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SWA HOLDS ONLINE CASTING CALL FOR ULTIMATE BLOG-O-SPONDENT

pberg
Frequent Flyer B

 

Are you Nutty Enough to be Southwest’s Next Blog Star?

DALLAS—Aug. 7, 2008— America holds auditions for hot new models, undiscovered singers, and dancers who want to make it big.  Now, Southwest Airlines is hosting its very own competition to find the next Blog-o-spondent for the Company’s blog Nuts About Southwest.


Over the past six months, Southwest Airlines Employee Christi Day  has served as the Company’s primary Blog-o-spondent, traveling to Southwest cities across the country and filming short segments for the Company’s blog, including features on various Southwest Operations and Employees.  Now Christi is ready to share the spotlight and allow one lucky Customer to become the next Nuts About Southwest Blog-o-spondent. 


Beginning Aug. 5, Customers can submit a one-minute audition video on the official contest site (http://southwest.spigit.com/homepage).  Between Aug. 5-31, fellow Customers will be able to view all video submissions and vote for their favorites.  The three contestants with the most votes on Sept. 1 will be invited to join current Blog-o-spondent Christi Day and the Southwest Blog Team at this year’s BlogWorld Expo in Las Vegas on Sept. 20-21 to compete in a final competition round.  On the morning of Saturday, Sept. 20, the three finalists will meet at the Las Vegas Convention Center, where they will receive a video assignment (to be revealed that morning) that will serve as their final challenge.  Each contestant’s final video submission will be posted on the contest site on Sept. 21, where Customers will have another opportunity to vote for their favorite and help select the official Nuts About Southwest Blog-o-spondent.   The final video submissions will be showcased at the BlogWorld Expo on the afternoon of Sept. 21, where they will be judged by current Blog-o-spondent Christi Day and a panel of Southwest Airlines Judges.  The winner will be revealed immediately following the judging ceremony. 


Over the next year, the Blog-o-spondent will travel to select Southwest cities to produce a minimum of four video segments for Southwest’s Blog Nuts About Southwest.  The winner will be provided with air transportation and hotel accommodations for each assignment and will be outfitted with a new video camera, laptop, and editing software to complete the job.   


Audition videos may be submitted Aug. 5-31, at http://southwest.spigit.com/homepage.  The three finalists will be notified on or close to Sept. 1.  Contestants must be 18 or older to participate and meet the following criteria:


• Ability to capture, edit, and post their own footage in an accepted format in a timely manner
• FUN on- and off-camera personality that reflects Southwest’s unique Culture
• Ability to clearly communicate Southwest messages
• Ability to commit to time and travel required for each assignment
• Follow all official contest rules and guidelines.  Rules and guidelines may be found below and at www.blogsouthwest.com.

Southwest Airlines
Still a maverick after 37 years, Southwest Airlines was the first airline to offer its Customers a venue for open dialogue through a blog, Nuts About Southwest.  With nearly 30 Employee bloggers who represent a mix of frontline and behind-the-scenes Employees, including Pilots, Flight Attendants, Schedule Planners, Customer Service Agents, Executives, Administrative Assistants, Marketing Representatives, etc.  Since its launch in April 2006, Nuts has experienced tremendous success - building relationships with Customers, serving as a virtual focus group, and influencing several business decisions. In 2007, Nuts was named Best Blog by PR News and has been recognized in major publications ranging from Wired Magazine to The Wall Street Journal.

BlogWorld & New Media Expo
BlogWorld & New Media Expo is the first and only industry-wide tradeshow, conference and media event dedicated to promoting the dynamic industry of blogging and new media. BlogWorld features dozens of seminars, panel discussions and keynotes from iconic personalities on the leading-edge of online technology and Internet-savvy business. Designed to give participants the strategies, tools and technologies they need to stake their claim in the blogosphere, BlogWorld takes place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Sept. 20-21. More information on BlogWorld & New Media Expo can be found at www.blogworldexpo.com.

