Diane Kruger is the new face of Hear the World

2008-10-23, Stäfa, Switzerland

Hollywood star Diane Kruger has signed up to be an ambassador for the Hear the World initiative. The successful actress is the current cover model for the October issue of the HEAR THE WORLD magazine.

In addition to Kruger, Mischa Barton, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Billy Idol have joined the team of famous ambassadors. All have been photographed for the cause by Bryan Adams, the initiative’s official photographer, in the Hear the World pose – with a hand behind one ear, symbolising conscious hearing. The goal of their participation is to raise awareness about the issue of hearing and hearing loss.

Kruger celebrated her international breakthrough with the role of Helen in Wolfgang Peterson’s "Troy." She is currently filming Quentin Tarantino’s new film "Inglorious Bastards" with Brad Pitt, which is scheduled to appear in cinemas in 2009. With her star power, Kruger plays an important role in drawing attention to the message of the initiative.

The HEAR THE WORLD magazine utilizes a culture and lifestyle platform to address the topic of hearing. Always linking content to the subject of hearing and sound, the magazine’s features focus on a broad range of topics, from music, to art, nature, and everything else that makes life more beautiful. The magazine is supported by the global Hear the World initiative, which is dedicated to raising awareness about hearing.

A team at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore estimated that 55 million Americans have hearing loss in one or both ears. One out of six, or 29 million adults, have some trouble discerning speech, more than previous estimates, they reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Current ambassadors for Hear the World include Plácido Domingo, Joss Stone, Mick Jagger, Amy Winehouse, Harry Belafonte and Annie Lennox, among others.

HEAR THE WORLD magazine is published quarterly and is available at select newsstands and at airports internationally. Net proceeds of the magazine benefit the Hear the World Foundation.

About Hear the World

Hear the World is a global initiative by hearing device manufacturer Phonak created to raise awareness about the importance of hearing. The initiative calls attention to the social and emotional impact of hearing loss and addresses prevention of and solutions to a problem that affects more than 10% of the world’s population. In the context of the Hear the World initiative, Phonak has established the non-profit Hear the World Foundation to improve the quality of life of people with hearing loss through financial and technical assistance. The foundation is committed to the prevention of hearing loss as well as the support of people with hearing loss and their families.

About Phonak

Headquartered near Zurich, Switzerland, Phonak has developed, produced and globally distributed state-of-the-art hearing systems and wireless devices for over 50 years. The combination of expertise in hearing technology, mastery in acoustics and strong cooperation with hearing care professionals allows Phonak to significantly improve people’s hearing ability and speech understanding and therefore their quality of life. Phonak offers a complete range of digital hearing instruments, along with complementary wireless communication systems. With 2,500 employees worldwide, Phonak drives innovation and sets new industry benchmarks regarding miniaturization and performance.