PR Week (US) articles from April 2002

PR Week (US) archives from April 2002

VNRs now go straight to reporters' desks with new Pathfire software.(video news releases)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... ROSWELL, GA: Direct digital delivery of VNRs onto journalists' desktops -- cutting out the middleman of the traffic department -- will be a reality by the middle of this month, with new software from digital media management company Pathfire....

Public affairs officers head home for US policy review.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... WASHINGTON: More than 100 of America's public affairs officers stationed overseas will descend on the nation's capital next week as undersecretary of state Charlotte Beers convenes a meeting -- unprecedented in size, cost, and ambition -- to...

Feldman: GCI is in negotiations with Wilson McHenry.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO: GCI Group has confirmed it is in discussions with Wilson McHenry (WH) as it eyes acquiring the tech firm. "At this stage, we are talking to them," said Bob Feldman, CEO of GCI, but he did not reveal any additional details....

No measurement budget for 21% of comms projects.(Delahaye Medialink survey)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 1, 2002... NEW YORK: A PRWeek survey about attitudes toward measurement has found that the greatest proportion of respondents, 42%, spend less than 2% of their budget on evaluation. A further 21% spent none of their PR budget on measurement, with...

HBR reviews Interview in wake of scandal.(Harvard Business Review)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... CAMBRIDGE, MA: The Harvard Business Review, known for authoritative articles on cutting-edge management practices, recently began to mull an innovation of its own. According to its PR team, the magazine has been thinking of repackaging the...

Weber Shandwick Worldwide has promoted Rene Mack to president. (Briefs).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... NEW YORK: Weber Shandwick Worldwide has promoted Rene Mack to president, travel marketing, North America. Mack has been with the agency for six years. In his new position, he will build travel-related marketing business across the North...

Cordiant Communications has reached an out-of-court settlement with Financial Dynamics.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... LONDON: Cordiant Communications has reached an out-of-court settlement with Financial Dynamics executives Nick Miles and Hugh Morrison. Under the deal's terms, Miles and Morrison will be allowed to stay on at the agency until September 23 in...

Lisa Dallos, former head of publicity at Talk and a veteran of CNN and George.(to Gentlemen's Quarterly)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... NEW YORK: Lisa Dallos, former head of publicity at Talk and a veteran of CNN and George, has signed on as the new PR director at GQ.

Hispanic marketing communications firm Publicis Sanchez & Levitan.(New York location opened)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... NEW YORK: Hispanic marketing communications firm Publicis Sanchez & Levitan, part of Publicis Groupe, is opening a New York office helmed by Jose Gonzalez. The firm also appointed Isaac Lasky to head Southwest operations, based in Dallas.

Ron Hartwig returns to Hill & Knowlton April 1 in the new role of chairman of California operations and director of the US corporate practice.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... LOS ANGELES: Ron Hartwig returns to Hill & Knowlton April 1 in the new role of chairman of California operations and director of the US corporate practice. He recently ran the campaign for gubernatorial hopeful Richard Riordan, who lost the GOP...

Equals Three Communications has added Myvesta and the BlackRock Center for the Arts to its client list. (Briefs).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... BETHESDA, MD: Equals Three Communications has added Myvesta and the BlackRock Center for the Arts to its client list. Myvesta takes a holistic approach to helping people who have taken financial missteps. BlackRock is a new arts center in the...

FX Networks has promoted Chris Carlisle. (Briefs).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... LOS ANGELES: FX Networks has promoted Chris Carlisle from SVP to EVP of marketing and promotions. He recently helped launch the TV drama The Shield.

Spalding Sports Worldwide has retained Alan Taylor Communications. (Briefs).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... NEW YORK: Spalding Sports Worldwide has retained Alan Taylor Communications to handle the promotion of its Top-Flite XL 3000 and Strata golf balls. Alan Taylor will also handle publicity for Sara Lee's IronKids Bread Triathlon event, a...

Ruane Communications, an Atlanta-based PR agency. (Briefs).(appointment)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... ATLANTA: Ruane Communications, an Atlanta-based PR agency, has named Kevin Feeney as SVP. He previously served as VP of corporate communications at Allied Holdings. He has also held the position of director of corporate affairs at Alumax in...

