Are you nutty enough to be the next blog star?

DALLAS, TX (August 7, 2008) – America holds auditions for hot new models, undiscovered singers and dancers who want to make it big. Now, Southwest Airlines is hosting its very own competition to find the next Blog-o-spondent for the company’s blog, Nuts About Southwest.

Over the past six months, Southwest Airlines employee Christi Day has served as the company’s primary Blog-o-spondent, traveling to Southwest cities across the country and filming short segments for the company’s blog, including features on various Southwest operations and employees. Now Christi is ready to share the spotlight and allow one lucky customer to become the next Nuts About Southwest Blog-o-spondent.

Beginning August 5, customers can submit a one-minute audition video on the official contest site (http://southwest.spigit.com/homepage). Between August 5-31, fellow customers will be able to view all video submissions and vote for their favorites. The three contestants with the most votes on September 1 will be invited to join current Blog-o-spondent Christi Day and the Southwest Blog Team at this year’s BlogWorld Expo in Las Vegas on September 20-21 to compete in a final competition round. On the morning of Saturday, September 20, the three finalists will meet at the Las Vegas Convention Center, where they will receive a video assignment (to be revealed that morning) that will serve as their final challenge. Each contestant’s final video submission will be posted on the contest site on September 21, where customers will have another opportunity to vote for their favorite and help select the official Nuts About Southwest Blog-o-spondent. The final video submissions will be showcased at the BlogWorld Expo on the afternoon of September 21, where they will be judged by current Blog-o-spondent Christi Day and a panel of Southwest Airlines judges. The winner will be revealed immediately following the judging ceremony.

Over the next year, the Blog-o-spondent will travel to select Southwest cities to produce a minimum of four video segments for Southwest’s Blog Nuts About Southwest. The winner will be provided with air transportation and hotel accommodations for each assignment and will be outfitted with a new video camera, laptop, and editing software to complete the job.

Audition videos may be submitted Aug. 5-31, at http://southwest.spigit.com/homepage. The three finalists will be notified on or close to September 1. Contestants must be 18 or older to participate and meet the following criteria:

— Ability to capture, edit, and post their own footage in an accepted
format in a timely manner
— FUN on- and off-camera personality that reflects Southwest’s unique
Culture
— Ability to clearly communicate Southwest messages
— Ability to commit to time and travel required for each assignment
— Follow all official contest rules and guidelines. Rules and guidelines
may be found below and at http://www.blogsouthwest.com/.