PR Week (US) articles from January 2009

PR Week (US) archives from January 2009

Brunswick suspends partner amid inquiry.
January 5, 2009... NEW YORK: The Brunswick Group suspended partner Nina Devlin with pay on December 19, after her husband Matthew Devlin was charged with insider trading last month. The suspension is pending an internal review, said Jennifer Lowney, director at...

RLPR wins Clarins task.
January 5, 2009... NEW YORK: Skincare company Clarins Group hired RL Public Relations as its first AOR for US Hispanic PR. 'It really came about because we were doing Hispanic outreach along with our general-market outreach,' explained Tanya Pushkine,...

Israel boosts efforts for support of Gaza attacks.
January 5, 2009... NEW YORK: The Israeli government and consulate in New York launched a series of outreach efforts to garner support for Israel's military operation in Gaza that began December 27. It is working to communicate its position against Hamas, which...

MLB pitches key and online media for its network launch.
January 5, 2009... SECAUCUS, NJ: Major League Baseball's PR team geared up for the January 1 launch of its own cable channel with an assertive media relations effort. The MLB Network was expected to be available in approximately 50 million cable and satellite...

News brief: Cramer-Krasselt hired by Churchill Downs.
January 5, 2009... NEW YORK: Churchill Downs hired Cramer-Krasselt as AOR for the Kentucky Derby event and overall branding efforts. The initial budget is 'three-quarters PR and the brand assessment research is being PR-led,' according to Deborah Radman, SVP...

News brief: Burston-Marsteller ends relationship.
January 5, 2009... NEW YORK: Burson-Marsteller ended a relationship with the ruling party of Pakistan in March, an agency source confirmed. Politico first reported the news December 29. The source confirmed details in the report were accurate, including that the...

News brief: The Glover Park Group hired by Whole Foods Market.
January 5, 2009... AUSTIN, TX: Whole Foods Market hired public affairs agency The Glover Park Group for lobbying efforts for its antitrust case against the Federal Trade Commission. Lanny Davis, partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and former special counsel...

News brief: Text 100 closes Seattle office.
January 5, 2009... NEW YORK: Text 100 has closed its Seattle office as part of the layoffs it conducted earlier this month, said Scott Friedman, regional director for Text 100 North America. The office employed a five-person team. 'Our intention is to maintain a...

News brief: NAMM hires GolinHarris.
January 5, 2009... LOS ANGELES: NAMM, a nonprofit international trade association for music merchants, hired GolinHarris as AOR. The firm will oversee PR for the group's work in music education and advocacy, handle government relations, and work with social and...

News brief: Results of study by MS&L.
January 5, 2009... NEW YORK: Although PR operates in an increasingly digital world, online and traditional outreach remain necessary to create word-of-mouth buzz, according to a study by MS&L. More than eight in 10 (84%) of the 939 respondents said they go...

News brief: Levenson & Brinker PR selected by The Beck Group.
January 5, 2009... DALLAS: Levenson & Brinker PR recently announced that it was selected as AOR by construction firm The Beck Group. The agency will publicize the organization's integrated construction and design services, technology, sustainability efforts, and...

News brief: 84% of respondents go online for more information.
January 5, 2009... 84% - The respondents to MS&L's study that go online to get more information after reading an item in print. -------------------- Did you find this article useful? Why not subscribe to the magazine? Please call 08451 55 73 55 for more...

AOL hires DKC to boost awareness of Platform-A.
January 5, 2009... NEW YORK: AOL has hired DKC to raise brand awareness for its Platform-A digital advertising business. The firm will focus on media outreach to mainstream press outlets and advertising trade media amid a tough ad climate. AOL launched...

Hastings Group to aid SIPC.
January 5, 2009... WASHINGTON: As the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) moves through the liquidation of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, it is enlisting its PR firm, The Hastings Group, to help with communications in the high-profile...

Glaceau enlists Euro RSCG.
January 5, 2009... WHITESTONE, NY: Health beverage-maker Glaceau has selected Euro RSCG Worldwide PR as AOR for the brand and science portion of its business. The task includes media relations for the Vitaminwater and Smartwater drinks. Glaceau, acquired by...

