PR Week (US) articles from December 2004

PR Week (US) archives from December 2004

Kellogg's puts off IR push for new CEO despite fall in its stock price.(Kellogg USA inc)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Battle Creek, MI: Kellogg's will delay the launch of a full-fledged IR effort to showcase its incoming CEO, despite a drop in its stock price last week following President Bush's nomination of its current CEO, Carlos Gutierrez, for secretary of...

Taser takes aim at reports stun guns are dangerous.(Taser International)
December 6, 2004... SCOTTSDALE, AZ: Stun-gun manufacturer Taser International has launched a media and client-relations campaign to counter mounting accusations that the company's weapons are dangerous and potentially deadly. Amnesty International (AI)...

TiVo battles misconceptions about new offering for advertisers.
December 6, 2004... ALVISO, CA: TiVo is fighting widespread media scrutiny for allegedly abandoning its brand ideals with an arrangement that would help advertisers better reach its viewers. The company announced a plan last month that would allow advertisers...

PRWeek Editorial staff picking 'Who to Watch in 2005'.(Editorial)
December 6, 2004... NEW YORK: What agency, company, or individual will be in the spotlight next year? In its January 3rd issue, PRWeek will debut the first of what will become an annual feature. 'Who to Watch in 2005' will identify one outstanding headliner...

Poll: Manufacturing firms set to up PR budgets in '05.
December 6, 2004... FORT LAUDERDALE, FL: Privately held manufacturing firms plan an average increase of 38.5% in PR spending next year as their senior managers begin to better understand the value of PR, according to a new study by manufacturing PR firm TR Cutler....

Hispanic wire service to embed photos.(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... MIAMI: Hispanic PR Wire (HPRW) is now offering its clients the Inteligente Release. The add-on service will distribute news releases embedded with photos, as well as act as a photo wire, enabling journalists to obtain high resolution,...

Coyne to breathe new life into Close-Up Toothpaste.(Coyne Advertising and Public Relations Inc)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... LOS ANGELES: New Jersey-based Coyne PR has won the opportunity to help revive the Close-Up Toothpaste brand, an account valued in the five to low-six figures. Close-Up is one of the brands belonging to household and personal-care product...

Biz360 promotes Sammann its CEO to replace Michael.(Frank Sammann promoted to replace Bud Michael)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... SAN MATEO, CA: Frank Sammann has been named CEO of Biz360, replacing Bud Michael. The announcement comes on the heels of Deborah Eastman's appointment as CMO. 'We've evolved the management team over time,' said You Mon Tsang, VP of...

News in brief: New public affairs and lobbying agency.(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... COLUMBUS, OH: George Voinovich, son of the Ohio senator of the same name, has teamed up with three public affairs veterans to open a new public affairs and lobbying agency. The firm, Voinovich, Needles, and Dalton, will be based in Columbus,...

News in brief: Appointment at CFO Publishing.(Molly Meloy as vice president)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... NEW YORK: Molly Meloy, a former ad executive with Mobil Oil, has joined CFO Publishing as VP of marketing. She will be in charge of all brand, advertising, and marketing initiatives for CFO magazine. Full story at PRWeek.com.

News in brief: New assistant secretary of labor for public affairs.(Lisa Kahle Kruska is appointed.)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... WASHINGTON: Lisa Kahle Kruska has been officially named assistant secretary of labor for public affairs. Formerly, Kruska was the deputy assistant secretary of public affairs at the Department of Labor and has acted in her new role since...

News in brief: Appointment at Dittus Communications.(Michael Mason as director)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... WASHINGTON: Michael Mason has joined Dittus Communications as a director in its food, nutrition, and agriculture practice. He'll provide public affairs, media relations, community outreach, and issue advocacy counsel for clients, including the...

News in brief: Appointment at Widmeyer Communications.(Joe Carey as vice president)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... CHARLESTON, WV: Gov. Bob Wise's director of communications, Joe Carey, has left state government to be VP at Widmeyer Communications, an independently owned communications and public affairs firm with headquarters in Washington, DC. Before...

