Apply for TODAY's Everyone Has a Story contest!

Do you have an amazing or inspiring life story? Think you can eloquently write about a life-changing experience you've had? If so, we'd like to hear your story! TODAY is looking for  exceptional stories, with the prize being a paid trip to New York City for an original song —inspired by the winner’s essay — performed by a surprise performer.

Starting February 24th, TODAY producers are looking for a viewer who has submitted an essay on the following topic: An experience in your life that has become a part of your story. Your essay must be original (that is, written by you), must be a true story, typed legibly in the English language, and no more than 500 words in length. Read the contest rules below and submit your story!

Preliminary information:  No purchase necessary to enter or win. Void where prohibited. Today’s “Everyone Has A Story” Contest (the “Contest”) begins on February 24, 2009 at 10:00am ET and ends on September 23, 2009 at 5:00pm ET (“Contest Entry Period”). Entry into this Contest constitutes your acceptance of these Official Rules.  The Contest will be run in conjunction with The Today Show (“TODAY” or the “Show”), which airs weekdays at 7:00 am on NBC. All times in this Contest refer to Eastern Standard Time (“ET”). NBC Universal, Inc. (“NBC”) shall be the sponsor of this Contest.

Eligibility: You must be a legal, permanent U.S. resident physically residing within the forty-eight (48) continental United States (residents of Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam and other United States territories are excluded from entry and participation) who is 18 years of age or older as of the start of the Contest Entry Period.  Employees of TODAY, NBC, MSNBC Cable LLC, NBC’s affiliated TV stations or websites, their respective advertising and promotion agencies, their parent, subsidiary and joint venture companies, and members of such employees immediate families (spouses, and parents, children, siblings and their spouses regardless of where they live) and members of the households of any of the above (whether or not related) are not eligible to enter or win the Contest. Contestants must also be of good moral character. TODAY reserves the right to exclude anyone convicted of a crime (other than moving violations of a misdemeanor type that did not involve personal injury, drugs or alcohol).  Contestants must have nothing in their background that would be an embarrassment to NBC or TODAY. At TODAY’s request, each contestant must be willing to sign a publicity release and an affidavit attesting that such contestant meets all of the foregoing eligibility requirements. TODAY reserves the right to disqualify contestants for not meeting any of the requirements outlined above or for any other reasons, in TODAY’s sole discretion.  Contestants must agree that, if selected as a Winner (as defined below), they will be available to travel to New York City on dates chosen by TODAY which are subject to change in the sole discretion of TODAY.

Please note that by entering you agree that if you are chosen as a potential Winner you may undergo a background check conducted by TODAY and, if necessary, you will sign waiver forms authorizing the release of your personal and background information.

To enter: During the Contest Entry Period, log on to www.KLGandHoda.com (the “Website”) and click on the Contest icon.  Then, follow the provided instructions to complete and thereafter submit the online entry form (the “Entry Form”) including your name, address (including hometown), telephone numbers (daytime and evening), date of birth and email address and an essay (the “Essay”) on the following topic: An experience in your life that has become a part of your story. 

The Essay and the Entry Form, shall be collectively referred to herein as the “Entry”. 

Your Essay must be: (1) original (that is, written solely by you); (2) a true story; (3) unpublished; (4) typed legibly in the English language; and (5) no more than five hundred (500) words in length.  Essays must not have been submitted in any other competition.  Entries must be received before September 23, 2009 at 5:00pm to be eligible for the Contest.  In case of a dispute over the identity of a contestant who submitted a potentially winning Entry, TODAY reserves the right to deem that the Entry was submitted by the registered subscriber of the email address submitted at the time of Entry.  Limit one (1) entry per person/household/email address for the duration of the Contest Entry Period.  Multiple entries received from any person will void all such additional entries and only the first eligible entry received from such person/household/email address will be eligible for entry.  Entries that are incomplete, illegible, garbled, late, damaged, or corrupted are void and will not be accepted. By entering, you agree that the Essay and any other portion of your Entry may be broadcast on TODAY and in promotions and advertisements for TODAY.  All Entries become the property of NBC and TODAY, and will not be acknowledged or returned.  

