Ad Council Honors Clear Channel Outdoor Los Angeles with Silver Bell Award to Highlight Generosity in Public Service

The Ad Council today presented Clear Channel Outdoor Los Angeles with the prestigious Silver Bell Award at the 2012 TAB/OAAA Out of Home Media Conference & Marketing Expo in Miami, FL. The Silver Bell Award is presented annually to media outlets that exemplify exceptional generosity and leadership in supporting public service messages.

In addition to supporting PSAs year round, Clear Channel Los Angeles took extra steps this year to support the Ad Council’s Drunk Driving Prevention campaign, posting creative on more than 50 digital billboards for 24 hours on New Year’s Eve. No drunk driving fatalities were reported in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve last year.

Clear Channel Los Angeles also took the Ad Council’s Texting & Driving Prevention campaign to a new level last year, installing giant inflatable air bags onto billboards in the Los Angeles area, reminding drivers of possible consequences should they choose to text behind the wheel.

“Clear Channel Los Angeles’ contribution went above and beyond last year, providing valuable inventory to campaigns including Texting and Driving, Hunger, Emergency Preparedness and Wildfire Prevention, along with extraordinary support for Drunk Driving Prevention on New Year’s Eve,” said Peggy Conlon, president & CEO of the Ad Council. “ It’s clear that Clear Channel cares deeply about the lives of their audience, and their support of our campaigns is an outstanding gift that absolutely warrants the Silver Bell.”

Nancy Fletcher, OAAA president & CEO, said, “The out of home advertising industry has a long history of working with non profits and law enforcement to offer free public service ad space, but last year Clear Channel Los Angeles went above and beyond, successfully helping to protect members within its own community. OAAA congratulates Clear Channel Los Angeles on a well-deserved honor.”

During the presentation of the award, Conlon also announced a new out of home public service effort to inform Americans about one of the Ad Council’s most popular campaigns – Texting and Driving Prevention. The Ad Council has made new outdoor inventory available, and starting today the industry will begin to post the new ads, which urge young drivers to “Stop the Texts” and “Stop the Wrecks.” The campaign was first launched in October 2011, after which out of home advertising inventory was depleted in a matter of days.

“I cannot think of a more appropriate and targeted environment than out of home and roadside billboards to reach drivers with our anti-texting and driving messages,” said Conlon. “With the help of the outdoor industry, we will combat distracted driving and save lives.”

In total, the out of home advertising industry last year donated more than $254 million in advertising space to Ad Council public service advertisements.

Fletcher added, “The out of home industry has worked with the Ad Council for decades, helping to put positive, creative messages in front of the American public. There is no question our partnership has helped to improve the lives of members in our own communities and across the country.”