Breaking News

• Livestrong adds "Foundation" in new logo
  The Lance Armstrong-inspired Livestrong Foundation has added the word "foundation" in a change of its logo, echoing a recent change of its legal name. Executive Vice President of Operations Andy Miller, in an annual address, urged members of the foundation to continue on despite the association with the now-disgraced inspiration. "We believe that while changing our mark is a small act, it's a natural step in our evolution and a step towards becoming more us, more clear and doing more work," Miller said. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (3/1)     

Company News

• A-B InBev insists in ads that it doesn't water down beer
  Anheuser-Busch InBev is responding to lawsuits alleging that it waters down its beer with ads in several major newspapers, including The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times. The ads serve a double purpose by showing cans of water the company donates via the Red Cross for disaster relief, with the headline "They must have tested one of these." Copy insists that the company takes no shortcuts in the brewing process. Bloomberg Businessweek (3/3)     

• AT&T and T-Mobile trade barbs and network-quality claims
  AT&T is attacking rival T-Mobile in newspaper ads running in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, among others. The ads respond to suggestions by T-Mobile CEO John Legere that AT&T's network is "crap" by alleging that T-Mobile drops twice the number of calls and runs only half as fast as AT&T. T-Mobile has already responded, with Chief Marketing Officer Mike Sievert saying that the criticism must have "struck a chord" and claiming to be glad AT&T is "spending their money to print our name." As recently as 2011, AT&T was poised to purchase T-Mobile, but the deal was scotched by federal regulators. Bloomberg (3/1)     

• Yelp takes the plunge into mobile display advertising
  Yelp is to begin selling display ads on its mobile application in a bid to create a revenue stream to go with its promoted-listings service. InterContinental Hotels Group, Taco Bell and Miller Lite will be the first advertisers to use the service, which will be opened to all advertisers next month. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (3/1)     

• Other News

• Panera's take on a Rube Goldberg machine shows daily cycle of goodness
  Adweek (3/1)     

• Red Bull gives the Harlem Shake meme an extreme makeover, declares it over
  Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (3/1)     

Market Trends

• Mass personalization and other Mobile World Congress trends
  Productive partnerships, such as Ford reaching out to application-development partners for its SYNC program, are among the five takeaways from the Mobile World Congress listed in this article. Telefonica's driving monitor for teenage drivers represents a burgeoning era of "mass personalization," and "Qualcomm was demonstrating broadcast capabilities for sports venues that provide game coverage to phones," writes Greg Armshaw, chief technology catalyst at McCann Worldgroup Asia Pacific. "That's a great opportunity for brands to associate themselves with excellent content." Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (3/1)     

Interactive

• Taco Bell and Twitter crowdsource concert video for SXSW
  A Taco Bell initiative for a South by Southwest event at the Hype Hotel will use fans' video footage of Passion Pit and Wildcat! Wildcat! for a "rockumentary," writes Karlene Lukovitz. The footage is being collected in partnership with Twitter and its six-second video format Vine as an expansion of Taco Bell's "Feed the Beat" program, which provides food for up-and-coming bands. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (3/1)     

• Oreo star-chart app brings social to the sky
  Oreo is following its Super Bowl social media success with a mobile application that aims to turn the sky into a social-messaging service. Oreo Skies lets users view star charts by pointing a mobile device at the sky, then click individual stars to reveal messages from friends. ClickZ (3/1)     

	The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS) Ad Agency Campbell Mithun to Hire Interns Via Dear New Twinkies Owners Application Interested in learning more about advertising with SmartBrief? Click here for detailed industry information and media kits.

People & Personalities

• Kohl's vows more marketing to reach beyond core shopper
  Kohl's CEO Kevin Mansell says he plans to increase the store's marketing efforts, especially via broadcast, to reach "a broader swath of customers." He will do so despite being without a chief marketing officer; Julie Gardner left the company last year. "The message is going to be ... a broader message of savings and value across the store," Mansell adds. Kohl's spent $356.5 million on advertising in 2012, according to Kantar. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (3/1)     

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by AAF SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• J.C. Penney's misery mounts despite ad investment (Advertising Age (tiered subscription model))

• Oscar ads from Samsung, Grey Poupon focus on movies theme (Advertising Age (tiered subscription model))

• How some CPG brands are going beyond the supermom cliche (Adweek)

• Black is back as a means of signaling affordable luxury (The Wall Street Journal)

• Lincoln makes Beck's show a digital concert in the round (Adweek)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

AAF Spotlight

• AAF's Advocacy and Action: Advertising Day on the Hill
  Join advertising professionals from across the country in Washington, D.C., on April 17 for the American Advertising Federation's Advocacy and Action: Advertising Day on the Hill. In the morning of this premiere conference you will hear from legislators and regulators who make and enforce the laws that directly affect how the advertising industry does business. In the afternoon you and your fellow attendees will demonstrate the power of AAF's grassroots network by heading to the Hill and visiting with your elected representatives. The event will conclude with a special reception in the U.S. Capitol. Don't miss this exciting chance to make a difference in Washington, D.C.
  
  View sponsorship opportunities or register for Advocacy and Action: Advertising Day on the Hill.     

• Advertising Hall of Achievement 2013 Call For Nominations
  The American Advertising Federation's Advertising Hall of Achievement is the industry's premier award for outstanding advertising professionals age 40 and under. AAF established this program in 1993 as a way to recognize young advertising professionals who are making a significant impact on the industry through their leadership, career achievements and personal qualities, which also inspire others to excel.
  
  Nomination Deadline: March 8, 2013 | Nomination Form     

SmartQuote

Never hesitate to steal a good idea." --Al Neuharth, member, Advertising Hall of Fame