By entering the Contest, contestant grants NBC and TODAY the non-exclusive, royalty-free, and irrevocable rights to use, reproduce, copy, publish, display, distribute, perform, translate, adapt, modify, edit (including for length) and otherwise exploit the contestant’s Essay and to incorporate the Essay in other works in any and all markets and media now or hereafter known worldwide in perpetuity.  Contestants warrant that they have the sole and exclusive right to grant such rights to NBC and TODAY and that NBC and TODAY’s reproduction, publishing, displaying, and/or other use of their Entry, or any portions thereof will not infringe on any rights of any third parties, including, without limitation, copyright, trademark, privacy, or publicity, or create claims for false light, defamation, idea misappropriation, intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress, or breach of contract.  Any Essays containing material that is violent, pornographic, obscene, illegal, inappropriate, or racially or morally offensive or that does not comply with these Official Rules or meet TODAY’s standards for any reason, as determined by TODAY in its sole discretion, will be rejected as ineligible for consideration. Entries must comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations.  TODAY shall have no obligation to copy, publish, display, or otherwise exploit the Essays.

Winner selection and notification: There will be three (3) stages of judging (each, a “Stage”).  All Entries will be considered on a continuing and rolling basis, and all three (3) Stages of judging may take place throughout the Contest Period up until September 23, 2009.  Any ties during any of the three (3) Stages will be broken by an additional tie-breaking judge using the applicable judging criteria to determine which of the tied contestants will advance to the next Stage or be declared the Winner, as applicable.  Each person contacted in any of the three (3) Stages must agree to keep in strictest confidence and not to disclose to any person, including other contestants, or any other third party, any information whatsoever concerning the fact that they are potential Winners in the Contest.

(A)  Stage One. Employees of TODAY (“Judges”) will review the eligible Entries and score the Essays based equally on the following judging criteria: a) writing style (25%); b) creativity (25%); c) compelling quality of the underlying story (25%); and d) the extent to which Essay is conducive towards serving as the basis for an original song (25%) (“Stage One Judging Criteria”).  

(B)  Stage Two. Representatives of TODAY will contact the contestants whose Essays received the highest scores in Stage One based on the Stage One Judging Criteria, using the phone number and/or email address submitted at the time of entry, and ask the selected contestants to supply up to three (3) representative photographs of themselves (“Photo(s)”).  If a selected contestant does not respond and/or does not provide any Photos within twenty-four (24) hours of the initial contact during Stage Two, such contestant may be disqualified and TODAY may consider an alternate contestant in its sole discretion.  The number of contestants contacted during Stage Two will depend on the number of qualified entries received by TODAY and will be determined at TODAY’s sole discretion.  Will score the Photos based equally on the a) personality (50%) and b) character (50%) of each contestant as demonstrated in the applicable contestant’s Photos (“Stage Two Judging Criteria”).  Photos must be in JPEG format and must not have been taken in a studio or by a professional photographer.  Other than minor changes to lighting and coloring, Photo must not have been altered or edited in any manner that distorts the original photograph. Contestant must be the only person appearing in Photo.  By entering the Contest, and submitting a Photo, contestant grants TODAY the non-exclusive, royalty-free, and irrevocable right to use, reproduce, copy, publish, display, distribute, perform, translate, adapt, modify, edit and otherwise exploit the Photos and to incorporate them in other works in any and all markets and media worldwide in perpetuity.  Contestants warrant that they have the sole and exclusive right to grant such rights to TODAY and that TODAY’s reproduction, publishing, displaying, and/or other use of the Photos will not infringe on any rights of third parties, including, without limitation, copyright, trademark, privacy, or publicity, or create claims for false light, defamation, idea misappropriation, intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress, or breach of contract.  Contestant also warrants that he/she has obtained written permission when photographing on private property not owned or controlled by Contestant, where such permission is required.  Upon request, you must provide TODAY with signed releases from the owners of any private property where you photographed.  TODAY shall have no obligation to copy, publish, display, or otherwise exploit the Photo. 

