SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
The state of Nebraska has begun a new ad campaign to encourage tourism - or, at least, not disappoint those who do come to visit. One ad shows a happy half-dozen people floating down a stream in an empty livestock tank - that's apparently a Nebraska cruise ship - with the headline, lucky for you, there's nothing to do here. John Ricks, the state's tourism director, says their ad campaign had to strike a different note because not a lot of people say they think of visiting Nebraska. He says, I call bunk on that. Bunk - that's what people in Nebraska say instead of other four-letter words. He adds, there's a lot of cool, fun stuff to do here.
Another ad boasts festivals for everything from mud to testicles, meaning a food festival where sheep and beef remnants are deep fried. See? Cool, fun stuff. Vladimir Jones, a Colorado agency, prepared the ad campaign and says that focus groups have lauded its self-deprecating humor. Another Nebraska ad proclaims of their state, honestly, it's not for everyone. I've already packed my bags. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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