PR Week (US) articles from August 2006

PR Week (US) archives from August 2006

Acquisition of Public Strategies boosts WPP's PA capabilities.(Wire and Plastic Products PLC)(public affairs)
August 7, 2006... LONDON: In acquiring Austin, TX-based public affairs powerhouse Public Strategies last week in a deal reportedly worth as much as dollars 90 million, WPP stresses that it is augmenting its total public affairs capability. The approximately...

Heineken USA taps MS&L as its AOR.(Manning Selvage and Lee)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... WHITE PLAINS, NY: Heineken USA has selected Manning Selvage & Lee to be AOR for the corporation and its portfolio of brands, including Heineken, Heineken Premium Light, and Amstel Light. MS&L's New York office will lead the account. MS&L...

Dowie suit thrown out.(Doug Dowie )(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... LOS ANGELES: US District Judge Margaret Morrow has issued a summary judgment throwing out former Fleishman-Hillard Los Angeles GM Doug Dowie's wrongful termination suit before it could go to trial. Morrow wrote in her ruling that 'no...

Text 100 to open new office in Second Life.(and launch an online social network)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... New York: Text 100 is set to launch a permanent presence in online social network Second Life by opening an office on its private island, the first global PR agency to officially do so. In an exclusive preview given to PRWeek, CEO Aedhmar...

BMF Media, CK One pair up on Lollapalooza lounge.(BMF Media Group partnership with Calvin Klein Fragrances )(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... CHICAGO: BMF Media Group has teamed up with Calvin Klein Fragrances to tout the new image of CK One at this year's Lollapalooza Festival on August 4 to 6 in Chicago. The companies created a VIP music lounge in the Hard Rock Hotel Chicago,...

News brief: New York.(Kaplow Communications contracts)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... Kaplow Communications has won expanded tasks for Alberto-Culver and Target Stores. Kaplow's consumer healthcare practice has been awarded the communications work for Alberto-Culver's FDS Intimate Lubricants brand. Kaplow is launching a national...

News brief: Washington.(Burson-Marsteller will end their exclusive partnership with Bates PanGulf Public Relations)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... Burson-Marsteller and Dubai-based Bates PanGulf Public Relations - both WPP agencies - announced they will end their exclusive partnership in the Middle East. Existing shared clients will not be affected by the split, and the companies said in...

News brief: Tel Aviv, Israel.(appointments of Charley Levine)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... 5W Public Relations has set up an international practice and has tapped Tel Aviv-based Charley Levine, ex-CEO of Ruder Finn Israel, to run it. Debut clients include World Holocaust Forum, International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and...

News brief: Austin, TX.
August 7, 2006... GCI Group will provide PR management to Dallas-based Global 360, a business process management and optimization software company.

News brief: New York.
August 7, 2006... Several clients have retained Rubenstein PR, including Broadcaster, ChatWithAStar.com, ZAP, and Clearly First, a Scandinavian design store in New York.

News brief: Washington.(BKSH and Associates contracts with Maldivian Democratic Party)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... BKSH & Associates is providing strategic counsel, House and Senate lobbying, media relations, and more to the Maldivian Democratic Party, which aims to boost its profile with US lawmakers. The contract is worth dollars 15,000 a month and runs...

News brief: Calgary, Alberta.(Hill and Knowlton acquires Result)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... Hill & Knowlton has acquired 25-year-old corporate communications firm Result, creating a new Hill & Knowlton division specializing in financial communications products and services. The division was set to launch August 1, with Result staff...

News brief: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.(new facilities and new appointments of Yeow Mei Ling at Text 1000 Public Relations)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... Text 100 Public Relations has opened an office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, its 13th office in the Asia-Pacific region. It will initially support existing multinational clients, including Lenovo and Philips. Yeow Mei Ling, the director and senior...

News brief: Silver Spring, MD.(DataPath contracts)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... DataPath, a global solution provider for mission-critical communications, has selected Strategic Communications Group as its AOR. Strategic will work on a media and analyst relations campaign.

News brief: New York.(Skins has tapped Factory Public relations)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... Footwear company Skins has tapped Factory PR as its PR AOR. Factory will develop all consumer- and press-focused communications platforms, as well as other brand-building initiatives.

