MADISON AVENUE challenged Advertising Agencies all over the country to tackle the “misperceptions” of Islam

Adweek editors Eleftheria Parpis and Brian Morrissey challenged over 30 agencies to apply their communications skills to address the issue. ONLY FIVE even took the challenge. And none were from the leaders in the advertising industry – they knew better than to accept a challenge that was a guaranteed loser going in.  ADWEEK - The controversy over the proposed site of the (Park 51) Ground Zero Victory Mosque two blocks from Ground Zero has inspired a fervent national debate about religious freedom and tolerance and protecting the sanctity of a site where thousands perished in the World Trade Center attacks. According to a Time magazine poll conducted last year, 61 percent of 1,000 adults surveyed opposed the project, while 26 percent supported it. Just 23 percent said it would be a symbol of religious tolerance, while 44 percent said it would be an insult to those who died on 9/11. Additionally, 46 percent of those polled believed Islam was more likely than other faiths to encourage violence against non-believers, although only 37 percent said they knew a Muslim American. The challenge posed was to change the perceptions of ordinary Americans toward Islam and Muslims, and encourage dialog between those who oppose and support the building of the community center. Participants were free to choose whatever media they felt would be most effective in communicating their ideas. Here are the agencies’ visions and the summaries of their strategic thinking, in their own words. more via barenakedislam.wordpress.com