PR Week (US) articles from April 2009

PR Week (US) archives from April 2009

PR's hiring slowdown takes toll on executive recruitment sector.
April 6, 2009... NEW YORK: Executive search and recruitment firms say their PR and communications business is down due to several factors, including a lack of hiring as a whole. '2009 has been a total bust,' noted Sandy Charet, president of Charet &...

Microsoft reviews for mobile comms work.
April 6, 2009... SEATTLE: Microsoft is reviewing PR agencies for its global mobile communications business. Incumbent Weber Shandwick is pitching for the business, along with Edelman and Waggener Edstrom, said Tom Pilla, GM of the company's corporate...

Unilever ups global roster.
April 6, 2009... LONDON: Unilever selected several firms to make up a new global PR roster - including GolinHarris and Fleishman-Hillard - following a review that began last May. Ogilvy PR is also expected to join, but Unilever is 'currently settling...

Intuit selects OutCast to tout Quicken with youth.
April 6, 2009... SAN FRANCISCO: Intuit selected OutCast Communications as AOR for its Quicken Personal Finance Software, as part of its strategy to reach a younger demographic with its products. The company selected OutCast following a competitive review...

EHarmony LGBT site debut places it in unfamiliar market.
April 6, 2009... PASADENA, CA: In response to a settlement with the State of New Jersey, eHarmony launched its same-sex matching service, Compatible Partners, on March 31. In 2005, an individual filed a complaint in New Jersey against eHarmony because it did...

Sun-Times Media Group working with Sard Verbinnen & Co.
April 6, 2009... CHICAGO: Sun-Times Media Group, which owns the Chicago Sun-Times, is working with Sard Verbinnen & Co. on communications efforts surrounding its March 31 filing for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11. Tammy Chase, director of corporate...

The nursing home where a gunman opened fire ..
April 6, 2009... RALEIGH, NC: The nursing home where a gunman opened fire, killing eight people, enlisted French/West/Vaughan to handle communications during its crisis. FWV CEO and chairman Rick French said the agency was hired the day of the incident at...

PRN lays of 2% of workforce.(PR Newswire Association Inc.)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... NEW YORK: PR Newswire (PRN) laid off less than 2% of the company's US total headcount of 750 on March 30 as part of a company reorganization, according to Rachel Meranus, VP of PR for the company She declined to specify which areas or positions...

Burson-Marsteller forms partnership.
April 6, 2009... WASHINGTON: Burson-Marsteller formed a strategic partnership with a new security and risk management advisory firm that was founded by former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. Burson will work with Chertoff Group's clients, where...

Taylor lays off staffers.
April 6, 2009... NEW YORK: Taylor laid off staffers in Q4 of 2008 'to better prepare (the agency) for the upcoming economic downturn,' said Bryan Harris, COO and managing partner. While Harris declined to provide a reduction percentage or the seniority of...

Bateman Group adds clients.(Bateman Group )(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... SAN FRANCISCO: The Bateman Group added two new clients, both AOR relationships. Canadian IT firm Platform Computing and IT security think tank Jericho Forum selected the agency after competitive pitches. -------------------- Did you...

Survey finds optimism.(Survey)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... NEW YORK: A recent survey from Hill & Knowlton found only 47% of consumers are optimistic about the future, compared with 65% of business leaders and 64% of financial analysts. The survey also found 69% of consumer respondents blame businesses...

Panasonic's effort aims to mass market Toughbook.
April 6, 2009... SAN FRANCISCO: Panasonic launched an integrated campaign to make its Toughbooks more appealing to mass consumers. Traditionally, the company marketed Toughbook laptops toward 'rugged' consumers like police officers and those in...

Special Olympics touts pledge.(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... WASHINGTON: Special Olympics helped organize more than 700 youth-focused events around the country on March 31 as part its campaign to encourage people to stop using the word 'retard.' The organization is working to get people to sign a pledge...

