News Releases
(WASHINGTON – October 22, 2019) – National Geographic and Mazda today kicked off a first-of-its-kind competition series to search for the next National Geographic photographer. This competition will challenge the ingenuity and creativity of National Geographic’s fans and community of visual storytellers to capture stories of inspiration and human potential.
Mazda launches this competition as part of its Power of Potential platform, which honors individuals making a difference, realizing their potential and ultimately inspiring others. Over the course of four weeks, the two brands are inviting aspiring photographers to submit their work in consideration for a contest rooted in storytelling.
“National Geographic is an organization rich with powerful storytellers, and for over 130 years we’ve connected audiences to worlds and cultures they’d otherwise never see,” said John Campbell, SVP of partnerships for National Geographic Partners. “With Mazda’s help, we’re empowering the next generation of visual storytellers to hone their craft.”
The series begins with a contest shared through the National Geographic Your Shot Instagram account. The contest invites emerging photographers to tell their most unique, uplifting visual stories that make them ‘Feel Alive.’ From these submissions, National Geographic and Mazda will select three storytellers to compete in a series of challenges, where they’ll be sent on expeditions to capture stories leveraging Mazda’s brand values of challenger spirit, ingenuity, and passion for uplifting others. The photographers will be mentored by National Geographic photographer, David Guttenfelder, and Mazda Brand experts to refine their craft.
“Mazda has a unique approach to developing vehicles akin to a photographer’s devotion to capture a moment that tells a profoundly inspirational story,” said Dino Bernacchi, chief marketing officer for Mazda North American Operations. “Our designers and engineers are more like artisans, who seek mastery of their skills. They diligently transfer their passion, energy and knowledge into each project to create a vehicle that evokes a feeling.”
The winner will be announced in the first half of 2020, joining the most elite storytellers in the world. They will receive their first editorial assignment with National Geographic, where their original work will be published on digital platforms.
The competition will have cross-platform promotion with unrivaled reach across National Geographic’s social and digital properties, including digital video and social components, spotlighting the photographers competing in the contest. The partnership will reach more than 225 million U.S. fans and followers of National Geographic’s social and digital social properties. With more than 3.5 billion total content views, this promotion will shine a spotlight on the competing photographers and promote Mazda through the number one brand for social engagements. The assignment will culminate with a 44-minute special on the National Geographic television network.
Entries for the contest open today, October 22 and close on November 18. Those interested in participating can follow @natgeoyourshot on Instagram and visit NationalGeographic.com/Mazda.
ABOUT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PARTNERS
National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between Disney and the National Geographic Society, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic’s media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children’s media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 131 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers … and reaching millions of people around the world in 172 countries and 43 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.
ABOUT MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS
Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through approximately 620 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Newsroom.
Follow MNAO’s social media channels through Twitter and Instagram at @MazdaUSA and Facebook at Facebook.com/MazdaUSA.