Companies mull plans for a smaller E3 in '07.(Entertainment Software Association)(Electronic Entertainment Expo)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... Washington: With the Entertainment Software Association's (ESA) plans to scale back its Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) significantly for a more 'intimate' conference in 2007, journalists that cover the event and small companies that depend...

Crisis pros enter Astor saga.(management)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... New York: The ugly family feud surrounding the treatment of famed 104-year-old New York City socialite Brooke Astor has experienced crisis counselors struggling to control the media frenzy. Emerald Partners president Fraser Seitel is...

Heinz ups IR in proxy fight.(industrial relations)(warring sides bid for more seats on company board)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... Pittsburgh: Heinz, the iconic maker of ketchup and other food and condiment products, is locked in a fierce proxy battle with a large shareholder, the Trian Group, that has both sides scrambling to lock up investor support before the company's...

Launch pad: McDonald's promotion picks up speed with Hummer tie-in.(sales promotions)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... OBJECTIVE: As McDonald's 'Summer of Happy Meal Fun' winds down this month, it is launching a PR effort to promote the final Happy Meal offering of the summer - one of eight miniature Hummers. 'This is our first Happy meal promotion with GM,'...

Nonprofit stresses rail safety.(rules for news media and advertising organizations)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... ALEXANDRIA, VA: Operation Lifesaver has launched a new campaign to persuade news media and advertising organizations around the country to stop showing images that it claims glamorize dangerous activities near or on railroad tracks. The group...

Ogilvy touts organ donation.(internal campaign to educate its staff )(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... New York: Ogilvy PR is using the anniversary of a team member's lifesaving operation to launch a two-week internal campaign to educate its staff about organ donation. Ogilvy VP Shari Kurzrok was suddenly stricken with a rare genetic...

RMR positions Kurdistan as 'the other Iraq' in push.(Russo, Marsh & Rogers)
August 7, 2006... Washington: Kurdistan, a part of northern Iraq that has been spared the violence roiling the south, is working with a US agency to highlight its natural beauty, tax-free living, and 100% foreign ownership of businesses as reasons to visit and...

PR play of the week: Oxygen TV entices tech advertisers.(public relations)(television)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... Anyone who's been in PR for more than five minutes knows that conducting a survey is a great way to give a sheen of respectability to your own worthless viewpoint. Does the general public really believe that your product gets breath fresher...

Newsforce, BW to offer SEO suite.(Business Wire partnering with Newsforce)(search-engine optimization)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... New York: Business Wire (BW) and Newsforce are partnering to provide a suite of press release search-engine optimization (SEO) tools to BW customers. With Newsforce's SEO software, BW adds to its SEO solution a keyword research tool, press...

All eyes on rowling.(Harry Potter)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... Famous authors have joined the clamored outcry to save Harry Potter, who, if rumors are true, will die in the final installment of J.K. Rowling's book series. Stephen King (r) and John Irving, both well-esteemed authors who have killed off...

SGP studies billing.(Stevens Gould Partners)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... New York: A new study by M&A consulting firm Stevens Gould Partners (SGP) found that US PR agency CEOs have begun posting billing rates comparable with such professionals as lawyers and accountants. SGP sent the survey to 175 PR CEOs and...

Unilever using Hairapy to aid Sunsilk US debut.(product introduction of Sunsilk)
August 7, 2006... Chicago: Unilever is introducing Sunsilk, its most successful global hair care brand, to US consumers through a concept called Hairapy. With Hairapy, Unilever has chosen to move away from a current marketing trend in the highly competitive...

Healthcare comms drive Q2.(sales and earnings of companies)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... Paris: Global marketing holding company Havas reported strong growth in US corporate and healthcare communications during the first half of 2006. Total North America revenues were EUR274 million (dollars 374 million) for the first half of...

CRI to target public health.(Cities Readiness Initiative)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... Washington: The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) has contracted with the Consortium for Risk and Crisis Communications (CRCC) to develop the Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI), a pilot program for dealing with public-health...