Skype enters mobile sector.
April 6, 2009... SAN JOSE: Skype is supporting a series of mobile device applications and product launches with a consumer and media outreach campaign to explain to the public its new offerings in the mobile phone space. Once limited to desktop-based...

Launch Pad: May Institute shows the faces of autism to boost awareness.
April 6, 2009... Company: May Institute Campaign: What Does Autism Look Like? PR Team: Internal Launch: April 2 Budget: dollars 20,000 (for ads) Idea: The May Institute is partnering with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to...

Analysis: Pre faces challenges to stand out in market.
April 6, 2009... To come out of iPhone's shadow, the smartphone must leverage inevitable category comparisons. Telling tales of small companies taking on market leaders or two heavyweights battling for dominance have long been a staple of business...

Newsmaker: Freeman charts a new course for travel industry.
April 6, 2009... Geoff Freeman is used to working under fire. Before joining the US Travel Association (then called the Travel Industry Association (TIA)) in 2006, he worked for clients like the Partnership for Prescription Assistance and entities like Freddie...

Editorial: White House sends a clear message by firing Wagoner.(Editorial)
April 6, 2009... Last week the Obama administration ousted Richard Wagoner from his CEO and chairman post at beleaguered US automaker General Motors. Much of the public debate centered on whether or not the president had overstepped his authority by interfering...

Op-Ed: PR should relish opportunity to lead.
April 6, 2009... Many believe that Thomas Paine penned his observation 'These are times that try men's souls' in his pamphlet Common Sense. However, the quote actually came several years later, in an essay called The Crisis Paine's words seem particularly...

Op-Ed: Become a valuable, relevant resource.
April 6, 2009... 'The times they are a-changin'.' Intended to describe the massive cultural upheaval of the '60s, the lyric has found a new home with today's media industry. During the course of the past few years, but especially over the last 365 days, the...

Opinion: Growth and revenue might be competing factors for Facebook.(Viewpoint essay)
April 6, 2009... Engage in conversation long enough with some-one in the communications industry, and talk will inevitably turn to Facebook's redesign. While anyone can bicker about aesthetics, the interesting debate that has begun to permeate those same...

Opinion: Agency consolidation growing, but do it for the proper reasons.
April 6, 2009... Any CCO whose company retains multiple PR firms and is not considering some form of roster consolidation is outside the norm right now. This urgent desire to gain stronger control of external business partners does not necessarily mean...

Opinion: Content becoming crucial in customer engagement.(Viewpoint essay)
April 6, 2009... A recent DM News interview with Seth Solomons, global CMO at Digitas, got me thinking about what is demanded of today's consumers. In the piece, he said, 'We, as marketers, grew up... always thinking about getting the best customers and...

Media: Obama snub highlights shift to niche focus.(Viewpoint essay)
April 6, 2009... Any semblance of authority print-based, big-city media outlets had over the national news agenda ended formally on March 24, taken off life support by the President of the United States himself. During his second prime time press...

Media: Journalist Q&A - Nikki Finke, LA Weekly.
April 6, 2009... Name: Nikki Finke Title: Hollywood business columnist Outlet: LA Weekly; Deadline-HollywoodDaily.com Preferred e-mail address: DeadlineHollywood@gmail.com Web site: laweekly.com PRWeek: Tell me a little bit about your current...

Media: Research - ROI on social media marketing.
April 6, 2009... Conducted by: Aberdeen Group Sample: More than 275 enterprises (January-February) Goal: To determine the result of social media marketing efforts KEY FINDINGS 79% use e-mail marketing software 61% said they host online community...

Media Roundup: Candy's sweet spot goes beyond food beat.
April 6, 2009... In recent weeks, there's been a flurry of coverage on how candy sales are surging despite the economic downturn. Yet, industry insiders say that while the confection business is surviving the economic downturn, it is not exactly thriving....

Media: Critical Hit - Chicago lawyer makes strong case.
April 6, 2009... - Who is your client? What are its media goals? Tom Ciesielka: We represent attorney Jeffrey Kroll and his recently launched firm, which he opened after years of working at a major Chicago law office. (Kroll sought) to raise his firm's...

