FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2008

OAAA Announces OBIE Contenders for 2008 Awards - Winners Will Be Announced April 15 in Boca Raton, FL

Washington, D.C. ­ The Outdoor Advertising Association of America is pleased to announce the contenders for the 2008 OBIE Awards. This year, 40 agencies are in the running for one of the biggest prizes in advertising, the OBIE Best of Show.

The OBIE Awards program recognizes creative excellence in outdoor advertising and is the oldest and one of the most prestigious awards in the advertising world.

“We’re really in the business of storytelling, and so the best [executions] are about telling a story really quickly and in ways people haven’t seen before, “ said John Livengood, Executive Creative Director of DDB Seattle and one of this year’s OBIE judges. “It isn’t just about funny lines…It’s about really customizing the idea and being smart about it.”

Some of the best advertising agencies in the world are represented in this year’s list, including such perennial contenders as TBWA\Chiat\Day, BBDO (last year’s Best of Show Winner), Crispin Porter + Bogusky, TAXI, and BooneOakley.

Advertisers represented in this year’s top campaigns run the gamut from top multinational corporations like Coke, Nationwide Insurance, and McDonald’s to local advertisers such as United Way of Greater Milwaukee, Denver Water, and San Francisco Zoo.

"This year, we received a record number of entries, but even as the number of entries goes up, the quality of the entries improves. This was the best creative collection I’ve seen yet," said Stephen Freitas, Chief Marketing Officer, OAAA.

The 2008 OBIE Awards winners will be announced on Tuesday, April 15, during a gala dinner at the conclusion of the TAB Out of Home Media Conference at the Boca Raton Resort in Boca Raton, FL. Members of the press interested in attending the event should contact Jeff Golimowski at (202) 833-5566.

The complete list of contenders, alphabetical by agency, can be viewed by clicking here.

OAAA is the 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 nearly 1,000 OAAA member companies generate more than $6.8 billion annually in ad revenues, represent more than 90% of industry income, and donate space to charitable organizations in excess of $390 million each year.

Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA)

Washington, DC
Phone: 202-833-5566
E-Mail: jgolimowski@oaaa.org
Website URL: www.oaaa.org