virals is 
phenomenal. Since we all have the tools around us now to be truly creative and be able to produce an entertaining viral, we hope Germ will bring out the creative side in everyone and inspire them to seize the opportunity to have their digital creativity showcased to the world.”
Jo Addison, Education Co-ordinator, BoreMe.com, added:“Graphic communication and related contemporary media are key to any Arts & Design course. For that reason Germ is an ideal ‘live brief’ that is delivered to students to give them the opportunity to meet the requirements for their course, as well as put their work into the professional and public realm. Germ is particularly appropriate because most students are already masters of viral language. However, rather than seeing them as illicit deviations in the computer suite, Germ asks them to study the phenomenon in the context of their education.”
www.channel4.com/germ
www.boreme.com
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