Launch Pad: Humana's latest campaign is predominately fun and games.(Daniel J. Edelman Public Relations Worldwide Inc.)(Brief article)
January 5, 2009... Company: Humana Campaign: New online efforts for Humana Games for Health PR Team: Humana and Edelman Launch: December 22 and 24 Budget: Undisclosed IDEA: These games are an opportunity to experiment with social networks, said...

Op-Ed: Did comms have a seat at the table?
January 5, 2009... PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROS: If the ailing economy has you worried about your future, have no fear. No, it's not the shield of government job security emboldening me to make such a claim. It's the fact that people in positions of authority continue to...

Op-Ed: Video games can help or hurt a brand.
January 5, 2009... Over the past few years, advertisers have begun to include video games in their overall marketing strategy. Games offer brands a unique way to be the entertainment - not just sponsor it. The vast potential of games lies in their ability to tell...

Editorial: Brunswick needs clients' trust to survive this crisis.(Editorial)
January 5, 2009... News that the husband of Brunswick Group partner Nina Devlin had traded on information obtained without his wife's knowledge has been quite disastrous for the global IR and financial communications firm Considering that financial communications...

Opinion: Challenges of '09 offer PR pros opportunity to show true value.
January 5, 2009... Now that the most feared year in recent memory has begun, all organizations, especially those that do business in the consumer space, must look hard at their communications strategy. Will they continue trumpeting the severely reduced prices and...

Opinion: Law and disorder - Learning from the mistakes of law firms.
January 5, 2009... During the PR industry's six-year boom, many firms looked at other professional service providers - such as lawyers, accountants, and management consultants - as models for improving their own service offerings. Now, with the fat times a...

Factfile: Samsung leaps through the clutter with skydiving stunt.
January 5, 2009... In the news In a competitive technology market, brands are relying on buzz from PR stunts to promote new product features. In a recent effort to promote its new lineup of full-keyboard text messaging phones, Samsung Mobile tasked 10...

Editors' Choice 2009: Ogilvy PR Worldwide - World of possibility.
January 5, 2009... Boosted by hefty government contracts, new blue-chip clients, a global footprint, and a thriving social media practice, Ogilvy PR Worldwide has placed itself in a good position to succeed in 2009. At the beginning of 2008, PR agencies were...

Editors' Choice 2009: Who to Watch.(Company overview)
January 5, 2009... PRWeek's staff looks into its crystal ball to select the agencies, individuals, and companies that are going to be making headlines in the upcoming year. AGENCIES - Porter Novelli Porter Novelli will definitely head in a new...

Market Focus: A new way to see green.
January 5, 2009... With environmental issues taking a back seat to financial concerns among consumers, companies in this sector are rethinking their PR plans Aarti Shah reports. Theresa Marquez, chief marketing executive at Organic Valley, recalls when in...

PR Technique: Wires are still a good conduit to investors.(public relations)
January 5, 2009... Despite recent use of Web disclosure, the best IR strategy uses both traditional and new methods, finds Craig McGuire. The SEC's July decision allowing public companies to leverage Web technologies for disclosure unlocked many options for...

Campaign: Us TOO gets good buzz from beer.
January 5, 2009... Us TOO PR Team: Us TOO (Downers Grove, IL) and Eric Mower and Associates (Charlotte, NC) Campaign: Pints for Prostates Duration: May-September 2008 Budget: dollars 1,000 Lyke is a freelance writer for beer outlets, and noticed...

Campaign: ODEP hits it out of the park for the disabled community.
January 5, 2009... ODEP PR Team: US Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy and Maroon PR (Marriottsville, MD) Campaign: P.I.T.C.H. (Proving Individuals with Talent Can Help) Duration: September-October 2008 Budget: dollars 50,000...

Campaign: Euphoria festival attracts visitors from across the US.
January 5, 2009... Table 301 PR Team: TK PR (New York), Table 301, Greenville CVB, The Cliffs Communities (all Greenville, SC) Campaign: Come Phor Duration: May 2008-ongoing Budget: dollars 10,000 Strategy The team wanted 'to introduce Euphoria...