Media: Ups and Downs.
April 6, 2009... Following the lead of former employees of the Rocky Mountain News, two groups of former Seattle Post-Intelligencer employees consider starting online news ventures The New York Times launches a blog dedicated to simplifying the college...

Media: Inside Information - ANRs retain their effectiveness in reaching consumers.(audio news releases)
April 6, 2009... Although there are a number of ways to disseminate information in the digital space, audio news releases (ANRs) remain an effective way to reach consumers, particularly when the message is compelling, concise, and easy to understand. These...

Market Focus: Courting attention.
April 6, 2009... Law firms are increasingly using PR to help build reputation, enhance thought leadership, and attract prospects for new business Tonya Garcia reports In August 2008, Minneapolis-based law firm Faegre & Benson distributed a press release...

PR Technique: Webcasts buoy internal communications.
April 6, 2009... This tool is a great way to keep employees engaged, connected, and part of the dialogue, finds Tanya Lewis. Webcasts are valuable internal communications tools that help companies keep employees informed. Many companies are also using...

Campaigns: Soldiers get some holiday cheer.
April 6, 2009... Pitney bowes PR Team: Pitney Bowes (Stamford, CT), The American Red Cross (Washington, DC), CJP Communications (Stratford, CT), and Zeta Interactive (New York) Campaign: Holiday Mail for Heroes Duration: November 11, 2008-January 8,...

Campaigns: ASLA shows landscaping, its report are 'Sustainable'.
April 6, 2009... ASLA PR Team: American Society of Landscape Architects (Washington, DC), Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (Austin, TX), and US Botanic Garden (Washington, DC) Campaign: Sustainable Sites Duration: September 2008-January 2009...

Campaigns: Zales taps into consumers' emotions to promote brand.(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... Zales Zales sponsored a giant heart installation in Times Square to engage consumers and media on the most important jewelry purchasing day of the year, Valentine's Day. Working with AOR Richards Partners, the team hoped to leverage the...

PR Toolbox: Importance of SEO, utilizing social media research, more.
April 6, 2009... SEO - Why is search engine optimization important? 'SEO is the cornerstone of the shift from push to pull communication strategies,' says Melanie Widmann, social media and search marketing manager at Marketwire. 'It allows target...

Careers: Expert Advice - Deborah Levy, MS&L VP of talent recruitment.
April 6, 2009... With a growing need to manage expenses, how can I identify the most talented interns? A: Compelling internship programs can be a great way to identify the most talented interns and utilize them in a capacity similar to your entry-level staff....

People moves: NBA.
April 6, 2009... NEW YORK: The NBA hired former Standard & Poor's (S&P) SVP of marcomms Elizabeth Ventura as SVP of communications. She will begin on May 11. In the newly created post, she will handle all of the NBA's US and global communications. Her team...

People moves: CBS Television.
April 6, 2009... LOS ANGELES: CBS Television's Tiffany Smith-Anoa'i was named VP of diversity and communications for the company. Smith-Anoa'i has been in the media relations and publicity department at CBS for nine years and will be based at the West Coast...

People moves: The Heritage Foundation.
April 6, 2009... WASHINGTON: Conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation named Michael Gonzalez, a former Wall Street Journal editor and reporter, a VP of communications, effective March 23. He reports to Ed Feulner, president, and replaces Rebecca Hagelin,...

People moves: Lifetime Networks.(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... LOS ANGELES: Lifetime Networks hired two new VPs within publicity and communications, effective immediately. Lindsay Drewel, who most recently served as president of her own Washington-based PR firm, was hired as VP of publicity and talent...

People moves: RNC.
April 6, 2009... WASHINGTON: The Republican National Committee (RNC) tapped Todd Herman as its new media director, effective April 6. Herman, a former Microsoft executive and the founder of SpinSpotter, replaces Cyrus Krohn, the former eCampaign director. The...