Truth, Fuse brands launch integrated effort for tour.(Truth partnerships with Fuse)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... New York: Truth, the national youth tobacco-prevention campaign, has teamed up with Fuse, a viewer-driven music network, to produce a six-part documentary series covering the Vans Warped Tour 2006 called Warped: Inside & Out. 'Truth does...

Analysis: Apathy toward AIDS taints ATRIPLA.
August 7, 2006... New HIV treatment has actually raised concerns about attitudes that AIDS is a short-term problem. When Atripla, a combination treatment for HIV, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 12, the celebration was more...

News Maker: Luciani keeps Barbaro coverage on right track.(Gail Luciani services)
August 7, 2006... When Gail Luciani became the communications head for the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine two years ago, it was a dream job for the lifelong animal lover with nearly 25 years of PR experience. 'It was a chance to...

Companies: Corporate profile - Consumer comfort fuels Jadoo's efforts.(Jadoo Power Systems)(Company overview)
August 7, 2006... PR is Jadoo's preferred method to familiarize the public with its fuel-cell electricity-storage items. IN its five-year history Jadoo Power, a fuel cell power systems manufacturer, had never conducted any substantial PR or marketing...

Companies: The agency business - A mix of veterans and novices fosters quality.
August 7, 2006... Quality work is the hallmark of any agency's brand. No matter its specialty, a firm must produce fundamentally good work if it's going to stay afloat. Without the quality, no amount of marketing will help. But growth is also vital. These...

Editorial: Gibson getting off easy after anti-Semitic tirade.(Mel Gibson)(Editorial)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... Tom Cruise must be breathing a sigh of relief. It's been 10 days since he's held the title of 'most blatantly unhinged religious zealot' in Hollywood. Few media outlets have questioned the whereabouts of his baby, his Scientology ties, or his...

Op-Ed: Be smart with your press release.
August 7, 2006... It is hard to ignore how technology is altering perceptions about PR. A friend of mine, the president of a wholesale insurance brokerage firm, asked me to help him with a press release. He took a stab at his own personnel announcement. I...

Op-Ed: MLB is an MVP of global relations.(Major League Baseball)(Mastercard Vendor Program)
August 7, 2006... During my 23-plus years at Burson-Marsteller, I played roles on Olympic PR programs and the Asian Games, lectured at an International Olympic Committee (IOC) sports press seminar, managed the US Olympic Committee account, and traveled worldwide...

Opinion: Passion is fueling the recent moves of PR's top-level talent.
August 7, 2006... Leslie Dach's move to Wal-Mart is certainly a blow to Edelman, but it's just one more example of recognized senior talent being lured away by a new challenge. Most firms and companies have experienced at least the threat of losing a star or two...

Opinion: Quiet word is more effective and more valued than bluster.(Personal account)
August 7, 2006... You've heard of 'buyer's regret,' that moment of remorse you feel after spending a huge sum for an acquisition. More than once, I have experienced 'sender's regret,' the feeling I get a split second after pressing the send button on a sharply...

Opinion: Fact file - Castro publicly ceding power suggests end of reign is near.(Fidel Castro)(Country overview)
August 7, 2006... In the news Just three weeks after the Bush Administration released a report stating that the US would work to bring democracy to Cuba in the event of Fidel Castro's death or incapacitation, the Cuban dictator announced July 31, through a...

Media: Analysis - Youth movement hits paper ownership.(purchase of The New York Observer)
August 7, 2006... Like vampires, the media are constantly hungry for young blood. Years of declining readership have prompted countless newspapers and magazines to throw money at consultants who purport to have the key to grabbing the attention of the youth. A...

Media: Journalist Q&A - Tamara Chuang, The Orange County Register.(interview)(Interview)
August 7, 2006... Name: Tamara Chuang Outlet: The Orange County Register Title: Tech reporter Preferred contact method: tchuang@ocregister.com Web site: www.ocregister.com PRWeek: How is your beat broken down? Tamara Chuang: My focus at the...

Media: Research - Corporate blog discoveries.(market research of companies)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... Conducted by: Porter Novelli, Cymfony, and Russell Research Sample: 73 online interviews with those responsible for maintaining their company's blog Goal: To determine attitudes about corporate blogs KEY FINDINGS: 63% of companies...