Spigit
Spigit develops enterprise community software to drive innovation and empower decision makers. Spigit's core products, InnovationSpigit and IdeaSpigit, are used by Fortune 500 companies to power both internal and external innovation and idea management initiatives. Spigit has received recognition and numerous awards, including the AlwaysOn Global 250, Best of Interop 2008 and the 2008 Gartner Cool Vendor in the High Performance Workplace. (http://www.spigit.com)

Official Contest Rules
Visit http://southwest.spigit.com/homepage during the Contest Period and submit an Official Entry form including your complete name, address including zip code, telephone number, your primary e-mail address and answers to other questions on the Official Entry form, and upload a video application not to exceed sixty (60) seconds in length to YouTube.com and then submit the embed code on the Spigit site. (collectively "Online Entry"). Online Entry must include the entrant's explanation of why he/she is the perfect candidate for the position of Southwest Airlines “Blog-o-spondent.”

No previously published video clips may be submitted nor will such a submission qualify as an Online Entry.  All Online Entries become the sole property of the Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned.  No correspondence will be entered into, acknowledged or returned.  Sponsor reserves the right to edit, publish and use any Online Entry without further permission, consideration, or payment to the entrant.  By submitting an Online Entry, entrant warrants and represents that Online Entry is 100% original creation/work by entrant and that use of the Online Entry as described herein will not violate any law or infringe upon the rights of any third party. All Online Entries must be received by 11:59:59 PM ET on August 31, 2008. Limit one Online Entry per person. Duplicate Online Entries received will be void.  In the event the same video clip is submitted by more than one entrant, the first Online Entry received will be accepted and all additional duplicate Online Entries will be deemed void.

Use of automated devices is not valid for entry.  Online Entries must include a valid e-mail address for the entrant.  Southwest Airlines and their respective officers, directors, agents, employees, and assigns (collectively, the "Released Parties") are not responsible for any problems or technical, hardware, or software malfunctions of any telephone network or telephone lines, failed, incorrect, inaccurate, incomplete, garbled or delayed electronic communications whether caused by the sender or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in this Contest, computer online systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any e-mail or entry to be received by the Sponsor due to technical problems, human error or traffic congestion, unavailable network connections on the Internet or at any web site, or any combination thereof, including, without limitation, any injury or damage to entrant's or any other person's computer relating to or resulting from participating in this Contest or downloading any materials in this Contest.

"Top 10" Judging Criteria: Top 10 entries with the most “spigs” on the online voting site will be required to participate in a telephone interview with a representative of Southwest Airlines between September 2, 2008 and September 8, 2008, and consent to a criminal background check.  In the event a Finalist is not available for the telephone interview on the date and time designated by Southwest Airlines, the Finalist may be disqualified.  Based on these interviews, compliance with applicable Southwest Airlines appearance guidelines and the results of the criminal background checks, a total of three (3) "Top 3" Finalists will be selected from among all "Top 10" Finalists.  The selection of the "Top 3" Finalists will be made by Southwest Airlines whose decisions are final and binding in all respects relating to the selection of all "Top 3" Finalists. All "Top 3" Finalists will be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability and Publicity Release.  Non-compliance will result in disqualification of such "Top 3" Finalist and the next highest scoring "Top 10" Finalist may become a "Top 3" Finalist.

Online Voting: 

Finalist Prize Judging Criteria: The “Top 3” Finalists will be invited to a call-back round in Las Vegas.  Southwest Airlines will fly each contestant to Las Vegas on Friday, September 19, 2008, with all travel and lodging expenses paid.  Finalists will be given their final video assignment.  On Sunday, September 21, 2008, the “Top 3” Finalists will post their “call-back” video on the Spigit voting site for the final vote.  The final video submissions will also be showcased at the BlogWorld Expo on the afternoon of Sept. 21, where they will be judged by a panel of Southwest Airlines Judges.  The winner will be revealed immediately following the judging ceremony. 

Public vote will weigh 30%
Southwest Airlines Judges vote will weigh 70%

The final video submission will be judged by the Southwest Airlines judging panel on the following criteria:
• Originality: 30 pts.
• Humor: 30 pts.
• Southwest Airlines Brand Message: 20 pts.
• Resourcefulness: 10 pts.
• Completion of assignment: 10pts.
o Between 3-5 minutes
o Turned in on time

Total: 100 pts.

