FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2012
CONTACT: Brian Purchia – brian@protectourdefenders.com
PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS WINS 6th ANNUAL DOGOODER VIDEO AWARD
Recognition of effective use of video to promote the issue of rape in the military will help
organization leverage the power of social media to raise awareness
Washington, DC – Following the conclusion of a two-week online public voting process, Protect Our Defenders has won the annual Nonprofit Video Award in the small organization category for best use of video for the social good. The awards are run by See3 Communications in partnership with YouTube and Cisco Systems. Out of 1,100 entries, Protect Our Defenders was one of four finalists chosen in the small organization category. The winning video will be featured on the YouTube homepage for a day. Last year’s winning videos received a combined 1,000,000 views.
Recognized nationally for their work telling the stories of military sexual trauma survivors, Protect Our Defenders is a leader in the effort to reform the US Military’s system for handling rape and sexual assault. Since its inception in March, 2011, the organization has captured seven survivor’s stories in the mini-documentary format that helped earn them the DoGooder award. ProtectOurDefenders.com also provides a platform for survivors to share their written stories. In addition, the website offers a support services network, including a forum for survivors to connect with each other and a resource library to help survivors find help.
“We’re a relatively new organization but we’re proud to say that over 20,000 people have already joined us. We’ve been smart about using video and new media to raise awareness of the epidemic of rape in the military. This award will accelerate that,” said Protect Our Defenders President, Nancy Parrish. “This win is a reminder of the power of video to tell stories and a testament to the courage of the survivors whose stories we capture,” Parrish continued, “We’re grateful to See3, YouTube and Cisco Systems for giving us this opportunity to share these stories and amplify our mission of changing the culture of rape in the military.”
The winning video highlights the stories of four different US military veterans and survivors of rape or sexual assault. Among them is Terri Odom who has emerged as a leader in the community of survivors estimated to be around half a million veterans. Terri was one of the first survivors to come forward and have her story told. In Terri’s words, “Military Sexual Trauma does not define me. It is with me every day, but I have decided to let it empower me to share, to speak, to write and to advocate for those who feel as if they have no voice.”
The winning video was produced by Interchange Productions, a Chicago-based company specializing in mini-documentaries that communicate an organization’s mission and impact. Interchange, which is noted for combining video and viewer interactivity, utilized a unique storytelling approach to amplify the stories of survivors, allowing their voices and the power of the story itself to take center.
About Protect Our Defenders: Protect Our Defenders is a human rights organization. We seek to honor, support and give voice to the brave women and men in uniform who have been sexually assaulted while serving their country, and re-victimized by the military adjudication system – a system that often blames the victim and fails to prosecute the perpetrator. Learn more about Protect Our Defenders at www.protectourdefenders.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ProtectOurDefenders or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/#!/ProtectRDfnders.
About Interchange Productions: Interchange Productions is a full-service video production company that creates videos and interactive media for purposeful organizations and independent films. We work with social ventures, political organizations, and nonprofits throughout the world to transform complex ideas into a clear voice to advance our clients’ goals. We specialize in mini-documentaries that communicate an organization’s mission and impact. With a storytelling approach, our experienced and creative team aims to show the human experience behind our clients’ work. Learn more about Interchange at www.interchangeproductions.com.