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1. HOW TO ENTER: The USA WEEKEND Songwriting Contest (the "Contest") begins at 12:01 a.m. (ET) on 9/24/04 and ends at 5 p.m. (ET) on 2/17/05. Submit your original song lyrics about the theme "Make a Difference" in one of two ways: (1) Enter online by visiting the official Contest registration page at usaweekend.com, completing all of the required information; and following all instructions. Submit your entry by clicking on the "SEND" button. Online entries must be received by 5 p.m. (ET) on 2/17/05. (2) You may also enter by typing or printing your complete name, address, zip code, area code, and home telephone number, and local newspaper on a piece of paper no larger than 8 1/2" x 11". On that same paper, type (double-spaced) or hand print your original song lyrics (maximum 125 words). Song lyrics must appear on one side of the paper only. Mail your completed entry in a hand-addressed #10 envelope, with first class postage affixed, to: USA WEEKEND Songwriting Contest, P.O. Box 8502, Prospect Heights, Ills. 60070. All mail-in entries must be postmarked by 2/17/05 and received by 2/24/05. All Entries must be the original work of the entrant, written in English, and must not exceed a total of 125 words in length (including the song title). All entries become property of Sponsor, and none will be returned. Only one (1) entry per person. Illegible entries are void.

2. ELIGIBILITY: Open only to U.S. residents (excluding Puerto Rico) who are 13 years of age or older at the time of entry and are students (grades 7-12) enrolled full-time in accredited public, private, parochial or home schools. Employees of USA WEEKEND ("Sponsor"), Gannett Co., Inc., and each of their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, and advertising or promotional agencies, and the immediate family members, and any persons domiciled with such employees, are not eligible.

3. JUDGING AND WINNER NOTIFICATION: Eligible entries will be judged in a preliminarily round on or about 4/15/05 and 10 finalists will be selected. The preliminary round will be judged by Promotion Activators, Inc., an independent judging organization. The 10 Finalists will then be judged in a second round on or about 5/15/05 and one (1) Grand Prize Winner and one (1) Runner-up Winner will be selected. The second round will be judged by a panel of celebrity judges chosen by USA WEEKEND. All judging will be based on the following criteria: 40% originality and creativity; 30% songwriting ability (as exemplified in the lyrics submitted); 30% appropriateness of song lyrics for recording. The ratings scale for each criterion will range from 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest score. In the event of a tie, tied entries will be re-judged in accordance with criteria listed above. Decisions of judges are final and binding in all respects. Winners will be notified by phone no later than 6/15/05. Sponsor will call the number provided on entry during normal business hours. Failure to reach winner may result in disqualification and an alternate winner may be selected. Each Finalist and his/her parent or legal guardian may be required, and each Winner and Runner-up and his/her parent or legal guardian will be required, to complete an affidavit of eligibility, certifying that the entrantÕs submission is entrant's original work, that entrant owns right to the work, that the submission has not previously won a prize in a national contest and has not previously been published in a national publication, and that entrant has complied with the Official Rules of the Contest. Each Winner and his/her parent or legal guardian will also be required to complete a Release of Liability and Publicity Release/Prize Acceptance Form (except where prohibited by law). Affidavits and release forms must be returned within seven (7) days of date of postmark. Failure to sign and return the affidavit of release within seven (7) days, or to comply with any term or condition of these Official Rules, may result in a FinalistÕs or a WinnerÕs disqualification and the selection of an alternate Finalist or Winner. For names of winners (available after 7/30, 05, send a self-addressed, stamped #10 envelope to: USA WEEKEND Songwriting Contest Winners, 7950 Jones Branch Dr., McLean, Va. 22107.

4. PRIZES: Subject to eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules, the Grand Prize Winner will "a trip for two (2) to a taping of TVÕs "American Idol." Grand Prize package includes: round trip coach airfare for two (2) from major airport nearest winnerÕs home to the major airport nearest the showÕs location, and 3 days/2 nights double occupancy hotel. Costs of meals, ground transportation, gratuities, taxes, transportation to and from airport and all other expenses not specified as part of prize package are the sole responsibility of winner. (ARV: $2,000); and a $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond. Trips must be taken by 7/31/05, and are subject to availability; certain blackout periods and other restrictions may apply. The Grand Prize Winner will also receive a (one) Nokia 3300 phone (ARV: $150), and a $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond (value stated at time of maturity), and will have their winning song lyrics published in the USA WEEKEND Magazine. (Total ARV of Grand Prize package is$4,000, which may vary depending on location of major airports.). In addition, the Grand Prize Winner must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The Grand Prize Winner and his/her parent or legal guardian must execute a liability release prior to ticketing and must possess required travel documents (i.e. valid photo I.D.) prior to departure. The Runner-up Winner will receive a $500 U.S. Savings Bond (value stated at time of maturity), a (one) Nokia 3300 phone and a $100 gift card to Sam Goody (total ARV: $250). In addition, the remaining eight (8) Finalists will each receive a (one) Nokia 3300, and a $100 gift card to Sam Goody (total ARV: $250).[The Prizes consist of only those items specifically listed above.]

5. GENERAL RULES: All prizes will be awarded. Winners may waive their right to receive prizes. Prizes are nonassignable and nontransferable. No substitutions allowed, except that prizes and individual components of prize packages are subject to availability, and Sponsor reserves the right to substitute prizes of equal or greater value. All federal, state and local taxes are the sole responsibility of winners. Sponsor will not be responsible for lost, late, postage-due, illegible, mutilated, or misdirected entries, or for failure to receive entries due to transmission failures or technical failures of any kind, including, without limitation, malfunctioning of any network, hardware or software, whether originating with the sender or Sponsor. In the event of a dispute, all online entries will be deemed to have been submitted by the owner of the ISP account from which they were sent. For these purposes, an ISP account holder shall mean the natural person assigned to such account by the Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization responsible for assigning such accounts. Any questions regarding the number of entries submitted or the owner of an ISP account shall be determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion, and Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entries by persons determined to be tampering with or abusing any aspect of the Contest, as solely determined by Sponsor. In the event the Contest is compromised by a virus, non-authorized human intervention, tampering or other causes beyond the reasonable control of Sponsor, which corrupts or impairs the administration, security, fairness or proper operation of the Contest, Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to suspend, modify or terminate the Contest. Should the Contest be terminated prior to the stated expiration date, Sponsor reserves the right to award prizes based on the entries received before the termination date. Except where prohibited, participation in the Contest constitutes entrant's (and if a minor, his/her parent's or legal guardian's) consent to the publication of entrant's name, biographical information and likeness in any media for any commercial or promotional purpose, without limitation or further compensation. By participating in this promotion, entrants agree to be bound by the Official Rules and the decisions of the judges and to release USA WEEKEND, Gannett Co., Inc., and any other promotional sponsors, and each of their respective affiliated companies, directors, officers, employees, representatives, partners and agents from any liability whatsoever for any claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the contest or with the acceptance, possession or use of any prize or travel to or from any prize related activity (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to, loss or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light).The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable, these rules can be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or unenforceable provision was not contained therein.

6. SPONSOR: The USA WEEKEND Songwriting Contest is sponsored by USA WEEKEND, whose decisions regarding the selection of winners and all other aspects of the Contest shall be final and binding in all respects. Sponsor will not be responsible for typographical, printing or other inadvertent errors in these Official Rules or in other materials relating to the Contest. If you have any questions regarding this Contest, please contact.USA WEEKEND, 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, Va. 22107-0210 at 1-800-487-2956.