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Ecospot: Shoot an ad, win a hybrid

Al Gore is following up on his global rock concert with a new contest to create ads raising awareness of climate change. And the YouTube generation is welcome to join in on the fun. Dan Grech reports.

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Scott Jagow: Live Earth is so last week — Al Gore has already to moved on to offering a advertising contest. The prize is a hybrid SUV. More now from Dan Grech.


Dan Grech: It’s called an ecospot… 15, 30 or 60 seconds meant to inspire a viewer to take action on global warming.

The spots must conclude with this eco-friendly sound of a wind tunnel in a rain forest. You also have to plug Gore’s group, the Alliance for Climate Protection.

Top ad agencies are invited to compete — and so is everyone else, as Gore jumps on the bandwagon of user-created content.

Media consultant Bill Carroll with the Katz Television Group says it doesn’t matter who makes an ad, but whether its message takes.

Bill Carroll: Whether you’re advertising a car or a shampoo or a cause, you never really know if it’s going to work until it’s out there and what impact and what reaction the general public has.

The ads will be judged by activists, scientists and celebrities like George Clooney and Cameron Diaz. Deadline’s September 12. I’m Dan Grech for Marketplace.