NEW YORK--()--Business Wire today announced the winner of its 50th Anniversary “Future of Public Relations and Communications” College Video Contest, 21-year-old Jenna Marie James, a senior majoring in telecommunications at Ball State University. James will fly to New York City to meet Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO of Business Wire’s parent company Berkshire Hathaway, at Business Wire’s NYSE Opening Bell luncheon on September 30.
“It’s inspirational to hear such thoughtful ideas from young communicators. All of our entrants should be proud of their efforts.”
As part of its 50th Anniversary celebration, Business Wire asked full-time college students to submit short videos answering the question “What is the Future of Public Relations and Communications?”
“Winning the contest to meet Warren Buffett is an amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!” said James. “I am so excited to spend time talking and learning from such an icon. I look forward to not only gaining insight, but also sharing information with him about my generation and the future of communication.”
The contest, launched in April, offered the next generation of communicators an opportunity to share their insights and creative ideas on their vision of the future of public relations and communications. The winner was selected by a judging committee which included Business Wire Chairman and CEO Cathy Baron Tamraz and company executives from around the globe, based on originality, creativity and appropriateness to theme.
In her video, James discusses a number of ideas about what the future holds, from trends already going mainstream (mobile apps aiding every profession, the increasing influence of consumers on product development) to emerging technologies (augmented reality, which enhances real world interactions with computer-generated information) to more sci-fi-sounding aspirations (holographic technology). She brought her vision to life using construction paper and sharpies, along with unique time-shifting video techniques.
“All of our finalists did a great job telling their story but Jenna’s video really stood out for its creativity,” said Tamraz. “We were also impressed by her take on emerging technologies and how they apply to communications. The creative presentation of her ideas also showcases her impressive ability to engage audiences and share information in a very compelling and entertaining way.”
About the Contest
In July, the Business Wire College Video Contest entries were narrowed down to ten finalists, whose videos were posted to the Business Wire Facebook page. Viewers were encouraged to ‘like’ and comment on their favorite video, as well as show their support on Twitter using unique hashtags assigned to each finalist. The finalist videos drew more than 1,500 ‘likes’ and comments.
“We’re thrilled with the great response and engagement we got from this contest. To us, there was no better way to celebrate our 50 years in the industry and to look forward to the next 50,” said Tamraz. “It’s inspirational to hear such thoughtful ideas from young communicators. All of our entrants should be proud of their efforts.”
The College Video Contest was part of Business Wire’s 50th Anniversary celebration, which will culminate in company leaders and Warren Buffett ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on September 30. James will attend an exclusive Business Wire luncheon at the NYSE later that day, where she will meet Mr. Buffett, Tamraz and other executives.
About Business Wire
Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company, celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2011 as the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure. Public relations and investor relations professionals rely on Business Wire for both broad-based and targeted market reach. A recognized disclosure service in the United States, Canada and a dozen European countries, Business Wire handles XBRL tagging, document formatting and regulatory filing into EDGAR, SEDAR and other systems. Business Wire provides online newsroom hosting and integration services as well as search engine optimization, mobile distribution and detailed measurement on every press release. Its patented NX delivery platform provides simultaneous full-text posting of Business Wire content to news systems and websites in virtually any country or language. With 31 bureaus worldwide, Business Wire offers local service and global reach.
Learn more at BusinessWire.com and the BusinessWired blog; follow updates on Twitter: @businesswire or on Facebook.
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