A “Top 3” Finalist Prize Winner may decline and thereby waive his/her right to receive a Finalist Prize.  In order to claim a Finalist Prize, Finalist Prize Winners must be willing to submit to a criminal background check (to be administered by Southwest Airlines) and will be required to complete an Affidavit or Declaration of Eligibility and/or a Release and Waiver and Authorization To Reproduce Likeness (collectively, the "Documentation").  The Documentation must be returned within ten (10) business days of receipt of notification containing such Documentation.  A potential Finalist Prize Winner's failure to sign and return the Documentation within ten (10) business days, or to provide a satisfactory criminal background check or to comply with any term or condition of these Rules may, at the sole discretion of Sponsor, result in disqualification, forfeiture of his or her interest in the Finalist Prize, and the next highest scoring "Top 3" Finalist will become a Finalist Prize Winner.  Except where prohibited by law, a Finalist Prize Winner's acceptance of a Finalist Prize constitutes permission to use his/her name, voice/testimonial, hometown, Online Entry and/or likeness/photograph for promotional, advertising and/or publicity purposes in any media, now or hereafter known throughout the world in perpetuity, without further notice or compensation.

“Top 3” Finalist Prizes and their Approximate Retail Values ("ARV"):
• A trip for the “Top 3” Finalist Prize Winner to Las Vegas, NV from Sept. 19-22, 2008, consisting of round-trip air transportation for two (2) persons from the nearest airport that Southwest Airlines serves with regularly scheduled flights and one (1) hotel room per finalist for a maximum of three (3) nights.
• “Top 3” Finalists will be given a daily per diem of $50 to be used on food, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses. 
• “Top 3” Finalists will stay 3 nights (Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Sept.19-22) at a Las Vegas hotel.

Finalist Prize Winners must travel on dates designated by Southwest Airlines. In the event a Finalist Prize Winner cannot travel on dates designated by Southwest Airlines that Finalist Prize Winner will be disqualified and the Finalist Prize will be awarded to the next highest scoring "Top 10" Finalist, provided sufficient time remains prior to the designated Finalist Prize trip dates. If a Finalist Prize Winner resides within 50 miles of Las Vegas, air and ground transportation will not be provided.  Any difference between actual retail value of Finalist Prize will not be awarded. All travel is subject to any and all restrictions instituted by the Department of Defense and/or Department of Homeland Security at the time of travel.  “Top 3” Finalist Prize Winners will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all required travel documents prior to travel and the associated costs for these requirements.  The Released Parties maintain no control over the personnel, equipment, or operation of any air carrier or ground transportation carrier as a part of the prize provided under this Contest and shall not be liable for any injury, damage, loss, expense, accident, delay, inconvenience, or other irregularity that may be caused.  No substitution, refund, cash redemption, assignment or transfer of Finalist Prize permitted.  Finalist Prize Winners must supply Southwest Airlines with their social security numbers for tax purposes. Finalist Prize Winners are solely responsible for all federal, state and local taxes on Finalist Prize.  Once travel arrangements have been made, changes to itinerary cannot be made by a Finalist Prize Winner or Guest.  All Finalist Prize Winners must submit to a background check to Southwest Airlines.  “Top 3” Finalist Prize Winners may be disqualified from the Contest based on their failure to submit to a fingerprint criminal background check or based on the results of the background check. 

Grand Prize Voting Period:  Individuals who go to http://southwest.spigit.com/homepage between 12:00 a.m. ET and 3:29:59 PM ET on September 21, 2008, ("Grand Prize Voting Period") will be asked to view the three (3) Grand Prize Video Applications and vote for their favorite.  The Finalist Prize Winner who receives the highest number of votes during the Grand Prize Voting Period will be deemed the Grand Prize Winner.