Stage Three: Representatives of TODAY will contact the contestants who received the highest combined scores in: a) the Stage One Judging Criteria and b) the Stage Two Judging Criteria, for a phone interview.  TODAY shall contact contestants using the phone number submitted at the time of entry, and failure of contestants to establish live phone contact with TODAY within twenty-four (24) hours of TODAY’s initial contact during Stage Three may result in disqualification and TODAY may choose the runner-up contestant with the next highest combined scores based on the Stage One Judging Criteria and the Stage Two Judging Criteria to consider in its sole discretion.  The number of contestants contacted during Stage Three will depend on the number of  contestants contacted during Stage Two and will be determined at TODAY’s sole discretion.   Phone interviews shall be scored based on the following criteria: a) eloquence (33.3%); b) personality and character (33.3%); and c) ability to tell personal story in a compelling manner (33.4%) (the “Stage Three Judging Criteria”).   Contestants expressly grant TODAY permission to record phone conversations for television broadcast (including any follow-up interviews that may follow Stage Three) and grant NBC and TODAY the non-exclusive, royalty-free, and irrevocable rights to use, reproduce, copy, publish, display, distribute, perform, translate, adapt, modify, create derivative works based upon, edit (including for length) and otherwise exploit the recorded phone conversations and the stories revealed during the interview(s) and the ideas and expressions contained therein and to incorporate them in other works, including but not limited to documentaries, musical compositions, music albums, videos, motion pictures, and films, in any and all markets and media worldwide in perpetuity.

After the evaluation of all eligible entries, Judges shall select up to seven (7) potential winners subject to verification of eligibility.  One (1) potential winner will be announced on or about: March 30, 2009, May 4, 2009, June 1, 2009, June 29, 2009, August 3, 2009, August 31, 2009, and September 28, 2009.  TODAY reserves the right to choose less than seven (7) or no potential winners, extend the Contest Period or cancel the Contest, if an insufficient number of eligible, complete, tasteful, appropriate, or generally qualified Entries are received by TODAY as determined by TODAY in its sole discretion.  TODAY will make two (2) attempts to notify each potential winner at the phone number and/or email address submitted at the time of entry.  Potential winner may be required to execute and return an affidavit of eligibility, release of liability, and, except where prohibited, publicity release (collectively, “Contest Documents”) within two (2) days of such notification.  Moreover, each potential winner may be required to facilitate and secure any written release from third parties required by TODAY, including, but not limited to individuals referenced in Essays or phone interviews.  Noncompliance within this time period may result in disqualification, and in its sole discretion, TODAY may select the runner-up contestant with the next highest scores as an alternate potential winner based on the Stage Three Judging Criteria.  Potential winner agrees to enable TODAY to conduct a background investigation, including, without limitation, enabling TODAY to investigate, access and collect information about potential winner and any of the statements made by potential winner.  Potential Winner warrants and represents that he/she has never been convicted of a crime (or has made full disclosure of any crime committed in the Essay) and acknowledges and agrees that TODAY may disqualify potential winner if TODAY determines in its sole discretion that potential winner has anything in his/her background that makes potential winner an unsuitable Winner of this Contest.  If a potential winner cannot be reached or if he/she is found to ineligible, if he/she cannot or does not comply with the foregoing requirements and these Official Rules, or if his/her prize notification is returned as undeliverable, potential winner may be disqualified, and in its sole discretion, TODAY may select the runner-up contestant with the next highest evaluation based on the Stage Three Judging Criteria as an alternate potential winner.