PR Toolbox: Prepping for radio interviews, social media sites, and more.
January 5, 2009... Radio - What should PR pros keep in mind when prepping clients for various radio formats? Live news radio interviews are very fast paced, so guests must provide concise answers that hit key message points, yet allow interviewers to...

Careers: Expert Advice.(dialogue with Steve Seeman)(Interview)(Brief article)
January 5, 2009... - Steve Seeman, VP Makovsky & Company Q: Should I encourage my staff to set goals for the new year? If so, what guidelines should I give? A: If your firm does not have a formal approach to setting goals, perhaps it should. Senior management...

Careers: People moves - Edelman.(Daniel J. Edelman Public Relations Worldwide Inc. appointed Bob Shrum )(Brief article)
January 5, 2009... WASHINGTON: Edelman hired Bob Shrum as a senior counselor effective January 1. Shrum was senior adviser to Sen. John Kerry's (D-MA) failed 2004 presidential bid. He also worked on the presidential campaigns of former Vice President Al...

Careers: People moves - WWE.
January 5, 2009... STAMFORD, CT: World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) hired Robert Zimmerman as VP of PR and corporate communications. Zimmerman, who previously worked for DKC and as VP of media relations for Fox News, will oversee business, consumer,...

Careers: People moves - Northern Trust.(Northern Trust Bank of Texas N.A. appointed Douglas Holt)(Brief article)
January 5, 2009... CHICAGO: Northern Trust hired Douglas Holt as SVP of corporate communications, effective September 15. Holt, a former SVP of corporate communications at Citadel Investment Group, replaced Rich Jurek, who left in January 2008 to become CEO of...

Careers: People moves - Eisai Corp.(Eisai Corporation of North America promoted Judee Shuler and appointed Shari Germershausen)(Brief article)
January 5, 2009... WOODCLIFF LAKE, NJ: Eisai Corp. of North America promoted Judee Shuler to senior director of US corporate communications, and hired Shari Germershausen as associate director of US corporate communications. They report to Bob Laverty, VP of...

Careers: People moves - Edelman.(Daniel J. Edelman Public Relations Worldwide Inc. appointed Susan Borra )(Brief article)
January 5, 2009... CHICAGO: Edelman named Susan Borra EVP and MD of nutrition, food, and wellness, effective January 12. Borra, who most recently worked as president of the International Food Information Council, will work to strengthen the agency's food and...

Careers: People moves - Fleishman Hillard.
January 5, 2009... ST. LOUIS: Fleishman-Hillard named Bill Walkowiak SVP of the firm's corporate and financial practice. Walkowiak, a former VP of IR and corporate communications at Edo Corp. in New York, is based in St. Louis and reports to Tim Beecher, SVP and...

Careers: People moves - GolinHarris.(Golin/Harris Communications Inc. appointed Susan Brophy )(Brief article)
January 5, 2009... CHICAGO: GolinHarris hired Susan Brophy as SVP of media relations and the agency's national media director. Brophy, who reports to Gary Rudnick, MD of the Chicago office and the firm's Central region, joined the agency from Ketchum. It is a new...

Pedal Power.
January 5, 2009... Procter & Gamble brand Duracell powered up for New Year's Eve with a 'snowmobike' which created energy to be used to light up the '2009' as the ball dropped in the heart of Manhattan. Along with AOR PainePR, Duracell invited consumers to its...

Dearth of M&As, IPOs directs financial agencies to other work.
January 12, 2009... NEW YORK: Bankruptcies and other crisis communications work appear to be sustaining financial PR agencies as the recession has severely impacted both M&A deals and IPOs. Dealogic data cited by The Wall Street Journal found that only 29...

Difficult sales climate spurs Toyota PR cuts.
January 12, 2009... TORRANCE, CA: Toyota Motor Corp., whose US sales dropped more than a third in December, said it has made PR budget reductions and will seek to 'do more with less,' according to Joe Tetherow, national manager of Toyota Division Communications....