"Ultimate Blog-o-spondent":  The Grand Prize Winner will be announced at the BlogWorld Expo in Las Vegas on September 21and and will be offered the job of “Ultimate Blog-o-spondent;” a contract Employee of Southwest Airlines expected to create original videos about four (4) specific cities that Southwest Airlines serves.  Southwest Airlines will provide travel, accommodations, and miscellaneous expenses on all trips to capture videos about these four cities.  Southwest Airlines will also provide an assistant for four video shoots.  Official relationship will commence on or about October 1, 2008 and terminate on October 1, 2009, (the "Employment Period").  The Grand Prize Winner's partnership is contingent upon:  (1) Grand Prize Winner's completion of the requisite employment paperwork including, but not limited to, an ideas form, a confidentiality agreement and a job application; and (2) Grand Prize Winner's compliance with the "Southwest Airlines Look".  Southwest Airlines reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to not hire the Grand Prize Winner for any reason.  The Grand Prize Winner must also successfully complete certain training including, without limitation, Media Training and traditions.  The Grand Prize Winner's sole obligation as “Blog-o-spondent” will be to travel to those assignments (determined by Southwest Airlines in its sole discretion) four (4) times during the Employment Period.  The Grand Prize Winner must be available to travel when needed by Southwest Airlines.  Each time the Grand Prize Winner travels at the request of Southwest Airlines during the Employment Period, Southwest will provide the following to the Grand Prize Winner:  (a) round-trip air transportation from the nearest Southwest Airlines city, (B) transportation between the Arrival Airport and the location of Grand Prize Winner's assignment (c) hotel accommodations (depending on availability, one standard room, quad occupancy) at a hotel designated by Southwest Airlines, (D) a spending allowance in an amount to be determined by Southwest Airlines in its sole discretion.  If the Grand Prize Winner resides within 50 miles of the destination, air transportation will not be provided.  The Grand Prize Winner will receive no other compensation from Southwest Airlines for his/her services as the Blog-o-spondent.  The Grand Prize Winner is solely responsible for any and all ground transfers between winner's residence and airport of departure, gratuities, travel upgrades, personal incidentals, all airport and government issued taxes, and any other expenses not specified herein.  All travel is subject to any and all restrictions instituted by the Department of Defense and/or Department of Homeland Security at the time of travel.  Grand Prize Winner will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all required travel documents prior to travel and the associated costs for these requirements. The Released Parties maintain no control over the personnel, equipment, or operation of any air carrier or ground transportation carrier and shall not be liable for any injury, damage, loss, expense, accident, delay, inconvenience, or other irregularity that may be caused.  No substitution, refund, cash redemption, assignment or transfer of any of the foregoing compensation permitted.  Grand Prize Winner is solely responsible for all federal, state and local taxes.  These Rules do not constitute a partnership agreement.  Specifically, Grand Prize Winner is an at-will partnership and his/her relationship with Southwest Airlines may be terminated at any time.

Participation:  Participation in the Contest constitutes an agreement by each entrant to comply with these Rules. These Rules will be posted at http://southwest.spigit.com/homepage between August 1, 2008 and October 1, 2008.  Sponsor reserves the right to, in its sole discretion, cancel, modify or suspend the Contest should any computer virus, bugs or other technical difficulty or other causes beyond the control of the Sponsor or Released Parties corrupt the administration, security or proper play of the Contest.

Limitations of Liability: By entering the Contest, you agree that (1) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or in connection with the Contest, or any prize awarded, shall be resolved individually without resort to any form of class action; (2) any claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering the Contest, but in no event attorney's fees; and (3) under no circumstances will you be permitted to obtain any award for, and you hereby waive all rights to claim, punitive, incidental or consequential damages and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased and any other damages, other than damages for actual out-of-pocket expenses.

General Release: By entering the Contest, you release and discharge Southwest Airlines and Released Parties from any liability whatsoever in connection with the Contest or with the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any prize including, without limitation, legal claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages, demands or actions of any kind (including, without limitation: personal injuries; death; damage to, loss or destruction of property; rights of publicity or privacy; and defamation or portrayal in a false light). Southwest Airlines will not be responsible for typographical, printing or other inadvertent errors in these Rules or in other materials relating to the “Ultimate Blog-o-spondent” casting call.

