Ad Council Taps Charlie Rutman to Head Media Department

Former Carat USA president to line up public service campaigns

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/6/2010 3:04:04 PM

The Ad Council has tapped former Carat USA President Charlie Rutman and his End Zone Communications consulting firm to line up donated media.

Rutman will head up the Ad Council's media department, which gets broadcasters, cable operators and others to donate media time for public service campaigns, whose creative is donated by agencies.

Last year, the council pointed out, media outlets ponied up more than $1.8 billion in time and space.

Rutman is former chair of the council's TV steering committee, which reviews campaigns and advises on strategies to boost participation.

The council currently has 50 PSA campaigns in progress on everything from preventing wildfires (Smokey is their spokesbear) to protecting pets.