People moves: SAG.(Screen Actors Guild appointed Damon Romine)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... LOS ANGELES: The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) hired Damon Romine as director of communications, effective April 1. Romine, most recently the director of entertainment media for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, will oversee day-to-day...

People moves: Pinckney Hugo Group.
April 6, 2009... SYRACUSE, NY: Pinckney Hugo Group hired Robin Moore as a VP Previously, she was a founding partner, SVP, chief media officer, and COO at Mark Russell & Associates, where she played a role in its merger last year with Eric Mower and Associates....

Darkness sheds light.(Reuters America Inc. adn NASDAQ OMX BXSM partnerd with World Wildlife Fund)(Brief article)
April 6, 2009... Reuters and NASDAQ OMX used their Times Square signs to send an environmental sustainability message. Teaming with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the companies' digital billboards went dark for WWF's Earth Hour, from 8:30pm to 9:30pm on...

Car companies pull back at New York Auto Show.
April 13, 2009... NEW YORK: This year's toned down New York International Auto Show, long known for its big-budgeted spectacles, reflected carmakers' scaled back communications budgets and back-to-basics marketing approach. Mike Michels, VP of...

Denny's CEO sees a bigger marketing-mix role for PR.
April 13, 2009... SPARTANBURG, SC: Denny's recent sandwich giveaway promotions are part of its revamped PR and communications plan, according to its CEO Nelson Marchioli. More than 2 million took advantage of its Super Bowl Grand Slam Giveaway on February...

Wal-Mart takes consumer comms task from Edelman.
April 13, 2009... BENTONVILLE, AR: Edelman has lost its consumer communications account with Wal-Mart after the retailer opened a review for the business earlier this year, said the firm. Edelman has been handling a wide range of Wal-Mart projects. Chief of...

Colgate targets Hispanics for its Oral Health Month.
April 13, 2009... NEW YORK: Colgate's Oral Health Month, held in countries around the world, is making its US debut this April, working through the Hispanic community. 'We will be communicating the purpose of good oral health and encouraging Hispanic...

CDC launches effort to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS.
April 13, 2009... WASHINGTON: The US Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched a new prevention initiative on April 7 called 'Act Against AIDS.' The five-year communications campaign is designed to bring...

News Brief: Defense Threat Reduction Agency issues notice for services.
April 13, 2009... FORT BELVOIR, VA: The Defense Threat Reduction Agency, a Department of Defense firm, issued a sources sought notice for public affairs services, according to a federal database. Services would include the development of informational materials,...

News Brief: CRT/Tanaka acquires Livingston Communications.(Brief article)
April 13, 2009... RICHMOND, VA: CRT/Tanaka acquired social media firm Livingston Communications, its second acquisition in 2009. Mark Raper, CEO and chairman of the agency, said the firm and its five employees, including CEO and founder Geoff Livingston, will be...

News Brief: Zapwater Communications adds to its client roster.(InterContinental Chicago O'Hare Hotel and Elate Restaurant )(Brief article)
April 13, 2009... CHICAGO: Zapwater Communications recently added the InterContinental Chicago O'Hare Hotel and Elate Restaurant in the Hotel Felix to its client roster. Zapwater will provide both clients with PR support, event management, and brand positioning....

News Brief: GE Real Estate selects CJP for PR services.
April 13, 2009... NEW YORK: GE Real Estate selected CJP for PR services in the US and Europe. John Oliver, VP for global marketing communication at GE Real Estate, confirmed the hire, but could not go into any further detail about the nature of the work or the...

News Brief: Taleo, chooses Weber Shandwick as AOR.
April 13, 2009... SAN FRANCISCO: Taleo, a provider of software-as-a-service talent management solutions, chose Weber Shandwick as its AOR. WS will provide media relations support and overall strategic counsel. -------------------- Did you find this...