News in brief: Appointment at Ogilvy.(Regina Ragone)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... NEW YORK: Regina Ragone, former food editor at Prevention, has joined Ogilvy PR's consumer marketing practice to strengthen food and nutrition marketing. She is a registered dietician and author.

News in brief: Appointment at .(Marilyn Gerber as managing director)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... NEW YORK: Marilyn Gerber has joined Nancy J. Friedman Public Relations as MD. She joins from the consumer marketing practice at Weber Shandwick.

News in brief: Schwartz Communications announces new clients.(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... WALTHAM, MA: Schwartz Communications announced six new clients, including Lucid8, a provider of Microsoft Exchange maintenance applications; MBI, a provider of payment software for employee benefit programs; and PatientKeeper, a provider of...

News in brief: Toshiba Digital Products selects its AOR.(area of responsibility.)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... IRVINE, CA: Toshiba Digital Products has selected Maples Communications as its AOR. The division, which includes Toshiba's laptop computers, previously worked with Golin Harris. Due to a conflict, Maples has dropped Fujitsu Computer Systems as...

News in brief: Global Fluency adds to network.(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... PALO ALTO, CA: Global Fluency, a coalition of agencies specializing in tech, has added two more firms to the network - The Jeffrey Group, based in Miami, and Maverick PR, based in Toronto. With the additions, Global Fluency now has 80 offices...

News in brief: Appointment at Sun Microsystems.(Jeff Ferry as senior director)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... SANTA CLARA, CA: Jeff Ferry has joined Sun Microsystems as senior director of corporate communications. Ferry will lead the team, including communications for the offices of the CEO and COO, media relations, corporate affairs, financial and...

News in brief: Appointments at Bite Communications.(Jill Ratkevic and Carol Wentworth as vice president)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO: Bite Communications has hired Jill Ratkevic and Carol Wentworth as VPs. Ratkevic joins from MontaVista Software, where she was director of marketing and communications programs, and Wentworth joins from Sparkpr, where she was MD....

Fleishman opens practice to serve LGBT community.(Fleishman-Hillard launched for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... LOS ANGELES: Fleishman-Hillard has launched a new practice devoted to the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender (LGBT) market. Called FH Out Front, the practice is based dually in Washington, DC, and San Diego, and is headed by SVP Ben...

Coronelli fills top IR post for Equity Office Properties.(Elizabeth Coronelli as senior vice president)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... CHICAGO: Equity Office Properties Trust (EOPT), America's largest publicly held owner of office property, has named Elizabeth Coronelli its new SVP of investor relations. The post has been open since April, when Diane Morefield was...

Groups take marijuana arguments to press.(medicinal marijuana)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... WASHINGTON: As the Supreme Court debates the issue of medical marijuana, advocacy groups on both sides are using the opportunity to present their arguments in front of the media. A team at Fenton Communications is trying to present...

M&G teases media in push for FAO Schwarz reopening.(Middleton & Gendron)
December 6, 2004... NEW YORK: FAO Schwarz didn't officially announce the reopening of its flagship store until three days before its November return, but its new AOR, Middleton & Gendron (M&G), has been steadily building buzz around the event for months. The...

'Jeopardy' rumor pays off in publicity for H&R Block.(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... KANSAS CITY, MO: H&R Block banked on internet rumors that its name was the answer that ended the record run of Jeopardy champion Ken Jennings, offering him free lifetime services in a gambit that paid off in outsize publicity last week. ...

UK's Incepta and Chime verify their failed merger bid.(Incepta Group PLC and Chime Communications)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... LONDON: Two large UK agencies held merger talks in the last month, but failed to reach a deal. Incepta, the financial communications specialist that is home to all the Citigate agencies, and Chime, home to top-ranked UK firm Bell...

UNOS targets media in bid to stop internet organ-donor solicitation.(United Network for Organ Sharing)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... NEW YORK: The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the group that holds the national transplant waiting list, is launching a media offensive to stop patients in need of transplants from finding organ donors on the internet. Recent...

