For Immediate Release                            Contact: Heidi Mitchell
603-289-6333

                               Alison Omens 202-637-5018

New Hampshire Winner to be Selected in
AFL-CIO First-Ever Online Video Contest to “Turn Around America”
www.turnaroundvideocontest.com

Hooksett, NH (Apr. 10) The AFL-CIO today launched the “Turn Around
America” video competition -- its first-ever online video contest.
Winners will be announced nationally and in New Hampshire. The Granite
State winner will receive $1,000 and the video may be featured at
AFL-CIO rallies and as a television ad. The effort is meant in part to
engage voters and 2008 political candidates in a dialogue about what is
necessary to get America back on track.

The video contest, found at www.turnaroundvideocontest.com, is part of
a larger AFL-CIO initiative to “Turn Around America” which will run
through the summer. The “Turn Around America” initiative will
feature a major event in New Hampshire and build grassroots momentum to
elect leaders who will fight for health care, good jobs and an economy
that works for all.  The idea was inspired by retired Steelworker Steve
Skvara’s question last summer at the AFL-CIO presidential forum -
“What’s wrong with America and what will you do to change it?”

“Every day we hear from working people like Steve who believe that in
order to make America work, we need to do a complete 180 degree turn,”
said AFL-CIO Exec. Vice President Arlene Holt Baker. “This video
contest is meant to inspire people to envision how we can create a
better nation.”

While the contest prohibits videos which mention specific candidates or
political figures, it is meant to give average people a way to influence
our wider national conversation - - including the plans and visions of
the 2008 candidates for office, from City Council to the White House.

Participants will be invited to submit online videos in any creative
form that will answer the question of how to turn around America. The
contest will run Apr. 10 through May 20 and winners will be announced in
early June.  The categories include a national winner, who will receive
$2,000 and the chance for the video to appear in national TV ads. A
“young activist” category will also be awarded to the best video
made by someone between the ages of 14 and 25.  The contest is open to
the public.

The judges include Gillian Grisman, director and producer of "Grateful
Dawg” and "Keeping Time: New Music from America's Roots"; Robert
Greenwald, director and producer of "Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on
Journalism" and "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price"; Barbara Kopple,
director of "Shut Up and Sing"; Dawn Laguens, president of the political
media firm Laguens Kully Klose Partners; Craig Minassian, a producer and
consultant for HBO, Comedy Central and MTV; Chris Moore, producer of
"Project Greenlight" and "Good Will Hunting"; Mel Nieves, an actor,
playwright, and screenwriter; Ed Redlich, executive producer of "Shark"
and "Without a Trace”; Steve Skvara, retired steelworker; and Cherene
Snow, a television and movie actress. For complete biography
information, go to http://www.turnaroundvideocontest.com/judges.php.

“I’m honored to be one of the judges for the AFL-CIO’s Turn
Around America Online Video Competition,” said Director and Producer
Gillian Grisman. “Like so many Americans, I have been asking myself
the same questions that are posted in this contest. I’m looking
forward to seeing the creative responses to the challenge because I
believe art speaks truth to power and will spark a meaningful dialogue
about how we can turn this country around.”

In addition to the national winners, winners will be announced in the
following cities and states: Philadelphia, Pa.; Pittsburgh, Pa.;
Columbus, Ohio; Cleveland, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio; Denver, Colo.;
Detroit, Mich.; Portland, Ore.; New Hampshire; Maine; St.
Paul/Minneapolis/Rochester, Minn.; St. Louis, Mo. and Chicago, Ill.
These cities and states are where Turn Around America rallies and events
are being planned for the summer.

The contest can be accessed at www.turnaroundvideocontest.com.