Boutique firm Murphy O'Brien. (Briefs).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... SANTA MONICA, CA: Boutique firm Murphy O'Brien has added eight new clients over the past few months. The accounts, valued at $888,000, include Auberge Resorts, which runs the exclusive San Ysidro Ranch, where John and Jackie Kennedy...

Care USA, the international humanitarian organization. (Briefs).(appointment)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... ATLANTA: CARE USA, the international humanitarian organization, has hired Lurma Rackley as PR director. A 30-year PR veteran, she most recently headed Eddie Bauer's public affairs and corporate philanthropy.

The National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP) named Hispanic PR Wire. (Briefs).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... WASHINGTON: The National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP) named Hispanic PR Wire as its official Hispanic wire service. For mainstream media distribution, the NAHP has chosen Business Wire.

NY hook-up joint scoring US-wide media coverage. (News).(Remote Lounge)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... NEW YORK: Remote Lounge, a hard-wired hook-up bar located in New York's East Village, has enjoyed a bumper run of national media coverage - and computer-savvy singles haven't been the only ones to notice. "We've enjoyed the attention,"...

New PR shop aids religious groups. (News).(Covenant Consultants)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... ORLANDO, FL: Two self-proclaimed "veteran religious PR guys" have created a new calling for themselves by launching Covenant Consultants, a communications shop targeted toward churches, evangelical groups, and the swelling ranks of...

Ogilvy beefing up ties to Oval Office. (News).(appointment)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... WASHINGTON: The lineup of heavy hitters at Ogilvy PR's Washington, DC office is being reshuffled, apparently to capitalize on agency connections to the Bush administration. Steve Dahloff, formerly the office's managing director, will now...

AAA begins pushing greater use of child safety seats. (News).(American Automobile Association)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... WASHINGTON: The American Automobile Association (AAA) has started a national public awareness campaign to increase usage of safety seats for young children, as well as enact new state laws on the issue. A three-person in-house PR team at...

Edelman tech has top-level shakeup. (News).(appointment)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... NEW YORK: The top tier of Edelman's tech division is undergoing a radical reorganization, with last week's announcement of a new international practice leader in London, and the resignation of Larry Sennett, its global head, based on the West...

Indictment worsens Andersen PR crisis. (News).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... CHICAGO: Andersen's indictment on criminal charges by the Department of Justice has had a "dramatic, detrimental impact," on its PR strategy, according to the accounting firm's PR consultant Charlie Leonard. Andersen's in-house and...

Citigate poised to land ETrade work. (News).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO: ETrade is in final negotiations with Citigate Cunningham following an extensive PR agency review. The company previously retained Hill & Knowlton, which was hired in August 1999. H&K helped the company roll out its new ETrade...

Corporations facing slavery suit. (News).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... NEW YORK: Three US companies have been named in a class-action lawsuit seeking financial reparation for profits made from slavery. Aetna, CSX, and FleetBoston Financial were the first companies named in a suit led by Deadria Farmer...

Samson joins growing Oracle PR unit. (News).(Dave Sampson)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO: Dave Samson has left his position as director of Ketchum's San Francisco office to join Oracle as VP of international PR and executive communications. His appointment is the latest move in Oracle's reorganization. James...

Franco snaps up PR Associates to 'rejuvenate' shop. (News).(Franco Public Relations Group)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... DETROIT: Franco Public Relations is buying PR Associates, a longtime fixture on the Detroit PR scene. The purchase will send Franco revenues from $2.4 million last year to roughly $3 million, said Maria Leon-hauser Rosenau, president of Franco....

Snowmobile fans defend right to use National Parks. (News).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... WASHINGTON: Hundreds of thousands of people are being given the opportunity to kill virtual snowmobilers with virtual snowballs -- all in the name of environmental safety. "The Bear Necessities," a video game being e-mailed to scores of...

H&K fraudster is suspended after 9/11 charity scam. (News).(Hill and Knowlton Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... CHICAGO: A Hill & Knowlton SAE has been suspended without pay after being arrested in New York for allegedly selling fraudulent fundraising tickets that he said would help families of September 11 victims. Brian Gill, 26, was suspended on...