If potential winner is a minor, then the parent or legal guardian of such minor will be required to execute and return the Contest Documents as specified above, and any other documents as requested by TODAY on behalf of minor. The decisions of the Judges and TODAY are final and binding.  Contestants agree that TODAY may record and broadcast TODAY advising contestant that he or she has been selected in any of the three (3) Stages and/or as a potential winner in TODAY’s sole discretion.  TODAY reserves the right to make public personal information about the contestants on-air, prior to, during, or following the Contest.

Prizes: There will be up to seven (7) prizes (each, a “Prize”) awarded consisting of a two (2)-night trip to New York, NY, an Appearance (as defined below) on the Show and a Performance (as defined below).  The trip will include:  Round-trip, commercial coach-class air transportation for winner (“Winner”) and his/her guest (“Guest”) from an airport near the Winner’s residence to an airport in or near New York, NY (as determined by TODAY in its sole discretion); hotel accommodations for two (2) nights (one (1) standard room/double occupancy) at a hotel selected by TODAY in its sole discretion; ground transportation to and from the New York area airport; and a daily meal stipend not to exceed fifty dollars ($50).  Dates of travel shall be chosen by TODAY in its sole discretion and unavailability of Winner and/or Guest to travel on such dates may result in disqualification and forfeiture of Prize at TODAY’s sole discretion.  Although the schedule is subject to change and cancellation, the likely travel dates (one (1) per Winner) are March 31, 2009, returning April 2, 2009; May 5, 2009, returning May 7, 2009; June 2, 2009, returning June 4, 2009; June 30, 2009, returning July 2, 2009; August 4, 2009, returning, August 6, 2009; September 1, 2009, returning, September 3, 2009; and September 29, 2009, returning October 1, 2009.

Winners must agree to appear on the Show during the time and at the location specified by TODAY (“Appearance”), and during the Appearance, a song, inspired by Winner’s Essay and interviews, will be performed to Winner (“Performance”).  Unavailability or unwillingness to participate in Appearance will result in disqualification and forfeiture of all prize elements.  If NBC and TODAY, in their sole discretion, elect to incorporate the audio and video recording of the Appearance (“Recording”), the Appearance and/or the Recording will not be considered an employment opportunity, and Winner will not be entitled to compensation or credit therefore.  The nature of the Recording, if any, will be determined by NBC and TODAY in their sole discretion.  If the Recording is broadcast, such broadcast will be at a time, for a length of time, and on a date determined by NBC and TODAY in their sole discretion. Winners will be required to execute and return appearance releases and such other documents as may be required by NBC and TODAY (“Appearance Documents”). If a Winner fails to execute and return Appearance Documents in a timely manner, as determined by TODAY and/or NBC in their sole discretion, Appearance and Performance may be cancelled and Prize may be forfeited. The content of the Recording as, and if, finally broadcast, and the number of broadcasts and re-broadcasts thereof, if any, will be determined by NBC and TODAY in their sole discretion. Winner will have no right of review, notice, or approval of the content of the Recording or any broadcast thereof. NBC and TODAY reserve the right to disqualify Winner and remove him/her from the Show at any time, if his/her behavior at any point is deemed by TODAY and/or NBC to be disruptive, if it may or does cause damage to person, property, or reputation of TODAY and/or NBC or otherwise violates the policies thereof, or if Winner does not follow the directions of NBC and TODAY at all times.  These Official Rules and the Contest are neither a contract nor an application for employment. 

No retail value is associated with the Appearance or the Performance, therefore, in the event that the Appearance or the Performance do not take place as scheduled for any reason, TODAY’s sole responsibility will be to award the remaining portion of the Prize and no additional substitution or compensation will be awarded.

All of the above Prize elements are subject to change and shall be determined by TODAY in its sole discretion.  The estimated retail value (“ERV”) of each Prize is one thousand eight hundred and twenty five dollars ($1,825).  The total ERV of all prizes is twelve thousand seven hundred and seventy five dollars ($12,775).