Mayer moves into post as managing director at Sitrick.(Allan Mayer)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... LOS ANGELES: Allan Mayer has been named managing director of Sitrick & Co. Mayer was previously head of the agency's entertainment practice, where he counseled celebrities like R. Kelly on crisis issues. Mayer has also worked with Rush...

Eastwick plays up validity of students' election probe.(Eastwick Communications)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... BERKELEY, CA: Tech firm Eastwick Communications is helping a group of Berkeley graduate students and professors publicize potentially explosive findings about e-voting irregularities from this year's presidential election. What began as a...

VeriSign, Bite pros start firm to blend tech, public policy.(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... WASHINGTON: Three communications leaders from VeriSign and Bite Communications are launching a new firm focused on the nexus between technology and public policy. 463 Communications, named for a double play in baseball, will be headed by...

Ketchum unveils new practice to better target female consumers.(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... NEW YORK: Ketchum is launching a new specialty within its global brand marketing practice to help clients more effectively target female consumers. Ketchum's 'Women 25to54' will use several new tools developed by the agency to reach female...

Wag Ed hires Raine as SVP in effort to raise CA presence.(Senior Vice President)(California)(Debra Raine)(Waggener Edstrom )(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... SAN BRUNO, CA: Debra Raine has joined Waggener Edstrom as SVP and GM of California, overseeing the firm's Silicon Valley office and staff members based in Southern California. Raine, who will report to EVP Katie Kemp, replaces SVP Kazumi...

Bayer taps agency network to boost minority outreach.(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... LOS ANGELES: Bayer Biologics is among four drug companies using a new marketing coalition to reach minorities through medical-education campaigns. Bayer and the other companies, whose names were not disclosed, have retained the services of...

Latest iPressroom offering broadens visibility of clients.(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... LOS ANGELES: Ipressroom is now offering its clients the opportunity to distribute targeted news and real simple syndication (RSS) feeds on their own. The new offering is intended as a direct challenge to the newswires. COO Chris...

Editorial: Parrish's call for change shows how a company's image need not be bound by that of its industry.(Steve Parrish)(Editorial)
December 6, 2004... 'This is not about spin, this is about change,' said Steve Parrish, addressing an unlikely group. The SVP of corporate affairs at Altria was speaking about improving a company's public image at a recent pharmaceutical roundtable in...

Op-Ed: Comms converging in face of constant news cycles.(Editorial)
December 6, 2004... Communications is hurtling toward a world of convergence. Don't panic. The function is not contracting or headed for extinction. On the contrary, organizations need PR more than ever. But in a world of constant and continuous news and...

Analysis: The NBA - When athletes attack: Does brawl bode well for the NBA?(National Basketball Association)
December 6, 2004... Some PR pros see the recent brawl between NBA players and fans as a major crisis for the league, while others see it as a key opportunity to win publicity. Fight! Fight! Fight! Forget high-minded rhetoric and plaintive appeals to our...

Paul Holmes: Americans' tendency to support faith over facts can't be ignored by public affairs pros.
December 6, 2004... If ignorance is truly bliss, the era of American dominance in world affairs will likely end with a big stupid grin on its face. A recent Gallup poll found that only slightly more than a third of Americans believe that Charles Darwin's...

Corporate Case Study: Ikon adopts educational strategy to up its visibility.
December 6, 2004... To bolster its profile in the competitive document-management industry, Ikon Office Solutions ramped up its education efforts to establish itself as a leader with clients and the press. Creating 'buzz' in the document-management and...

The Agency Business: Firms aim to retain employees by focusing on their children.
December 6, 2004... In order not to lose talented, young PR pros as they start families, agencies are making it easier for staff to spend time with their kids, even if that means making room for them at work. PR agencies, like corporations in general, were not...

Media Roundup: More outlets now watching new TVs.
December 6, 2004... Far from just a guy thing anymore, TVs have taken on new cachet with fashion and design publications due to innovations that now give them luxury status. Most adults spend more than five hours each day glued to their TV sets, according to...