Oscar results put studios in mudslinging state of mind. (News).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... HOLLYWOOD, CA: This year's Academy Awards campaigning season in Hollywood has been dubbed the most competitive "in recent memory" by a slew of media and publicity insiders. Still, after months of mudslinging, Hollywood's promotions elite...

Berk hired to feed media appetite for info on Britney's new eatery. (News).(Berk Communications)(Britney Spear's restaurant Nyla)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... NEW YORK: Britney Spears recently expanded her entourage, selecting Berk Communications as agency of record for her new restaurant, set to open this May in Midtown Manhattan's Dylan Hotel. According to the New York Post's Page Six (March 28),...

Sorrell: Now is the perfect chance to buy into Argentina. (News).(Martin Sorrell)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... LONDON: Now is a good time to consider investing in Argentina, WPP Group chairman and CEO Sir Martin Sorrell has said during a visit to the country. Argentina has been rocked by financial scandals, culminating in riots and many...

New PR firm to flag up DC's fight for voice in Congress. (News).(Monumental Impact Media)(Washington, D.C.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... WASHINGTON: DC Vote, the same group responsible for giving the motto "Taxation Without Representation" a home on Washington license plates, is now leading an effort to place the rallying cry on the District's flag. The slogan itself refers...

Worldcom wins in network battle for Obtree's business. (News).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... SANTA CLARA, CA: Worldcom Public Relations has been selected to execute a four-country campaign for Obtree Technologies. The independent agency network bid against other, undisclosed networks over a 90-day agency search period. Obtree is a...

To best measure PR, clippings don't cut it.(public relations services)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
April 1, 2002... Last summer, Universal, working with Sitrick & Co., helped place a piece in The New York Times preemptively revealing possible flaws in the now Oscar-endowed film A Beautiful Mind. It was a critical piece, but it didn't make any waves. The...

Letters.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Daniel Pearl was killed by those he ultimately sought to understand I knew Daniel Pearl. Not that I knew him well, but I met him, spoke with him, and regarded him as a contact. I met him on a trip of his to Israel to cover the peace...

In politics, good leadership eclipses mistakes and negative perceptions. (Thought Leader).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... President Bush has been a strong leader since September 11 -- any negative perceptions before that date have been erased. The American people have resolved this to a pollable certainty. And our legislators have been according our determination...

Comms key to meaningful merger of HP and Compaq: Securing the HP-Compaq merger was tough enough, but the hardest challenge, finds Julia Hood, lies in uniting feuding factions, skeptical shareholders, and warned workers. (HP-Compaq Merger).(communications)(Hewlett-Packard Co.)(Compaq Computer Corp.)
April 1, 2002... Carly Fiorina seems to have succeeded in doing what many thought was impossible. But the real work has only just begun. When the Hewlett-Packard CEO announced plans to merge the company with Compaq last September, the market greeted the...

As President Bush preaches transparency, his White House too often fails to practice it.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... President Bush knows the value of transparency. When he took office, transparency was the new administration's buzzword. "We've been increasingly open and transparent," said Vice President Cheney, referring to the discussion of his heart...

Dynegy uses PR pipeline to stay above the Enron fray: Nearly buying Enron put Dynegy in the public eye, but not in the way it would have liked. Solid PR has salvaged its image and energized its new branding campaign. (Client Profile).
April 1, 2002... Dynegy's corporate communications staff proves the cosmic warning, "Be careful what you ask for. You just might get it." They wanted brand recognition, and got it, but not the way they hoped. Sucked into Enron's vortex, Dynegy emerged amazingly...

Affair scandal exposes HBR to editorial and ethical criticism. (Media Watch).(Harvard Business Review)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... The affair between former GE CEO Jack Welch and Suzy Wetlaufer, the editor of the Harvard Business Review, has had a far-reaching impact. While some coverage has focused on how the scandal affects Welch, an analysis of overall media...

Thriving market captures attention of younger men. (Media Roundup).(men's magazines)(Industry Overview)
April 1, 2002... The market for men's lifestyle magazines is booming. Most respond to PR pros who have good relationships with editors and eye-catching photos. Oh, and it helps to work sex into your story. Only a few short years ago, marketers and public...