Actual retail value of each Prize will vary depending on the point of departure, fare fluctuation for the flights and hotels.  Any differences between stated ERV and actual ERV will not be awarded.  Each Winner will receive an IRS Form 1099 from TODAY for the total ERV of the Prize for the calendar year in which such Prize was won.  TODAY will determine all Prize details in its sole discretion.  TODAY reserves the right to substitute a Prize (or Prize element) of comparable or greater value for any reason at TODAY’s sole discretion. All taxes and other unspecified expenses, costs, or fees associated with the acceptance and/or use of a Prize are the sole responsibility of Winners. Prizes cannot be transferred by Winners or redeemed for cash and are valid only for the items detailed above, with no substitution of a Prize by a Winner. If a Prize is unclaimed within a reasonable time after notification by TODAY, it will be forfeited. If a Prize element is not available for any reason, as determined by TODAY in its sole discretion, the remaining elements of such Prize shall be awarded and shall constitute full satisfaction of TODAY’s prize obligation to Winner and no additional compensation will be awarded. Airline and hotel reservations are subject to availability.  Certain travel restrictions may apply. Travel and hotel arrangements will be determined by TODAY in its sole discretion and must be made through TODAY. Once determined, no change, extension or substitution of trip dates is permitted, except by TODAY in its sole discretion. Guest must be the age of majority in his/her state of residence as of the first date of travel or Winner must be Guest’s parent or legal guardian and must execute and return a release of liability and, except where prohibited, publicity release on behalf of minor, which must be returned to TODAY by a date specified, or guest portion of Grand Prize will be forfeited.  Winner and Guest must travel together on the same itinerary. Unless otherwise indicated, no other travel elements (including, without limitation, insurance, gasoline, meals, gratuities, souvenirs, etc.) are included in Prize. Tickets are non-refundable and are not valid for business-related or group travel. Tickets are valid only for travel on airlines chosen by TODAY at TODAY’s sole discretion. TODAY has the right in its sole discretion to substitute ground transportation for air transportation depending on Winners’ location and/or place of residence.  Travel must be completed by dates specified by TODAY or Prize will be forfeited. Tickets will be issued only to Winners and Guests. Tickets are void if sold for cash or other consideration. Winners are responsible for any tax liability associated with trip, including applicable departure taxes or fees, inspection charges, security charges or other ticket or baggage fees. Once issued, tickets are non-transferable and may not be reissued once travel has commenced.  Open tickets may not be issued and stopovers are not permitted.  If an unscheduled stopover occurs, full fare will be charged from stopover point for the remaining segments, including return, of the trip.  TODAY is not liable for any expenses incurred as a consequence of flight cancellation/delay.  Each Winner and his/her Guest must have valid travel documents (e.g., valid government-issued photo identification and/or passport) prior to departure. TODAY shall have no responsibility or liability for cancellations, delays, or any other change by any company or person providing any element of Prize due to reasons beyond TODAY’s control, and is not responsible or liable for any expenses incurred as a consequence thereof.  All travel will be at the risk of Winners and Guests.  All elements of Prize must be redeemed at the same time. If a Winner chooses to take the trip with no Guest, the remaining elements of Prize shall be awarded and shall constitute full satisfaction of TODAY’s prize obligation to such Winner and no additional compensation will be awarded.    

Conditions: By entering the Contest, each contestant agrees for contestant and for contestant’s heirs, executors and administrators (a) to release and hold harmless TODAY, NBC and their parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, respective officers, directors, and employees (collectively, “Released Parties”) from any liability, illness, injury, death, loss, litigation or damage that may occur, directly or indirectly, whether caused by negligence or not, from such contestant’s participation in the Contest (including any travel related thereto) and/or his/her acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of Prize, or any portion, thereof (including any travel related thereto); (b) to indemnify Released Parties from any and all liability resulting or arising from the Contest and to hereby acknowledge that Released Parties have neither made nor are in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation, or guarantee, express or implied, in fact or in law, relative to Prize, including express warranties provided exclusively by the Prize supplier that are sent along with Prize; (c)  to the posting of such contestant’s name on the Website and the use by Released Parties of such name, voice, image, and/or likeness in any and all media now or hereafter known throughout the world without additional compensation, notification, permission or approval and, upon request, to the giving of consent, in writing, to such use; and (d) to be bound by these Official Rules and to waive any right to claim any ambiguity or error therein or in the Contest itself, and to be bound by all actions of TODAY and Judges, whose decisions are final and binding. Failure to comply with these conditions may result in disqualification from the Contest.