Media: Journalist Q&A - Joel Dreyfuss.(Interview)
December 6, 2004... Name: Joel Dreyfuss Publication: Red Herring Title: Editor Preferred contact method: jdreyfuss@redherring.com Website: www.redherring.com Silicon Valley is determined not to make the mistakes it made during the tech boom....

Media Watch: NBA brawl shoots to the top of the news.(National Basketball Association )(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Even in a year of 'wardrobe malfunctions' and locker-room visitors dropping towels in prime time, the near-riot that broke out in the stands during the November 19 Indiana Pacers-Detroit Pistons game was one of the most widely covered broadcast...

Inside the Mix: USPS casts spotlight on the value direct-mail marketing can add to advertising budgets.(US Postal Service)
December 6, 2004... The direct-mail industry hasn't always enjoyed a first-class reputation in the marketing world (and let's right here exorcise the 'j' term - to call it 'junk mail' is akin to calling the PR industry a spin machine), but it's certainly a...

Profile: Crawford's media savvy helps drive Bentley in US.(John Crawford)
December 6, 2004... John Crawford uses his experience as an automotive reporter in his native Australia to guide Bentley Motors toward credibility in the media and to assist the automaker in building its US sales. There are certain adjectives that seem to...

Going to the doctor.
December 6, 2004... Despite the rise of DTC marketing, it's vital that physicians remain part of the mix. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) campaigns became the new frontier last decade and changed the stakes in physician communications. Savvier consumers and the...

Regional Focus: Philadelphia - Brotherly collaboration.
December 6, 2004... Philadelphia's PR industry is working together toward growth. In the City of Brotherly Love, even the leaders of the sometimes cutthroat PR industry get along like old pals. That's because, in a sense, they are. Having survived the ups...

PR Technique: Recruiting celebrities - Getting a star to say yes to your event.(public relations)
December 6, 2004... It takes more than just money to secure the right celebrity for your product. Craig McGuire discovers what truly resonates with the high-maintenance crowd. How difficult do you think it would be to get George Lucas, Cameron Diaz, John...

Campaigns: Krave wins Vegas over by giving the media all it wants.
December 6, 2004... PR team: Lobeline Communications (Los Angeles) and Krave nightclub (Las Vegas) Campaign: Grand opening of Krave Time frame: August to October 2004 Budget: dollars 30,000 West Coast nightlife maven Sia Amiri set out to change that on...

Campaigns: Philadelphia takes youthful approach to drawing visitors.
December 6, 2004... PR team: Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp. Campaign: 'Real Fun, Real Young, Real Philly' Time frame: June to November 2004 Budget: dollars 12,000 to dollars 15,000 But when MTV chose the city as the location for the latest...

Campaigns: K-Y takes intimate view of the brand to reposition itself.
December 6, 2004... PR team: K-Y Brand and Euro RSCG Magnet (New York) Campaign: K-Y Brand National Date Night Time frame: April to August 2004 Budget: dollars 350,000 (including agency fees, spokesperson fees, and out-of-pocket expenses) Although it...

The Publicist: Endless perks make a future in film publicity rather appetizing.
December 6, 2004... I hate the caterers on the film I'm doing. Not because they're bad, but because they're ridiculously good. I've gained six pounds since shooting started - and we're only in week three. Catered meals are one of the amazing perks - and dangers -...

PR Play of the Week: Spongebob heists yield Whopper of an offer.(public relations)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... First he was a cartoon. Then, a movie. Last month he was the unparalleled hit of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Now he's MIA. But if you find him, you can eat free fast food for a year. No wonder the kids are crazy about Spongebob!...

Toy Box: The 7100t is a new type of Blackberry.(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Research in Motion's Blackberry has produced a cult-following much the way Apple's iPod has. Members of the Blackberry cult will likely be ga-ga over the new Blackberry 7100t being offered through T-Mobile, a combination Blackberry device...