DC stories pitched with a lighter slant score points with Style. (Media Profile).(Washington Post's Style column offers local gossip)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... "Style" isn't the first word that comes to anyone's mind when thinking of Washington, DC. Ironic, then, that The Washington Post's Style section should be the one most likely to generate talk among Washingtonians. The Washington Post is...

Dukes' legendary status born from self-confidence. (Profile).(public relations executive Ofield Dukes)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Ofield Dukes inspires many, infuriates some, but is revered by most. Douglas Quenqua tells how this PR pioneer has risen above racial lines to become one of the industry's most influential figures There's something about Ofield. Maybe...

Measuring up: Measurement and evaluation have never been so important to PR. And that's where industry consensus ends. Julia Hood reports on options and attitudes.(discussion of measuring the impact of public relations)
April 1, 2002... Mark Scott is a great example of how far measurement in PR has come, and how far it has to go. As VP of marketing for HomeBane Mortgage Corporation, Scott retains Burrelle's Information Services to help him justify his PR budget to the CEO and...

Sturdier stuff than steel: No longer just a steel town, Pittsburgh's new business diversity has opened fresh streams of growth for local PR firms. (Regional Focus Pittsburgh).
April 1, 2002... Acres of smokestacks jutting out from miles of steel mills dominate the landscape where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers come together to form the Ohio. At least that's the mental picture most people will paint when you say "Pittsburgh."...

Starting work with a new agency: The relationship may be new, but the task at hand often isn't. So for a smooth transition to a new agency, face time must be top priority. (PR Technique Client-Agency Relationships).(Column)
April 1, 2002... As nice as it would be to start all relationships with a blush, a shyly outstretched hand, and all the time in the world to find out each other's charming peccadilloes, the nonstop nature of PR means that it's far more likely the outstretched...

DSC persistence wins over media. (Crisis Communications).(Distilled Spirits Council)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Client: Distilled Sprits Council of America (Washington, DC) PR Team: In-house Campaign: Discrediting the "Teen Tipplers" study Time Frame: 96 hours (Friday, February 22- Tuesday, February 26) Budget: Part of normal...

Texas PR plan not messing around. (Public Affairs).(Texas Department of Transportation)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Client: Texas Department of Transportation PR Team: EnviroMedia (Austin, TX) Campaign: "Don't Mess with Texas" Time Frame: Fall 1998 - ongoing Budget: about $2 million a year In April 1998, EnviroMedia won the "Don't Mess...

Juicy uses suite to showcase fall line. (Branding).(Juicy Couture)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Client: Juicy Couture (Los Angeles) PR Team: Harrison & Shriftman (New York) Campaign: Juicy Suite Time Frame: July 25-27, 2001 Budget: Under $25,000 Juicy Couture is a budding clothing brand know for its tight-fitting...

Pandora's problem page. (Careers).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Q I work for an aggressive hi-tech PR agency in Silicon Valley. The culture here is highly competitive. While we all work on accounts as a team, there is a bonus structure in place that is based on your individual contribution -- whether it is...

My big break. (Careers).(Stephanie Schroeder)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... "I got my big break twice. The first was when I was working at an association magazine. I interviewed a client at a small Madison Avenue PR firm that I thought would be the ultimate place to work. They served me coffee and bagels, had classic...

Where I Work. (Careers).(Playboy Entertainment Group)(Brief Article)(Interview)
April 1, 2002... SCOTT BARTON National director of media and public relations Playboy Entertainment Group Number of PR dept. employees: 4 Phone: (310) 246-4000 Address: 9242 Beverly Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 Web: www.playboy.com...

Maxim's 13 enjoys 'best of' luck. (Last Call).(Maxim magazine runs 13 editions naming 13 cities as 'Greatest City on Earth')(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... What else would you expect from a magazine launched on April Fool's Day? For their fifth anniversary, the editors of Maxim created 13 separate editions of a special "Greatest City on Earth" package, each one declaring a different...

Amid controversy, GE can't put much stock in its award.(General Electric Credit Corp.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... On March 21, General Electric won its sixth straight Grand Prix Award from Investor Relations magazine. Unfortunately, the company's IR department wasn't able to savor the honor. Two days earlier, financial guru Bill Gross, manager of the...

