GLOBAL – OCTOBER 2011: TED, the non-profit dedicated to ideas worth spreading, launched the second annual Ads Worth Spreading initiative in New York last October 3, inviting agencies, brands, producers, and individuals submit their work that expresses a clever, compelling or infectious idea.
A nonprofit organization devoted to “ideas worth spreading”, TED started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago and has since grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives.
“In our brave new interconnected world, the rules of marketing are changing fast,” said Chris Anderson, TED curator. “Ambush advertising is broken. We think there’s a better way based on sharing powerful ideas. Most companies are teeming with amazing ideas that the rest of the world never gets to see. But letting some of those ideas out into the world in an authentic way, companies have a shot at transforming the way they are perceived. We’re looking forward to another fantastic round of entries from forward-thinking companies and people.”
TED’s mission ideas and dream began with a search for companies who wanted to share and communicate ideas to their consumers in the same way that TED wants to share and communicate with its audience. A powerful idea has a life of its own and can start a revolution, influence others, and change someone’s opinion as it gets passed on from one person to another.
“We are looking to nudge a new paradigm for marketers – presenting ads that enrich the content they touch — to help advertisers connect with audiences and become part of the conversation.” said Ronda Carnegie, TED’s Head of Global Partnerships.
During the submission period (October 15 to December 31), six teams of two – one renowned TED speaker and one rising star from the advertising industry – will search for and nominate the most compelling ads from different areas of interest. TED’s 24 Advocates from the advertising industry will also make valuable suggestions and nominations.
After the selection and nomination process, TED will then curate a final selection of the year’s most fascinating campaigns – the Ads Worth Spreading – to be announced at the TED2012 conference in Long Beach, California in March, and showcased online through TED.com and YouTube.
For more information, visit Ads Worth Spreading on the TED website and on.ted.com/advocates for a complete list of teams and Advocates of the initiative.
