Bridge Worldwide and Jim Stengel to Host Seminar at Cannes Ad Festival and Launch Contest for Top Marketing Revolutionist

CINCINNATI, April 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Bridge Worldwide announced today that the agency has been selected to host a panel at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival on Friday, June 25, 2010, from 5:15 p.m. to 6 p.m. CEST (11:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. EDT) in the Debussy Theatre. Bob Gilbreath, Chief Marketing Strategist at Bridge Worldwide and author of The Next Evolution of Marketing: Connect with Your Customers by Marketing with Meaning, will lead the panel with Jim Stengel, Adjunct Professor, UCLA Anderson School of Management and President/CEO, The Jim Stengel Company LLC. The panel, The Burning Question: Ask It and Transform, will address today's media and advertising disruption and confusion by answering a single question that, when asked, can provide direction to the profession, to your work, and to your career.

"We're honored to be speaking at the most prestigious event for advertisers and will use this platform to deliver a seminar that's unique to Cannes," said Gilbreath. "As we continue to organize the panel, we'll be reaching out to individuals who have already asked themselves the burning question and discovered a path to create work with a positive impact on their customers, employees, and society."

"The Burning Question will be the coolest—and most important—experience at Cannes this year," said Jim Stengel. "Especially for clients. It will accelerate a fundamental movement that is reframing our industry for the better."

At the festival, the session will conclude with beachside breakout conversations to determine what needs to happen next to spark change. Visit www.canneslions.com/festival/event_detail_page.cfm?event_id=39 for more information about the seminar.

Additionally, Bridge Worldwide is searching for fellow change agents to help spread the fire and is now accepting applications for the Top Marketing Revolutionist contest. To enter, visit www.burningquestion.com and share your burning question and what you are doing to find an answer. If you're named one of two top Marketing Revolutionists, you'll join Bridge Worldwide on this exhilarating adventure. Use the hashtag #theburningquestion to add a question or comment via Twitter™.

Contest Details

To enter the contest, go to: www.burningquestion.com to complete the application and follow the on-screen instructions to enter your submission. This includes a short essay describing your involvement in the industry (e.g., what you're doing in your job, participation in industry-related websites, blogs, speaking events, memberships, etc.); a description of your identification of The Burning Question and what you are doing to help answer the question; and one supporting photo. The entries will be posted on www.burningquestion.com as they are received and approved by the sponsor, Bridge Worldwide. The public will have the opportunity to vote "like"/"dislike" for each posted entry, but these will not be taken into consideration in the judges' decision-making or winner selections. Entrants are permitted to encourage supporters to visit the website and vote for their entries via social media, links, and other outlets.  

The contest will close on May 14, 2010, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Judging will occur from May 15 through May 20, 2010. All eligible entries will be evaluated and graded by a panel of qualified sponsor judges based upon the following criteria, which will be given equal weight:

• Quality and depth of the idea submission–including persuasiveness and strength of the idea
• Quality, depth, and creativity of the entrant's contribution to solving the question–including an evaluation of the proposed project that addresses the submitted question and the entrant's commitment to helping effectuate the desired change posed by the question before, during, and after the 2010 Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival
• Entrant's involvement in improving the marketing industry in general–including an assessment of what the entrant is actively working on in his/her job, and participation in blogging, speaking, and professional groups or organizations working to improve/advance the industry

Contest Prizes

Two winners will be selected by the judges and will be notified by phone/mail/email on or about May 21, 2010. Winners will be announced on www.burningquestion.com on or about June 3, 2010. The top two Marketing Revolutionists will be awarded:

• A trip to the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival from June 23 to June 27, 2010, in Cannes, France.
• Round-trip airfare for one person, departing on June 23, 2010, and returning on June 27 or 28, 2010.
• Hotel room accommodations on June 24, 25, and 26, 2010.
• A Full Delegation Registration badge to attend the Cannes Lions Awards from June 24 to 26, 2010, and an allowance for meals, ground travel costs, gratuities, and incidental hotel costs.
• Participation with sponsor at various Festival-related activities, including The Burning Question seminar, press interviews, and other reasonable activities that will be identified by Sponsor.

Winners must have a valid passport permitting travel to France. Winner is solely responsible for all obligations, fees, and costs associated therewith. Visit http://www.burningquestion.com/contest-official-rules for official rules and regulations.

Abbreviated Contest Rules

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Open to legal U.S. and Canadian (excluding Quebec) residents who have reached the age or majority. Begins April 15, 2010, 12:01 p.m. ET and ends May 14, 2010, 11:59 a.m. ET. Prize (2): Trip to Cannes Lions Awards in Cannes, France on June 23-27, 2010. ARV: $8,300.  Subject to full official rules located at www.burningquestion.com. Sponsor: Bridge Worldwide, 302 West 3rd Street, Suite 900, Cincinnati, OH 45202.

About the 57th Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, June 20 to 26, 2010, Cannes, France

The Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival is the world's biggest celebration of creativity in communications. As the most prestigious international annual advertising awards, more than 22,500 entries from all over the world are showcased and judged at the festival. Winning companies receive the highly coveted Lion trophy, honoring the most creative film, film craft, print, outdoor, interactive, radio, design, sales promo and activation and integrated advertising, as well as the best media, direct marketing, PR, and Titanium ideas. The festival also is the only truly global meeting place for advertisers, advertising, and communication professionals. More than 6,000 delegates from 90 countries attend seven days of exhibitions and screenings, as well as more than 50 high-profile seminars, 30 workshops, and master classes presented by renowned worldwide industry leaders. As the networking and learning opportunity of the year, Cannes Lions is the must-attend event for anyone involved in brand communication. Visit www.canneslions.com for more information about the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.  

About Bridge Worldwide

Bridge Worldwide is a leading digital and relationship marketing agency based in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a member of the WPP network, the world's largest communications services group. Serving clients with their Marketing with Meaning philosophy, Bridge Worldwide seeks to create lasting bonds between brands and consumers that lead to sustainable growth and profitability. Advertising Age ranks Bridge Worldwide among the Top 40 Digital Agencies in the country. In addition, Bridge Worldwide has been named one of the Best Small Companies to Work For in America for four consecutive years. The agency's client list includes several FORTUNE 500 companies, such as Procter & Gamble, Abbott Nutrition, ConAgra Foods, and Kroger. For more information, visit www.bridgeworldwide.com and follow company updates on Twitter: @BridgeWorldwide.  

SOURCE Bridge Worldwide