Publicists pitch persistently to procure post-Oscar party place. (Tales From Tinseltown).(public relations firms work to get clients invited to parties)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... Spring is a very busy season for Hollywood publicists. We're diligently writing bios, embellishing our clients' notable achievements, and pitching them harder than Nolan Ryan. No stone is left unturned. If our calls are ignored, we call again,...

Hughes guest list not welcome in DC.(Karen Bush wants White House officials invited to White House Correspondents Dinner to get Bush Administration approval)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... For eight decades, members of the political press have invited their prey to join them at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner, an event that has come to be known for serving up self-effacing humor and on-the-record jabs. This...

CO collegians use a colorful stunt to battle defamation.(University of Northern Colorado)(Fightin' Whites)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... For years, Native Americans have protested against athletic teams that employ monikers like Redskins or Braves. A group of college students recently found another way to raise that issue: by battling the controversial nicknames with one of...

PRWeek reporter realizes meaning of powerful labor.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2002... PRWeek has long believed in the power of the press. But even we were surprised by just how powerful the utterances of an individual reporter can be. Two weeks ago, Midwest correspondent John Frank spoke to the Columbus, OHPRSA chapter....

Questions & Answers.(interview with John Frew, head of Hamilton Group, public relations firm in New York City)(Brief Article)(Interview)
April 1, 2002... John Frew He'd have worked at The Frew Crew until friends talked him out of it. But now he runs the show -- when the show isn't running him. Excuse The Hamilton Group's John Frew while he picks bits of racing car out of his hair. ...

Argentina calls on Kissinger associate to repair financial reputation.(Alan Stoga and Zemi Communications)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA: With hopes for recovery pinned to a bailout package that has so far garnered scant outside support, the Economics Ministry of Argentina has hired New York-based Zemi Communications to convince potential aid-providers...

Companies pressure Hill to consider reinsurance role.(Coalition to Insure Against Terrorism)
April 15, 2002... WASHINGTON: The push to turn the federal government into the nation's ultimate insurance company is reaching critical mass on Capitol Hill, as policyholders split from insurers and President Bush joins the fray. What was an effort led by...

Levi's sweetens plant closure with dollars 2.8m community relations plan.(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Levi Strauss has implemented an extensive community and employee relations plan to coincide with its decision to close six US manufacturing plants. Last week, the company announced it would be closing the manufacturing...

Nortel continues PR overhaul with an agency review.(public relations agency relationship with Fleishman-Hillard under review)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... RICHARDSON, TX: Nortel Networks is reviewing its PR agency relationship with Fleishman-Hillard. '(The company) is undertaking a mandatory review as part of a corporate policy that requires us to go to bid every three years when using...

LPGA steps up image drive via Sorenstam's red shoes.(Ladies Professional Golf Association, Annika Sorenstam)
April 15, 2002... RANCHO MIRAGE, CA: When Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) star Annika Sorenstam won the Kraft Nabisco Championship a few weeks ago, it was the golfer's footwear that made headlines. Her red patent leather shoes quickly became the...

Edelman bolsters European offices.(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... LONDON: Edelman rolled out part of its European expansion plans last week, deploying a new senior executive to Brussels and establishing a Frankfurt branch of subsidiary agency First & 42nd. 'There is a lot of change coming through Europe,'...

CKPR scores MLB Fan Fest account.(agency to handle public relations for Major League Baseball's John Hancock Fan Fest )(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... MILWAUKEE: CKPR has grabbed a big-name job it hopes will raise its profile in the Midwest. The Milwaukee agency will handle PR for Major League Baseball's John Hancock Fan Fest July 5-9, preceding baseball's All-Star Game in Milwaukee on...

Pilots unite to hasten DOT firearm education program.(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... WASHINGTON: America's commercial pilots are tired of waiting for the Department of Transportation (DOT) to begin training them in the proper use of firearms. So they're taking steps to speed up the process. As part of the airline security...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Fenton parts ways with Shellenberger.(Mike Shellenberger leaves Fenton Communications)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... WASHINGTON: Fenton Communications has parted ways with COO Mike Shellenberger, who came aboard in June after the public interest PR firm bought his San Francisco-based agency Communications Works. Also departing is MD Erik Curren. Neither party...