News Brief: Dowd Agency adds clients to its roster.
April 13, 2009... NEW YORK: The Dowd Agency added three clients to its roster within the past two months, including two Web startups: shustir.com and eDivvy.com. It also signed work with several companies on a project basis, including MTV. ...

News Brief: Oval Office Writers opens its doors.(Brief article)
April 13, 2009... ALEXANDRIA, VA: Oval Office Writers, a communications firm, opened its doors on March 9. It was founded by Marc Thiessen, former chief speechwriter for President George W. Bush, and conservative author Peter Schweizer. --------------------...

News Brief: Senior Care for Veterans hires TransMedia Group as AOR.
April 13, 2009... FT. LAUDERDALE, FL: Senior Care for Veterans hired TransMedia Group as AOR. The firm will focus on media relations to spread the word about the benefits of the organization. -------------------- Did you find this article useful? Why...

News Brief: Global M&A market suffers.
April 13, 2009... NEW YORK: The global M&A market suffered its worst Q1 in six years in terms of value and volume, according to the mergermarket M&A League Tables of PR Advisers. It found 1,691 deals valued at dollars 409 billion. The healthcare sector produced...

MTV aligns with groups to promote STD testing.
April 13, 2009... NEW YORK: MTV, Planned Parenthood, and the Kaiser Family Foundation recently launched the 'GYT: Get Yourself Tested' campaign, aimed at reducing the embarrassment around getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases. The effort will...

Coca-Cola opens digital office.
April 13, 2009... ATLANTA: Coca-Cola opened a new office of digital communications and social media within its public affairs and communications department. Clyde Tuggle, SVP of corporate affairs and productivity at Coke, noted 'mass media is declining in...

Aldo raises West Coast efforts.
April 13, 2009... NEW YORK: Shoe retailer Aldo hired Los Angeles- and New York-based BPCM as its US AOR in an effort to bolster its editorial placement on the West Coast. 'We thought it was really important to bolster our presence on the West Coast via...

Launch Pad: Center for Screen Time touts a week of 'unplugged' to families.(Brief article)
April 13, 2009... Company: Center for Screen Time Awareness Campaign: Turnoff Week Spring 2009 PR Team: Internal Launch: April 20 Budget: Undisclosed Idea: The Center is celebrating 15 years of Turnoff Week by introducing local events to its PR and...

Analysis: FDA's lack of digital rules creates confusion.
April 13, 2009... Recent warnings against online pharma ads have reignited the debate about FDA regulations. On April 3, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent letters to 14 drugmakers warning them to stop using what it called 'misleading' and...

Newsmaker: Cervone answers the call of opportunity at UAL.
April 13, 2009... After 24 years in the auto industry and oversight of a dollars 150 million-plus budget at GM, Tony Cervone decided he needed a change. That change came this February when he became CCO and SVP of corporate communications at airline holding...

Companies: Corporate profile - WWE grapples to broaden its reputation.(World Wrestling Entertainment Inc)
April 13, 2009... The company is using many avenues to show that it offers much more than in-ring theatrics. From Hulk Hogan to pay-per-view extravaganzas, very few people don't know of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) brand and its unique blend of...

Companies: The agency business - Healthcare practices adjust to tightening budgets.
April 13, 2009... Though healthcare is faring better than other industries at the moment, the sector and its PR practices are not immune to economic strains. Agencies are reprioritizing projects and redistributing resources amid increasing client pressure and...

Editorial: Recession is a prime time to emphasize green's real value.(Editorial)
April 13, 2009... While the basic environmentally friendly 'save the planet' themes have lost some of their luster with consumers - and the media - as Earth Day approaches on April 22, brands can resuscitate their green messaging by tying it to themes of...

Op-Ed: Is your CEO ready for the hot seat?(Viewpoint essay)
April 13, 2009... Take large bonuses, corporate jets, and other cushy perks, combine them with perilous economic times, and you have the perfect recipe for business critics to advance their agenda. High on that agenda is Say on Pay (SOP), which gives...