Book Review: 'Tough' takes hard look at Ford comms.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
December 6, 2004... Title: Ford Tough Author: David Magee Publisher: John Wiley & Sons (November 2004), 235 pages Reviewed by: John N. Frank It's fascinating to learn, for example, that when disaster struck the Ford Rouge plant in 1999, killing several...

DoD upholds its media-disclosure practices amid recent criticism.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... WASHINGTON: The Department of Defense (DoD) is maintaining its message of 'maximum disclosure, minimum delay,' amid recent reports that military public affairs officers have released false or misleading information during the war on terror....

Activist hoax puts BBC, Dow Chemical on the defensive.
December 13, 2004... LONDON: A daring hoax perpetrated on the BBC and Dow Chemical early this month was a spectacular success for an activist group seeking to draw attention to corporate malfeasance. But for the involved companies, it was an unabashed fiasco....

NRP launches new biotech unit under founders' names.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... NEW YORK: Euro RSCG Life NRP is launching a new biotech division under the Noonan Russo name. 'We realized over the last three years that we'd built up tremendous equity in the Noonan Russo name,' said Tony Russo, agency CEO. 'No matter...

Survey finds PR still behind on diversity.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... NEW YORK: The majority of respondents to PRWeek's second annual diversity survey, sponsored by Hill & Knowlton, said they were somewhat satisfied or satisfied with the level of diversity in their organizations. However, the statistics reveal...

Lowe's seeks new agency after five-year run with Golin.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... MOORESVILLE, NC: Lowe's Companies is looking for a new PR firm. Golin Harris, which has held the account for five years, declined to take part in the review. Lowe's had invited Golin to participate, said Chris Ahearn, the retailer's PR...

Ex-GE staffers set to head up comms for Motorola, HP.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... PALO ALTO, CA, and SCHAUMBURG, IL: Hewlett-Packard and Motorola have named new communications heads, both of whom recently held posts with GE divisions. Pam Wickham has joined HP as corporate communications VP, while Valerie Di Maria has...

Newsweek assists on 'Current' relaunch.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... NEW YORK: As part of its GeNext initiative, Newsweek has teamed with Current for the college news magazine's relaunch this week. 'This is part of an ambitious and long-term initiative to focus on the college marketplace and introduce our...

Chrysler scores pre-auto show attention with track.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... AUBURN HILLS, MI: The Chrysler Group is already grabbing early headlines for a new PR twist during the Chicago Auto Show. Chrysler recently gave the Chicago Tribune an exclusive on its intention to have a half-mile test track at its auto...

Former-Sen. Dole joining APCO as a senior counselor.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... WASHINGTON: APCO Worldwide has hired former senator and presidential candidate Bob Dole as a senior counselor. President and CEO Margery Kraus told PRWeek that she's known Dole for more than 25 years and has worked with him over the past...

News Brief: Edelman named AOR.(Agency Of Record)(Daniel J. Edelman Public Relations Worldwide Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... ATLANTA: Edelman's Atlanta office has been named AOR for Scientific-Atlanta, a global manufacturer of broadband products and services. Full story at PRWeek.com.

News Brief: Hilf joins RSA Security.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... BEDFORD, MA: Kristin Hilf has joined software firm RSA Security as corporate communications director. She joins from Waggener Edstrom, where she was a VP in the Boston office. Full story at PRWeek.com.

News Brief: Cassidy hires advisers.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... WASHINGTON: Cassidy & Associates has hired two political advisers. Ali Amirhooshmand, a policy adviser to House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Ron Phillips, senior policy adviser and professional staff member on the House Armed Services...

News Brief: Seven Worldwide selects Trylon.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... NEW YORK: Seven Worldwide has selected Trylon Communications to handle business and trade media relations for corporate and individual brands. Trylon will be responsible for promoting Seven Worldwide's enterprise initiatives, proprietary...

News Brief: CKPR wins KILZ.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... ST. LOUIS: CKPR has won the KILZ brand of painting primers. The agency, with headquarters in Chicago and Milwaukee, will work on brand identity and consumer awareness.

