Panasonic Honors Children as Winners of 18th Annual 'Kid Witness News' Video Contest

The children, who this year represented 6 schools from acrossthe United States, were selected by an independent panel of professional film makers for videos they created as part of Panasonic's Kid Witness News video education program this year. All 6 schools were honored as winners in specific style and technical categories.

Developed and funded by Panasonic, Kid Witness News is a unique, hands-on video education program created to encourage students to develop valuable cognitive, communication and organizational skills through the use of video. Panasonic provides each participating school with a complete Digital Video Studio and curriculum which encourages the children to express their hopes and concerns about the world around them. Under teacher supervision, the students create, produce, direct and edit video shorts on a wide range of topics including current events and issues relevant to today's youth for submission in the yearly competition.

The program began in 1989 with one school inNew Jersey and has since grown to include participants from more than 200 schools throughoutthe United States and 625 schools worldwide. More than 10,000 students take part in this unique program annually in 24 countries around the world. To date more than 100,000 students worldwide have participated in the program.

The awards ceremony, hosted by Emmy-award-winning weather correspondent Dr. Storm Field, recognizes the creative video making skills of today's youth and gives us a glimpse of the world as seen through their eyes.

Ranging from the poignant to the satiric, the "Best of the Best" videos are honored in six spotlight category awards (see below). In addition to their award, members of the 2008 U.S. Best Video of the Year team will be rewarded with a trip toJapan, courtesy of Japan Airlines. All six honorees' videos can be viewed on You Tube by visiting www.youtube.com/KidWitnessNews

Rachel B. Noel Middle School ofDenver, CO was awarded the 2008 U.S. Best Video of the Year for "Red Tail Angels", a documentary that examined the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the all African American squadron of pilots that overcame institutionalized racism in the Armed Forces to become the one of the most distinguished fighting units of World War II.

In addition, for the first time this year, U.S. KWN schools were also able to submit their video for consideration in a global KWN competition. Gordon Parks Academy ofEast Orange, NJ -- which submitted their video entitled "World Summit," which focuses on the 2008 Presidential race and how elections are handled in other countries around the world, was named as the U.S. finalist in the separately-judged competition taking place this June inJapan.

"Year after year, the creativity and intelligence seen in the work generated by the students in the Kid Witness News program is outstanding and truly inspiring," said Joseph Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, Panasonic Corporation ofNorth America. "KWN puts the power of technology in the hands of students so that they can broaden their educational horizons. By developing skills in research, writing, understanding issues and expressing their thoughts clearly and in unique ways, KWN students build self confidence and learn the value and power of teamwork. In return, these students teach each of us valuable lessons about the world as they see it."

Videos submitted for the New Vision Awards are reviewed by students from Columbia University's School of the Arts Film Division. The top three finalists in each category are submitted for a final round of judging by an independent panel of professionals, comprising educators, broadcasters, scientists, journalists, entertainers and industry leaders, who volunteer their time and expertise.

For more information on the Panasonic Kid Witness News program, please visit http://www.panasonic.com/kwn.

About Panasonic

Based inSecaucus, NJ, Panasonic Corporation ofNorth America markets a broad line of digital and other electronics products for consumer, business and industrial use. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC) ofJapan, and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Information about Panasonic and its products is available at www.panasonic.com. Additional company information for journalists is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

                              Best Video of 2008

                              "Red Tail Angels"
                         Rachel B. Noel Middle School
                                  Denver, CO

                         Spotlight Award - Local Hero
                          Technical Award - Editing
                        "Patrick Campbell: Local Hero"
                    N.F. Woods Advanced Tech & Arts Center
                               Mooresville, NC

                Spotlight Award - Public Service Announcement
                        Technical Award - Sound Design
                "Reading: The Prescription for Communication"
                          Jere Baxter Middle School
                                Nashville, TN

                       Spotlight Award - Fiction/Drama
                        Technical Award - Videography
                                "Freeze Frame"
                             Marcus Garvey School
                                 Chicago, IL

                   Spotlight Award - Health, Science & Tech
                     Technical Award - Production Design
                    "Global Warming: It's Not a Religion"
                         Sheridan Junior High School
                                 Sheridan, WY

                        Spotlight Award - Documentary
                          Technical Award - Writing
                              "Red Tail Angels"
                         Rachel B. Noel Middle School
                                  Denver, CO

                            Spotlight Award - News
                      Technical Award - Special Effects
                                "World Summit"
                             Gordon Parks Academy
                               East Orange, NJ

                          Most Popular Online Video
                "Reading: The Prescription for Communication"
                          Jere Baxter Middle School
                                Nashville, TN

SOURCE Panasonic Corporation ofNorth America