Media Roundup: Media key in on religion's universal role.
August 7, 2006... While religion and politics may be subjects to avoid at most social gatherings, the media have never had any problems delving into the latter. Now, editors and producers are increasingly comfortable boosting their coverage of religious and...

Media: Critical hit - KNBC casts eye on Neven Vision - Who is your client, and what are its media goals?(interview)(Interview)
August 7, 2006... Jennifer Abelson: Neven Vision is a global leader in both mobile visual search and biometric facial recognition technology. The company has momentum in Europe and Asia, and wanted to aggressively enter the US market by using the media to...

Media ups and downs.(Inform.com contracts)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... The Washington Post is among three US papers to sign deals with Inform.com to provide links to rivals' stories on their Web sites. CNN standardizes its method for collecting and disseminating news video and audio content sent in by the...

Media: Inside information - Blogs facilitate quick issues-management responses.(episodic blogs)
August 7, 2006... Whether they Are accurate or not, conversations about certain corporations can spread through the blogosphere like wildfire and eventually find their way into the mainstream media. When this happens, PR pros should consider using blogs as an...

Feature: Merging messages.(Statistical table)
August 7, 2006... The M&A market is experiencing a highly active period, and it has created a plethora of opportunities for financial and IR agencies to not only take part in the action, but also to drive it. Hamilton Nolan reports. Hostile takeover...

PR Technique: When 'b' doesn't stand for 'bad'.
August 7, 2006... 'Bankruptcy' is often referred to as the 'B' word, but good things can emerge from it. The ROI for PR is never greater than in times of financial crisis. That is, if you have the right resources in place for when the sky starts falling....

Campaign: Men get message to end rape.(California Coalition Against Sexual Assault)
August 7, 2006... CALCASA PR TEAM: California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (Sacramento, CA) and PainePR (Los Angeles) CAMPAIGN: My Strength is Not For Hurting DURATION: September to October 2005 BUDGET: dollars 350,000 With that reality, the...

Campaign: Mama Cash touts women's rights in 88-day online push.(Mama Cash (Netherlands) and McPherson Associates)
August 7, 2006... MAMA CASH PR TEAM: Mama Cash (Netherlands) and McPherson Associates (Malvern, PA) CAMPAIGN: Campaign 88 Days DURATION: December 8, 2005, to March 8, 2006 BUDGET: dollars 20,000 STRATEGY Lisa Daniels, project manager at...

Campaign: Suzuki adds some pizzazz to the New York Auto Show.(New York Auto Show)(American Suzuki Motor Corp)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... AMERICAN SUZUKI PR TEAM: American Suzuki Motor Corp. (Brea, CA) and PainePR (Irvine, CA) CAMPAIGN: Grand Vitara-Fresh Air Fund partnership DURATION: April 2006 BUDGET: dollars 25,000 STRATEGY ASMC positions its Grand Vitara as...

PR Toolbox: Targeting English-speaking media, planning VNRs, more.(public relations)(video news release)
August 7, 2006... Media relations As a Hispanic company, how can I target English-speaking media and not be disregarded due to language barriers? 'The company should work with a professional - or someone they trust to represent their company - who is...

Careers: Expert advice - Barbara Kuklock, Vice president of HR, Padilla Spear Beardsley.(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... Q: As an agency recruiter, what key things should I consider in targeting people with corporate experience? A: The first thing is to clearly understand why the particular position at a PR firm is attractive to a candidate in the corporate...

Careers: People moves - GMAC.(General Motors Acceptance Corp)(appointment of Toni Simonetti )(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... New York and Washington: Toni Simonetti has been hired as VP of global communications for GMAC, the financial services company that was spun off from General Motors last spring. She will report to GMAC CEO Eric Feldstein. Simonetti previously...

Careers: People moves - Visible Technologies.(appointment of Mike Spataro)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... Cambridge, MA: Mike Spataro, the leader of Weber Shandwick's Web relations practice for the past 10 years, has left to join Seattle-based Visible Technologies as VP of intermediary sales and marketing.