Additional terms: NBC and TODAY reserve the right to terminate the Contest or permanently disqualify from any promotion any person they believe has intentionally violated these Official Rules. Any attempt to deliberately damage the Contest or the operation thereof is unlawful and subject to legal action by NBC and TODAY, who may seek damages to the fullest extent permitted by law. NBC and TODAY reserve the right to cancel, suspend or modify the Contest or any element thereof (including, without limitation, these Official Rules) without notice in any manner and for any reason (including, without limitation, in the event of any unanticipated occurrence that is not fully addressed in these Official Rules).  In the event of cancellation, modification or suspension, NBC and TODAY reserve the right to select a Winner(s) based on the judging criteria described above and award all remaining Prizes in their sole discretion from among all eligible, non-suspect Entries received prior to the time of the event warranting such cancellation, modification or suspension. Notice of such cancellation, modification or suspension will be posted on the Website.  TODAY may prohibit any contestant or potential contestant from participating in the Contest, if such contestant or potential contestant shows a disregard for these Official Rules; acts with an intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any other contestant, NBC, TODAY, or agents or representatives of NBC and/or TODAY; or behaves in any other disruptive manner (as determined by NBC and/or TODAY in their sole discretion).

The failure of NBC and/or TODAY to comply with any provision of these Official Rules due to an act of God, hurricane, war, fire, riot, earthquake, terrorism, act of public enemies, actions of governmental authorities (excepting compliance with applicable codes and regulations), or other “force majeure” event will not be considered a breach of these Official Rules.

Released Parties assume no responsibility for any injury or damage to contestants’ or to any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from entering or downloading materials or software in connection with the Contest. Released Parties are not responsible for telecommunications, network, electronic, technical, or computer failures of any kind; for inaccurate transcription of entry information; for errors in any publicity, promotional, advertising or marketing materials or in these Official Rules; for any human or electronic error; or for entries that are stolen, misdirected, garbled, delayed, lost, late, damaged, returned, corrupted or postage due.

Disputes: THE CONTEST IS GOVERNED BY AND WILL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND THE FORUM AND VENUE FOR ANY DISPUTE SHALL BE IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK. IF THE CONTROVERSY OR CLAIM IS NOT OTHERWISE RESOLVED THROUGH DIRECT DISCUSSIONS OR MEDIATION, IT SHALL THEN BE RESOLVED BY FINAL AND BINDING ARBITRATION ADMINISTERED BY JAMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS STREAMLINED ARBITRATION RULES AND PROCEDURES OR SUBSEQUENT VERSIONS THEREOF (“JAMS RULES”). THE JAMS RULES FOR SELECTION OF AN ARBITRATOR SHALL BE FOLLOWED, EXCEPT THAT THE ARBITRATOR SHALL BE EXPERIENCED AND LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN NEW YORK. ALL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT PURSUANT TO THIS PARAGRAPH WILL BE CONDUCTED IN THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK. THE REMEDY FOR ANY CLAIM SHALL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL DAMAGES, AND IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY PARTY BE ENTITLED TO RECOVER PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING ATTORNEY’S FEES OR SUCH RELATED COSTS OF BRINGING A CLAIM, OR TO RESCIND THIS AGREEMENT OR SEEK INJUNCTIVE OR ANY OTHER EQUITABLE RELIEF.

Winner announcement: For the names of the Winners, available after September 23, 2009 visit www.KLGandHoda.com.

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