NEWS IN BRIEF: PR Newswire launches Online MEDIAtlas en Espanol.(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... NEW YORK: PR Newswire has launched Online MEDIAtlas en Espanol, an online database of Hispanic and Latin American media. The company has taken its English version of the service, and translated the entire database into Spanish. This version...

NEWS IN BRIEF: SignalSoft picks Metzger as agency of record.(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... BOULDER, CO: SignalSoft has picked Metzger Associates as its agency of record. The company develops emergency- and commercial-location-based services for mobile operators.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Dan Klores retained to publicize Radio Project.(Dan Klores Communications hired by National Public Radio)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... NEW YORK: Dan Klores Communications has been retained to publicize the National Public Radio series The Yiddish Radio Project. The series offers a window into Jewish immigrant culture in America during the first half of the 20th century, and...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Joan Hammel joins Weber Shandwick Worldwide as VP.(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... CAMPBELL, CA: Joan Hammel has joined Weber Shandwick Worldwide as VP in the firm's Campbell office. Hammel will be responsible for developing new business opportunities for the office and directing client programs including PMC-Sierra, Brocade,...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Ogilvy PR Worldwide appointed by Virgin.(Virgin Atlantic Airways)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... NEW YORK: Ogilvy PR Worldwide has been appointed by Virgin Atlantic Airways to handle media relations for its US road show. The 68-foot display truck, 'Virgin Across America,' has been designed to showcase Virgin Atlantic's investment in...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Verizon hires Thomson as agency of record.(Thomson Communications)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... WOBURN, MA: The New England division of Verizon Wireless has hired Thomson Communications as agency of record. Thomson will devise and execute both short- and long-term communication plans surrounding Verizon Wireless' regional initiatives.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Rubenstein hires Scott Tagliarino as EVP.(Rubenstein Associates)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... NEW YORK: Rubenstein Associates has hired Scott Tagliarino as EVP of its business and financial group. Tagliarino, who counts stints at Edelman, Hill & Knowlton, and, most recently, Connecticut satellite services company PanAmSat, fills a void...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Gross elected to board of directors.(Michael Gross appointed to board of directors of Volunteers of America-Greater New York)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... NEW YORK: Michael Gross, president of Robinson, Lerer & Montgomery, has been elected to the board of directors of Volunteers of America-Greater New York.

NEWS IN BRIEF: O'Keefe chosen as US agency of record.(for Polycom)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... MCLEAN, VA: O'Keefe & Company has been chosen as US agency of record for Polycom, a manufacturer of voice- and video-communications software.

US figure skating body wants to improve sport's tarnished image.(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... WASHINGTON: The US Figure Skating Association (USFSA) is working on a communications program to give figure skating a more positive image. The association, based in Colorado Springs, CO, is the national governing body for the sport of...

Keogh takes over top comms spot at Mercedes USA.(Scott Keogh appointed GM, corporate communications)(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... MONTVALE, NJ: Scott Keogh has moved up to GM, corporate communications at Mercedes-Benz USA. He replaces Jeff Fisher, who is now GM of corporate communications for truck manufacturer Freightliner, also owned by DaimlerChrysler. Keogh has...

OSU soon to offer strategic comms degree program.(Ohio State University )(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... COLUMBUS, OH: Ohio State University will begin offering a new strategic communications program next fall that will combine PR and business courses. The new program represents a revitalization of the PR curriculum at OSU, said Carroll...

HP and Merrill on defensive over internal comms leaks.(public relations problems for Hewlett-Packard and Merrill Lynch)
April 15, 2002... PALO ALTO, CA and NEW YORK: Electronic and telephone communication between staff that was thought to be private caused major PR problems for two high-profile companies last week. A voicemail from Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina to CFO Bob...

Today show book club idea attracts publisher interest.
April 15, 2002... NEW YORK: The Today show's new book club does not debut until June. But publishing houses, jilted by Oprah Winfrey's decision to scale back her endorsements, have already commenced the courtship. 'I've received a few calls,' said Allison...

CA teachers take heat for pushing school-policy bill.(California Teachers Association promote legislation through campaign )(Brief Article)
April 15, 2002... BURLINGAME, CA: The California Teachers (CTA) Association has launched a media and lobbying campaign to promote new legislation. Assembly bill 2160 would give union members, through collective bargaining, permission to participate in such...