Opinion: CSR graduates to 'must-have' status.
April 13, 2009... 'Despite centuries-long practices of despoliation and pollution, almost every responsible corporation in the world is moving away from destructive practices and trying to institute more sustainable ones, and all of them have turned to NGOs to...

Opinion: Marketing focused on premium products provides the best value.
April 13, 2009... Tucked inside what seemed to be the tenth recent article about people making iPhone (and iPod touch) apps was a gem. A Sun Microsystems programmer who was making an iPhone game app in his spare time sold dollars 2,000 worth of the dollars 4.99...

Opinion: Positive reinforcement is a lasting gift for givers and receivers alike.(Viewpoint essay)
April 13, 2009... No matter what career stage we are in, we all benefit from a little encouragement. I was reminded of this in a powerful way by a student who had, in her own words, 'dug herself a huge hole.' The lesson she taught me extends far beyond the...

Opinion: The ease of Twitter mustn't diminish blogs' importance.
April 13, 2009... Before I wrote a regular column, I thought it was bizarre that editors found it difficult to think of things to write about in their own Op-Eds. How could anyone struggle to express opinions? Unfortunately, once I had my own column, the...

Media: Analysis - Outlets view e-readers as growth avenue.
April 13, 2009... An electronic, handheld reading device, such as Amazon's Kindle, has yet to reach critical mass among consumers. But media companies, such as Hearst and News Corp., are betting that such a concept can be a widespread and profitable channel for...

Media: Journalist Q&A - Catalina Camia, USA Today.
April 13, 2009... Name: Catalina Camia Title: White House and politics editor Outlet: USA Today Preferred e-mail address: ccamia@usatoday.com Web site: usatoday.com PRWeek: In the past year, how has USA Today's political coverage changed? ...

Media: Research - Opinions about journalism's future.
April 13, 2009... Conducted by: Online News Assoc., Project for Excellence in Journalism Sample: 292 Online News Assoc. members (January 7-February 14) Goal: To gauge how journalists feel about their industry's sustainability KEY FINDINGS -...

Media Roundup: Biofuels see a broad crossover of coverage.
April 13, 2009... Although energy is taking a backseat to the economy as a political topic and the recent plunge in gas prices has reduced the public's attention to US dependence on foreign oil, biofuels is a hot media topic with a surprisingly wide breadth of...

Media: Critical Hit - 'USA Today' helps Costa Maya rebuild.
April 13, 2009... Who is your client? What are its media goals? Lisa Ross: Costa Maya, located on (the south of) Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, was among the first ports designed exclusively for the cruise industry. The port was hit hard by Hurricane Dean in...

Media: Media ups and downs.(Wenner Media )(Reed Business Information closes 13 of the 14 magazines )(Brief article)
April 13, 2009... NY1 anchor Pat Kiernan takes a national version of his 'In the Papers' segment to the Web, launching PatsPapers.com NewsBank's Readex division launches American Newspaper Archives, an online collection of archives of nine newspapers and...

Media: Inside Information - Mobile apps provide a key way to reach niche audiences.
April 13, 2009... A commercial for Apple's iPhone boasts, 'There's an app for just about anything.' While that might be hyperbole, organizations of all sorts are seeing the usefulness of creating smartphone applications. PR pros are also taking advantage. ...

Feature: Higher learning.
April 13, 2009... From the economy to globalization to the importance of social media, there are many factors affecting graduate PR programs across the country. Tonya Garcia reports. George Washington University (GWU) is graduating its first class of...

Cover Story: A whole new game.
April 13, 2009... The Harlem Globetrotters might excel at basketball tricks and wowing a crowd, but they still needed help with licensing partnerships for things such as apparel and sporting goods. A few years ago, it likely would not have turned to an...

PR Technique: Timing is everything for technology media.
April 13, 2009... Despite some opposition, Craig McGuire finds there are still ways for embargoes to work in this sector. From high-stakes product launches and alliances to research and M&A deals, the technology sector can be full of big news and well...