Official Rules/Winners List: To obtain a copy of these Rules, print them from the Internet at http://southwest.spigit.com/homepage.  If you have any questions regarding this Contest or would like to obtain the names of the Finalist Prize Winners and/or Grand Prize Winner (available after January 31, 2009, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Southwest Airlines, Emerging Media, 2702 Love Field Drive, HDQ-1PR, Dallas, TX  75235.


www.southwest.com

Media Please Contact: 
Public Relations at 214/792-4847

6 Comments
Dorothy_Buckley
Explorer C
I flew to Las Vegas from orlando for a convention with a lady friend both our husbands are veterans. It was such a pleasure to have friendly people. my friend left her wallet on the plane ,on the return trip was told it was found. Even without the incident, the plane was on time our luggage was greatly handled. we will fly always SOUTHWEST from now on. Thank you for the pleasant journey Flights 84 and 3419 EXCELLENT WE WILL PASS OUR TRAVELS ON TO OUR MANY FRIENDS , DOROTHY BUCKLEY & VERA SORRENTINO
Cheryl2
Explorer C
I love Southwest!!!! I have never had: lost luggage, late flights, cancelled flights, grouchy or grumpy personnel, and I have always had fun! Once when my daughter went into labor early, Southwest got me on an earlier flight and everything was smooth! My only regret is that you do not fly into Iowa or Moline Ill. I have had to fly on a competitor and I had, lost luggage, cancelled flights, late flights, really grouchy and grumpy personnel from the ticket counter to the pilot! Please oh please look into flying into Iowa and Ill...... And I love rapid rewards and Ding!!!! Now that I am retired, I need to find all the help I can to save a dollar. All my grandchildren live away from me:(.. Thank you to Southwest!!!!!!
Lisa16
Explorer C
Please consider starting service in Melbourne, Florida. The amount of people that live in the Space Coast area and have family and friends that live in the northern states is more than you expect. The Melbourne Airport is as great as the Buffalo Airport and I love that you provide service to Buffalo. If you were to conduct a poll, I am sure that you would have an overwhelming response to the number of customers who would like to have your company in a convienient local airport. Thank you for excellent service that you provide, in-flight, at the airports and through your 1-800 #. My family, friends and I fly with you several times a year, from coast to coast and north to south, we are never disappointed. Thank you Southwest Lisa
LaVerne
Explorer C
I absolutely LOVE Southwest airlines. The flights are always cheaper and the no fee for changes is absolutely OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!!!! That is a $100.00 savings right there and the frequent flyer program is so easy to use as far as earning points (I am a point person junky).The flight attendants are very friendly and make the flying experience so enjoyable. When I was graduating with my degree in business I selected Southwest Airlines as my company to report on. What a wonderful company and the arm wrestling deal...how original! Whenever I fly I pick Southwest. By the way, can you do your Southwest reporting blog in Columbus, Ohio sometimes? I have watched it on TV and it is very entertaining. Keep flying high above the rest!!!! Thank you Southwest for keeping something in this economic time of struggle affordable!
Joani
Explorer C
I love Southwest, always have, but when I fly with my daughter, who is deathly allergic to peanuts, we just have a panic attack worried that the peanut dust will send her into anaphylactic shock. Please, please, please go to no nut flights. Pretzels anyone?
Don_P
Explorer C
Thank you SOUTHWEST. I finally made to Seattle,WA. After earning my 1st Rapid Reward certificate, I decided to use it wisely. I earned my reward by traveling as much as I can in the east coast and midwest. Yeah! as soon I got my reward, I knew I want to see Seattle. Never been there and thank God you fly there. It was a long trip and long lay over but it was all worth it. Why? The night after arrive, I told my friend that he needs to take me to the Space Needle next day. Got up early in the morning when to the Space Needle went up 520' feet up, guess what I saw. It was the most romantic scene I saw. As soon I got out the observation deck, there was a guy proposing to his girlfriend. What perfect view, right behind is Mt Rainier. I was touched how this guy did it. After moment, I knew this trip was going to be perfect. Again, thank you SOUTHWEST for another priceless memories. Yes, Washington state is my 42nd state to visit. I only wish I have a video camera to show that your customers.