News Brief: Hauer appointed.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... WASHINGTON: Fleishman-Hillard Government Relations has appointed Jerome Hauer as an SVP and co-chairman of its homeland security practice. Most recently, he served as the first director of the Response to Emergencies and Disasters Institute...

News Brief: Montano appointed VP/MD.(Manuel Montano)(Vice President/ Managing Director)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... LOS ANGELES: Manuel Montano has been appointed VP/MD for Lagrant Communications' Hispanic practice. In this position, Montano will manage the Hispanic account team while expanding the firm's client base.

News Brief: Kerr joins Pitney Bowes.(Peter Kerr )(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... STAMFORD, CT: Peter Kerr has joined Pitney Bowes in the newly created position of director of media and editorial relations. Kerr spent 14 years as a reporter at The New York Times and has held communications leadership positions at PR firm...

News Brief: Worldcom adds partners.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... NEW YORK: Worldcom Public Relations Group, a network of independently owned PR counseling firms, has added four new partners: C2 Group in San Juan, Puerto Rico, InterMountain Corporate Affairs in Denver, Katcher Vaughn & Bailey in Nashville,...

News Brief: Carter Ryley Thomas adds.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... RICHMOND, VA: Carter Ryley Thomas has added four new clients to its client list: Virginia Union University, S & R Communications, Corn Products, and McGeorge Car Co.

News Brief: Corel selects Jeffrey.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... OTTAWA, CANADA: Software company Corel has selected The Jeffrey Group to help launch the latest version of WordPerfect Office in Latin America. The firm will target consumers and small- to medium-size businesses, as well as the government and...

News Brief: Spurgeon joins Porter Novelli.(Steve Spurgeon)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO: Steve Spurgeon has joined Porter Novelli as an EVP to lead the Bay Area consumer and corporate practices.

News Brief: RS selects Peppercom.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO: Boutique investment management firm RS Investments has selected Peppercom to develop communications programs to raise the firm's visibility and public awareness of its capabilities and products.

News Brief: Realm selects Atomic.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... SALT LAKE CITY: Realm Systems, which develops mobile technology, has selected Atomic PR to handle corporate, enterprise, and consumer PR. Atomic will focus on positioning, messaging, brand development, communications strategy, and campaign...

Best Buy merges its PR, marketing units for first time.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... MINNEAPOLIS: Best Buy is putting its PR and marketing groups in the same department for the first time as part of an effort to help the electronics retailer better connect with customers. Best Buy veteran John Walden has assumed the role...

Google seemingly hires CarryOn for enterprise focus.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA: Search giant Google is working with CarryOn Communication, apparently focusing on the company's enterprise division. Google handles most of its PR and communications in-house. Google and CarryOn didn't comment on the...

NASCAR reviews shops for West Coast office.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... LOS ANGELES: NASCAR is performing an agency review for its West Coast office, which oversees support for broadcasting, new media, and entertainment partners. Anachel Communications, the firm that currently handles the LA work, is still in...

PR pros rip MD governor's ban on two 'Sun' reporters.(Robert Ehrlich)(Public Relations)(Michael Olesker)(David Nitkin )
December 13, 2004... BALTIMORE: Gov. Robert Ehrlich's (R-MD) decision to ban state offices from speaking to two Baltimore Sun journalists has drawn criticism from some PR professionals. Kyle Neiderpruem, VP of Hirons & Co. Communications and former national...

El Al taps RF its US firm to deal with rise in tourism.(Ruder Finn)(El Al Israel Airlines)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... NEW YORK: El Al, the national airline of Israel, has selected Ruder Finn as its agency in the US after a three-month search. The search process included about two-dozen firms. RF was chosen out of the final three. Terms weren't...

Dart opens up her own agency in NY after firing by PMK.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... LOS ANGELES: Less than a month after her unexpected firing from entertainment PR powerhouse PMK/HBH, Leslee Dart has opened her own shop. Dart confirmed last week that she is 'starting an agency,' called The Dart Group, currently based in...