FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15, 2004

OAAA Releases OBIE Contenders for 2004 Awards- Winners Will Be Announced April 20 in Scottsdale, Arizona

Washington, D.C. March 15, 2004 ­ The Outdoor Advertising Association of America is pleased to announce the 2004 OBIE Award contenders. This year, 26 agencies will vie for Best of Show honors.

The OBIE Awards recognize creative excellence in outdoor advertising and is the oldest and one of the most prestigious awards in the advertising world. “The OBIE Awards call attention to the enormous creative potential that outdoor can offer to advertisers utilizing the medium,” stated Stephen Freitas, chief marketing officer at OAAA. “This year the quality of entries was impressive, making it a difficult task for the judges to choose the most outstanding work.”

Among the contenders are many perennial OBIE favorites. Last year’s Best of Show winner, Crispin Porter + Bogusky is again in the running, with eight finalists selected for the agency’s work on MINI Cooper. Leo Burnett also has eight finalists for Altoids and Young and Rubicam has three finalists for their Campbell Soup Company campaign.

The OBIE Awards are only one part of an ongoing outreach effort by the outdoor industry to the creative advertising community. In October 2003, OAAA also established a creative committee that is charged with raising the bar on creative excellence of outdoor advertising.

The 2004 OBIE winners will be announced on Tuesday, April 20, during a gala dinner at the 2004 TAB Out of Home Media Conference & Expo in Scottsdale, Arizona. Tickets for the gala can be purchased through the TAB website (www.tabonline.com). Members of the press interested in attending the event should contact Meredith Moller at 202-833- 5566.

The OAAA is the largest trade association representing the outdoor advertising industry. It is dedicated to leading and uniting a responsible outdoor advertising industry that is committed to serving the needs of consumers, advertisers and the public. The OAAA’s nearly 1,100 member companies generate more than $5 billion annually in ad revenues, representing more than 90% of industry income, and donate space to charitable organizations in excess of $300 million each year.

OAAA - Outdoor Advertising Association of America
1850 M Street, N.W. • Suite 1040
Washington, D.C. 20036
Phone: 202-833-5566
Fax: 202-833-1522
E-Mail: mmoller@oaaa.org
Website URL: www.oaaa.org