Careers: People moves - A Step Ahead PR.(Home Box Office Inc)(appointment of Cheryl Procter-Rogers)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... CHICAGO: Cheryl Procter-Rogers, PRSA president, has left HBO to work at A Step Ahead PR, a consulting business she first opened in 1986. She was a regional corporate affairs director at the cable network.

Careers: People moves - Wells Fargo.(new appointment of David Weiskopf)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO: Wells Fargo has appointed David Weiskopf as VP of communications for its consumer credit group. He joins from Chiron, where he served as VP of corporate communications. He's also worked in VP-level roles at Ketchum and Weber...

Careers: People moves - GolinHarris.(new appointment of Glen Orr )(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... DALLAS: GolinHarris has hired Glen Orr as VP to aid the firm's corporate reputation and branding capabilities. The agency has also promoted Laura Slagle to VP, Jeff Beringer to VP in its Web relations group, and Dan Guitteau to SVP.

Careers: People moves - Jefferson Consulting Group.(Jefferson Consulting Groupa)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... WASHINGTON: Jefferson Consulting Group has hired Michael Arnone, former reporter at Federal Computer Week, as a director, focusing on homeland security and IT issues related to Congress and executive agencies.

Careers: People moves - GCI Group.(GCI Group)(new appointments of Lee-Anne Bustard)(new appointments of Amy Shields)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... AUSTIN, TX: GCI Group has promoted Lee-Anne Bustard and Amy Shields to VPs in the tech practice group at its Read-Poland office. Both will serve clients including Dell, Global 360, Neverfail, Premiere Global Services, Pervasive Software, and...

Careers: People moves - Edelman.(new appointment of Dennis Bracy )(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... SEATTLE: Edelman has hired Dennis Bracy to the position of EVP, public affairs, with a focus on counseling businesses expanding into or operating in China and other Asian markets. Prior to joining Edelman, Bracy was president of Hill &...

Careers: People moves - The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers.(Wine and Spirits Wholesalers )(new appointments of Jimmy Williams )(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... WASHINGTON: The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America has hired Jimmy Williams as VP of government affairs. He joins from the National Association of Realtors, where he was a lobbyist since June 2003.

Careers: People moves - Rubenstein Public Relations.(new appointment of Sarah Boyd )(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... NEW YORK: Sarah Boyd has joined Rubenstein Public Relations (RPR) as VP. She joins the agency from Kate Spade, where, as PR manager, she led PR strategy for the company's various wedding brands. At RPR, Boyd will manage accounts including Trump...

Careers: People moves - Formula PR.(new appointment of Emily Agan )(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... SAN DIEGO: Formula PR has hired Emily Agan as director of the agency's business, technology, and travel division. She'll report to president Michael Olguin. Prior to joining Formula, Agan served as an account manager at The Ardell Group.

BP ramps up comms after AK crisis threatens image.(British Petroleum Company PLC)
August 14, 2006... ANCHORAGE, AK: BP has more than doubled the number of external communications people working in its Anchorage, AK, crisis-response unit in light of its announcement August 7 that it would cease more than half its production in Prudhoe Bay - the...

IPG Q2 revenues down, but PR firms stay strong.(Interpublic Group of Companies Inc.)(public relations)(Brief article)
August 14, 2006... NEW YORK: The PR business was a bright spot for Interpublic Group in the first six months of the year, although the holding company's revenues were down. IPG posted Q2 revenue of dollars 1.53 billion, down 4.8% from Q2 2005. Total revenue...

Grasso, Langone differ in PR paths for NYSE trial.
August 14, 2006... NEW YORK: Richard Grasso, former New York Stock Exchange chairman, and Kenneth Langone, former head of the NYSE's compensation committee, have chosen starkly contrasting styles of PR counsel to guide them in the run-up to their October trial...

Edelman buys Matter to boost entertainment unit.
August 14, 2006... LOS ANGELES: Edelman has acquired branded entertainment and content company Matter as the agency hopes to build upon its already-established entertainment practice. Matter will merge with Edelman's existing practice, led by Ferris...

TSN enlists Ketchum to tout brand's evolution.(The Sporting News)(Ketchum Advertising Inc.)
August 14, 2006... NEW YORK: The Sporting News (TSN), the 119-year-old sports multimedia brand, has named Ketchum AOR, replacing Four Corners Communications. The agency will work to raise visibility for TSN's magazine, Web site, radio network, and books division,...

