American Business Media's Creative Excellence In Business Advertising Awards Honor Best In Business Advertising; AAF's "Great Brands" Campaign Wins Grand CEBA.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 2001

American Business Media, The Association of Business Media Companies, bestowed its "Grand CEBA" (Creative Excellence in Business Advertising Award) to an advertising campaign created by Carmichael Lynch for the American Advertising Federation (AAF).

The AAF sought to promote the importance and value of brand building advertising to CEO's and decision-makers nationwide. Carmichael Lynch's campaign features very recognizable brands lending their icons to highlight the critical role of advertising in building great brands. Coca-Cola, Sunkist, Energizer, Budweiser, Pentium and Altoids each lent their brand's icon to the campaign.

The message of the winning AAF campaign is that advertising is what gives a brand its staying power. The campaign is aimed at CEO's and brand managers responsible for establishing and maintaining budget levels for advertising. "In this weakened economy, advertising budgets are being cut in order to boost short-term profits and enhance earnings reports. The tag line for the "Great Brands" campaign (Advertising. The way great brands get to be great brands.(TM)) reminds Corporate America not to take their brand's long-term development for granted," says Wally Snyder, President & CEO, American Advertising Federation.

"The creative approach taken by Carmichael Lynch takes the AAF's message and hits CEO's right between the eyes without preaching, showing statistics, or otherwise trying to persuade outright. The power of the message is in the ads themselves - they are simply outstanding demonstrations of the brand building power of great creative," notes Gordon T. Hughes II, President & CEO, American Business Media about the Grand CEBA-winning work.

Judy Lotas, Partner, LMP/NYC, and John Colasanti, President, Carmichael Lynch, were emcees at the CEBA Awards Show when John's agency was announced as the Grand CEBA winner. "Our agency focuses everyday on leveraging great creative to help our clients reach goals. Our business-to-business clients, like AAF, come to us for the same passionate, get-results, get-noticed kind of creative that brings consumer brands to CL. We're proud to be recognized with this prestigious award."

During the award's show, Michael Marchesano, President, VNU Inc., presented Richard Sands, Chairman, Miramax Films, with the VNU Lifetime Achievement Award.

The evening's other category specific CEBA winners were:

The Marlin Company, "Clueless-Hepatitis," for FoodHandler, single ad, one page, as advertised in Restaurants & Institutions, and Restaurant Business.

Sawyer Riley Compton, "Burglar," for CNN Newsource, single ad, spread, as advertised in Broadcasting & Cable, and Electronic Media.

Elias/Savion Advertising, "Sync or Swim," for UCCNet, insert, pop-up, foldout, spectacular, gatefold and multi-page unit, as advertised in Executive Technology.

Rodgers Townsend, "Pancake," for SBC Communications, Web site Advertising, as advertised in ZDNet.