On September 24, 2007, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and advertising industry leaders gathered at Brooklyn Borough Hall to announce the proposed creation of a high school in Brooklyn dedicated to advertising and media.

If approved, the new venture is slated to open in September 2008. The Brooklyn Borough President’s office has already committed $2 million in capital to the creation of the school. An advisory board of advertising and media experts has been formed, led by Rick Boyko, Director of the VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University) Adcenter, one of the country’s premier advertising programs. The advisory board will advise on the construct of the new school’s curricula and will create a real two-way relationship between the school and the advertising industry.

Surrounded by dozens of students and teachers, BP Markowitz was joined by Ron Berger (Chairman of Advertising Week and CEO, EURO RSCG New York), Michael Roth (Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Interpublic Group), Fordham Leadership Academy Principal Richard Bost, Tom Carroll (Vice Chairman of Advertising Week and President, TBWA Worldwide), O. Burtch Drake (President & CEO of Advertising Week and the American Association of Advertising Agencies) and Matt Scheckner (Executive Director of Advertising Week).

“An advertising and media school in Brooklyn has long been a dream of mine,” said BP Markowitz. “Brooklyn is proud home to everyone from everywhere—and with all the creativity right here in our diverse Brooklyn communities, we know we can increase minority representation in the advertising and media industries. New York is the advertising capital of the world, and Brooklyn is the hottest, hippest ‘brand’ going, so it will be a real thrill to partner with the industry’s brightest lights in launching rewarding careers for the young people who need and deserve them most.”

“Since the creation of Advertising Week and particularly our Advertising Futures program four years ago, we have envisioned how significant a high school dedicated to advertising would be to our industry’s future,” stated Ron Berger, Chairman of Advertising Week and CEO, EURO RSCG New York.  “Many of us standing here today are proud products of Brooklyn and its public school system, and we are extremely excited to come full circle in the best community in the world.”

The New York City Department of Education must still review and approve the proposed school. “I commend the borough president for his dedication to creating more good public schools in Brooklyn,” said New York City Schools Chancellor Joel Klein. “We look forward to reviewing this proposal.”

Providing key support for the high school initiative is the American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA) New York Council. “The AAAA New York Council is fully behind this effort in every way and we couldn’t be more pleased to help create the next generation of talent right here in our backyard in Brooklyn,” said AAAA New York Council Chairman, Aaron Reitkopf.

ABOUT ADVERTISING WEEK 2007: Advertising Week is the largest and most prestigious annual gathering of advertising & media industry leaders in North America. Now in its fourth year, Advertising Week 2007 will take place in the Advertising capital of the world, New York City, on September 24th-28th.