News Brief: Lagrant projects.(Lagrant Communications)(Brief article)
August 14, 2006... LOS ANGELES: Lagrant Communications has acquired four new multicultural-market PR projects. Verizon has retained the firm to raise consumer awareness regarding its cable-service options. For the University of Southern California, Lagrant will...

News Brief: FT buys Mergermarket.(Financial Times Group )(Brief article)
August 14, 2006... LONDON: The FT Group, a subsidiary of Pearson and publisher of the Financial Times, has bought the Mergermarket Group for an undisclosed price. Mergermarket, which specializes in financial intelligence and analysis, publishes quarterly league...

News Brief: Stratacomm clients.(Brief article)
August 14, 2006... WASHINGTON: Stratacomm has announced the addition of a number of new clients in the transportation, government, and environmental sectors, including Bombardier, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and Transportation Safety Planning...

News Brief: MWW new practice.(Global Education and Learning Community)(Brief article)
August 14, 2006... EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ: MWW Group has launched a new 'education-related marketing and PR' practice called CampusDialogue. In conjunction with the new practice, the agency announced two new education client wins: Polytechnic University and the...

News Brief: PRSA professionals.(Public Relations Society of America)(Brief article)
August 14, 2006... NEW YORK: The New York Chapter of the PRSA has enlisted about 30 top-ranking PR professionals, including many former or current agency CEOs, such as Martin Sorrell, Harold Burson, Richard Edelman, and Larry Weber, to mentor members of its...

News Brief: Grey acquires Catalyst.
August 14, 2006... NEW YORK: Grey Healthcare Group, a WPP company with a focus on healthcare communications, has acquired Boston-based Catalyst On-line, a specialized advertising, marketing, and consulting firm serving the Internet search marketplace. The...

News Brief: San Jose PR search.(public relations )(Brief article)
August 14, 2006... SAN JOSE, CA: The city of San Jose is searching for a PR firm to boost its image. RFPs have gone out to agencies within the Silicon Valley area, and the city is in the final process of selecting an agency.

News Brief: Siemens signed.(Siemens Business Services)(Brief article)
August 14, 2006... NEW YORK: Financial Dynamics has signed Siemens Business Services to its client roster. FD's corporate communications practice will work to 'increase Siemens' visibility in the US' and develop a thought-leadership program.

News Brief: Noonan Russo hired.(Cougar Biotechnology)(Brief article)
August 14, 2006... SAN DIEGO: LA-based Cougar Biotechnology has hired life-sciences specialty firm Noonan Russo to handle the oncology company's IR counsel. The agency, a division of Havas-owned Euro RSCG Life, will focus on investor targeting, conference...

News Brief: VerbFactory selected.
August 14, 2006... MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA: Mobile VoIP company PeerMe has selected San Francisco-based VerbFactory as its AOR without a review.

Republic of Congo taps CWI for outreach in US.(Brief article)
August 14, 2006... WASHINGTON: Cohen & Woods International (CWI) recently signed a 12-month, dollars 400,000 contract with the Republic of Congo to facilitate relations between high-level US and Congolese officials and encourage Western investment in the country....

Dowie ponders next move.(Doug Dowie)(Brief article)
August 14, 2006... LOS ANGELES: Though US District Judge Margaret Morrow last month issued a summary judgment dismissing former Fleishman-Hillard Los Angeles GM Doug Dowie's wrongful termination suit before it could go to trial, Dowie and his attorney are mulling...

IBM's staff fuels idea 'Jam'.(Brief article)
August 14, 2006... PALO ALTO, CA: IBM's internal communications played a major role in the planning and execution of its online brainstorming session 'Innovation Jam,' which was held in late July. Ed Bevan, VP of research communications at IBM, said there...

Launch Pad: GFF unveils healthy initiative to facilitate bread's rise in US.(Brief article)
August 14, 2006... Objective: GFF, a trade association that represents bakers and millers, is trying to promote bread and whole grains as part of a healthy diet. GFF will ask consumers to vote for their favorite sandwich as part of National Sandwich Month in...