Press Release

Students will compete to create advertisements aimed at fighting binge drinking

ATLANTA, GA.—The American Advertising Federation (AAF) announced today that The Century Council, a national not-for-profit organization funded by distillers dedicated to fighting drunk driving and underage drinking, will sponsor the 2008 National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC). The announcement was made at the AAF National Conference 2008 in Atlanta, GA.

"The AAF is pleased to announce The Century Council as the 2008 NSAC sponsor," said Wally Snyder, AAF president and CEO. "The NSAC offers a unique and valuable opportunity for students to achieve a professional-level educational experience, and it is an honor to have The Century Council participate in what continues to be the leading student advertising competition." This year’s contest promises to be unique in that it is the first time the contest will ask students to address a social issue in an effort to promote a positive behavioral change: the prevention of college binge drinking.

The Century Council has worked with America’s colleges and universities to address binge drinking for more than 10 years. Looking forward, the 2009 NSAC represents the first time students are being asked, on a national basis, to contribute to solving this problem. "It is absolutely essential that we gain the insights that students can bring in communicating with their peers on this important issue. The Century Council is pleased to have the support of the Ad Council and the American Council on Education in this endeavor that will bring fresh approaches to future initiatives," said Ralph Blackman, President & CEO of The Century Council.

"The Century Council is honored to work with the AAF and sponsor the 2009 NSAC," said Ralph Blackman, President & CEO of The Century Council. "No one can reach out to young people more effectively than other young people can which is why we are extremely excited to see how the students plan to address binge drinking through advertising."

Each year, a corporate sponsor provides a case study outlining the history of its product and current advertising situation. Students must research the product and its competition, identify potential problem areas and devise an integrated communications campaign for the client. Finalists will be selected from the regional NSAC competitions and present their work to The Century Council at the AAF National Conference 2009. Many top advertising agencies use this opportunity to recruit the ad industry's newest talent.

Previous NSAC sponsors include AOL, the Coca-Cola Company, Yahoo!, VISIT FLORIDA, Toyota Motor Sales, Bank of America, DaimlerChrysler, The New York Times, Hallmark Cards, Inc. and Visa USA.

For more information, contact Erica Moulton, communications manager, The Century Council, at moultone@centurycouncil.org or Connie Frazier, executive vice president – AAF Mosaic Center & Education Services, at cfrazier@aaf.org, or (202) 898-0089.

The Century Council
The Century Council is a leader in the fight to eliminate drunk driving and underage drinking and promotes responsible decision making regarding beverage alcohol. Recognizing nearly twenty years of progress, America’s leading distillers have promoted The Council’s mission by investing more than $175 million in its programs to fight drunk driving and underage drinking. For more information The Century Council, please visit www.centurycouncil.org.

The America Advertising Federation
The American Advertising Federation (AAF), headquartered in Washington, D.C., acts as the "Unifying Voice for Advertising." The AAF is the oldest national advertising trade association, representing 50,000 professionals in the advertising industry. The AAF has a national network of 200 ad clubs located in ad communities across the country. Through its 215 college chapters, the AAF provides 6,500 advertising students with real-world case studies and recruitment connections to corporate America. The AAF also has 130 blue-chip corporate members that are advertisers, agencies and media companies, comprising the nation's leading brands and corporations. For more information, visit the AAF's Web site at www.aaf.org.

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