IMAGES: Available at www.media.ford.com and www.flickr.com/photos/fiestamovement.

CONTEXT / BACKGROUND:

Thomas and Whit have a knack for creating off-the-wall videos, with one in particular leading them to win a Ford Fiesta for six months as a part of the Fiesta Movement. These former co-workers work for a Web company and love a good time – the perfect combination for Fiesta Movement agents.

As part of an innovative social media initiative, 100 young trendsetters are test driving and living with a Euro-spec Fiesta for six months, traveling as agents on special missions. They then relate their experiences through a variety of social media sites.

AGENT STATISTICS:

Names: Thomas Knoll and Whit Scott
Ages: Thomas, 28; Whit, 27
Location: San Francisco
Occupation: Thomas, community/customer advocate; Whit, video producer
Current Car Owned: Thomas, bike; Whit, Volkswagen Jetta
Twitter Followers: Thomas, 3,360; Whit, 978
Facebook Friends: Thomas, 640; Whit, 748
YouTube Videos: 1,319

DETAILS:

Thomas and Whit have been goofing off together long enough to know they could create content to entertain viewers – and tell about their adventures in a Fiesta at the same time. The San Francisco residents work at the same Web company, Seesmic, and use their passion for social media daily.

Whit first became passionate about social media during a trip around the world where he started blogging and creating videos to document the adventure. After returning, he found work as a video editor for a television show and eventually became producer of a show, bringing him further into social media. Thomas always has had his hand in social media, as he began making Web sites in 1998, which turned into designing blogs, forums and social communities. After becoming especially interested in online community groups, Thomas found a job doing exactly what he loves.

After receiving a tip from their boss about Fiesta Movement, they thought they had nothing to lose and made an application video. Their work paid off, as they were chosen to be one of Ford’s 100 official Fiesta Movement agents; soon they were on their way to their first mission, Lonely Planet in Oakland, Calif., to interview one of its globetrotting employees. While visiting, they were directed to obtain books and maps that would take them on adventures all along the West Coast. After the interview, they had all they needed to map out their adventures for the rest of the mission.

Their experiences with Fiesta have not disappointed. In fact, they have even found that cruising on a windy highway in the mountains is more enjoyable in a Fiesta than a Porsche Carrera. They’ve even bumped into other Fiesta Movement agents in San Francisco, and they have big plans for their Ford Fiesta – including taking it along to a bachelor party and wedding for Whit.

QUOTES:

“I’m probably going to buy one when it gets here – the car just gets looks. There have been five or six times where I had to stop a phone call because people are knocking on the windows to ask me about the Fiesta.”

– Thomas,
Fiesta Movement agent

“I used to take the bus everywhere, but now that we have this car, we’re driving because it’s fun and it catches people’s attention. We have a reason to go places.”

– Whit,
Fiesta Movement agent

Follow Whit and Thomas:

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/whitandthomas
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ultimatewhit
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomasknoll
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/whitscott
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thomasknoll
Twitter: http://twitter.com/whitscott
Twitter: http://twitter.com/thomasknoll
Blog: http://fordparty.tumblr.com
Missions completed: http://www.fiestamovement.com/missions/view/87
Application video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXF9TLZK7rw&feature= PlayList&p=14ECF2A77363BC81&index=0

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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 201,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

Sept. 30, 2009