Anyone who picked up a magazine or watched TV in the early 2000′s probably remembers the shocking images and hard-to-swallow facts of the anti-smoking ‘Truth‘ campaign. Ad spots like the ominously (and appropriately) titled “Body Bags” delivered statistics about the dangers of smoking without an ounce of sugar coating–and with a healthy dose of shock value. Even if you didn’t want to hear it, you were compelled to pay attention (especially when your loving daughter cut out the magazine ads and stuck them to your steering wheel…you’re welcome, Mom!).

Now, champion of all things green and climate-related Al Gore is hoping to elicit the same can’t-look-away public reaction when it comes to not-so-pretty facts about global warming. Gore’s Climate Reality Project has hired Arnold Worldwide, one of the agencies behind “Truth,” to raise awareness about the dangers of climate change and challenge the “fake science” and half-truths being circulated.

Arnold has answered the call to action by creating a website/social media tool called “Reality Drop,” which finds climate news from all over the Web and compares it with the most relevant science. Articles displayed in red are said to contain myths and denier-science, while those displayed in green contain evidence that climate change is an undeniable scientific fact. Visitors to the site are encouraged to share the green articles on Facebook and Twitter, and also to “drop some reality” on the red articles by posting comments containing copy-and-pasted scientific facts provided on the Reality Drop website.

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MSLGROUP appointed Brad Wilks as managing director of its North America Midwest Operations, responsible for offices in Chicago and Detroit.  He most recently served as Managing Director and head of Sard Verbinnen & Co’s Chicago office. Wilks succeeds Joel Curran, who transferred to the role of Managing Director of MSL New York in September. Wilks will be responsible for all aspects of business strategy, performance, growth, client service and talent at both MSL Chicago and MSL Detroit. (Release)

M&C Saatchi PR New York announced to appointment of Richard Barker as vice president to oversee its sports and entertainment offering. Richard joins the New York team from M&C Saatchi Sport and Entertainment in London, where he spent three years managing sponsorship and PR activation for some of the leading properties, governing bodies and brands in sports. In his new role, he will direct the agency’s key sports and entertainment accounts, with a focus on developing the division. (Release)

Marty Laiks joined Arnold Worldwide, specifically ArnoldNYC, as EVP/group account director on the agency’s Sanofi business, helping lead integrated work for the pharma giant. Prior to this move, Laiks served as managing director, digital at DFCB NY. Laiks also spent six years at Grey/G2 USA, helping build the latter’s Health & Wellness unit before moving up to executive director, strategic planning before he and the agency parted ways back in 2010 (AgencySpy)

Jennifer Morgan was named president of Time Out North America. Morgan comes to Time Out from Collective Media, where she most recently served as COO and CMO. She had been with the company since 2009. At Time Out, Morgan succeeds Aksel Van Der Wal, who is currently Time Out’s CEO. (FishbowlNY)

The stars have certainly aligned for Steve Stoute’s agency, Translation: Hip-hop juggernaut Jay-Z, film legend Ron Howard and iconic American beer brand Budweiser, along with a host of other talents, marketing gurus, PR experts and businesspeople are joining forces to create a film based on the two-day “Budweiser Made in America” film festival to be held in Philadelphia, PA, in September.

Sovereign\Santander has chosen Arnold Worldwide to represent the bank’s rebranding in a review competition that included Mullen and SapientNitro. Santander, the Spanish brand that bought Sovereign—and its 722 branches—in 2009, hired Arnold Worldwide to position the brand and execute its sweeping marketing and advertising efforts.

The Marcus Graham Project, an intensive summertime program designed to help rectify the ad industry’s lack of diversity, is celebrating its fifth anniversary by announcing that the project is going full time. This evolution, named Locomotus, will require $2.6 million in its first year.

Co-founder Lincoln Stephens emphasized the investment will benefit the industry as it seeks to remain competitive in a globalized and diversified marketplace and bolster the careers of motivated, talented, young professionals. Dan Wieden, MGP supporter and co-founder/global executive creative director of Wieden & Kennedy, explains “Locomotus takes the best of what portfolio programs and student-run agencies have and moves it to the next level.”

Stalwart anti-spyware brand McAfee, recently bought by Intel, has chosen Daniel J. Edelman’s Zeno Group as its AOR. This marks an account boon for Zeno, which is expanding its tech portfolio in its Silicon Valley office. Zeno will presumably be promoting McAfee’s digital products which give users the option of customizing their security settings.

Moet & Chandon USA has chosen Miami-based BRPR to head its digital strategies, sponsorship integration and brand communication across all platforms in the USA.

Ron Culp is stepping down as MD and head of the Ketchum North America corporate practice. According to his blog culpwrit, “Beginning this summer, I will hang up my own shingle in order to consult, teach, coach and write.” Chicago Business reports that he will remain a consultant with Ketchum.

Roberto Ruiz has been promoted to SVP of brand solutions in Univision‘s client development group. He will be providing clients in telecommunications, retail, and other areas with insight about reaching the Hispanic market.

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