CTTC issues dollars 300K RFP.(California Travel & Tourism Commission)(request for proposal)(Brief article)
January 12, 2009... SACRAMENTO, CA: The California Travel & Tourism Commission (CTTC) issued an RFP on January 7 for a six-figure account to promote the state as a top tourist destination in the US and Canada. The one-year contract has a budget of up to...

Boy Scouts puts focus on Hispanics for anniversary.
January 12, 2009... IRVING, TX: The Boy Scouts of America is increasing overall outreach efforts to prepare for its 100th Anniversary in February 2010, including a new focus on the Hispanic community. 'Overall, the Boy Scouts is engaged now in reintroducing...

Sony bolsters Web presence with social networking site.
January 12, 2009... SAN DIEGO: Sony launched a social networking community as part of a larger strategy to build a stronger interactive Web presence. The company launched a beta version of the social networking site at sony.com/electronicsblog on January 6, in...

News brief: Ann Taylor Stores names Shadow PR as AOR.
January 12, 2009... New York: Ann Taylor Stores Corp. named Shadow PR its AOR for the Ann Taylor brand. The company will work with Shadow on building buzz for the fall unveiling of the first collection under new head designer Lisa Axelson. Ann Taylor Stores also...

News brief: Zebra Partners announces launch.
January 12, 2009... SEATTLE: Zebra Partners, founded by three former Nintendo PR pros, announced its launch January 7. It has five clients, including Sapphire Energy and The Online Mom, and plans to continue to pursue clients in the entertainment, health and...

News brief: Lisa Lori chosen as AOR for Cognac Ferrand.(Brief article)
January 12, 2009... GREENWICH, CT: Lisa Lori Communications was chosen as AOR for Cognac Ferrand USA and will provide support for the brands Pierre Ferrand Cognac, Citadelle Gin, and Mathilde Liqueur. -------------------- Did you find this article useful?...

News brief: R&R Partners acquires Gallatin Public Affairs' practice.
January 12, 2009... WASHINGTON: R&R Partners acquired Gallatin Public Affairs' Washington practice, including three staff members and eight clients, effective January 1. There was no financial transaction, said Mike Pieper, EVP of R&R's government affairs...

News brief: Russo Partners forms alliance with Blue State Digital.(Brief article)
January 12, 2009... NEW YORK: Russo Partners formed an exclusive alliance with Blue State Digital, the firm behind President-elect Barack Obama's Web campaign, the agency announced January 12. The purpose, said Tony Russo, president and CEO of Russo Partners, is...

News brief: Therative names AOR.(appointment of Euro RSCG Worldwide Inc.)(Brief article)
January 12, 2009... LIVERMORE, CA: Therative, maker of the ThermaClear anti-acne product line, named Euro RSCG Worldwide its AOR, effective January 1 Therative had contacted agencies of various sizes as part of a limited RFP process, said Debbie Kelly, marketing...

News brief: G.S. Schwartz & Co renews contracts.
January 12, 2009... NEW YORK: G.S. Schwartz & Co. recently renewed its contracts to oversee PR for two events: the New York Wine Expo and the American International Toy Fair, which expects more than 20,000 visitors for the 2009 show at New York's Javits Center....

News brief: The Morris & King Co launches digital division.(Brief article)
January 12, 2009... NEW YORK: The Morris & King Co. launched SeisMK, a digital division focusing on the firm's interactive marketing services, January 12. Lane Buschel, VP at Morris & King, is the president for SeisMK. -------------------- Did you find...

News brief: 20,000.
January 12, 2009... Expected visitors for the American International Toy Fair, for which G.S. Schwartz is providing PR. -------------------- Did you find this article useful? Why not subscribe to the magazine? Please call 08451 55 73 55 for more...

Alliance taps MWW to assist 'Radio Heard Here'.
January 12, 2009... EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ: A partnership of media organizations recently hired MWW Group to add a PR component to the ongoing 'Radio Heard Here' campaign. The nine-month-old marketing effort promotes the role of radio to marketers and consumers. ...

Taylor nets Jenny Craig task.
January 12, 2009... CARLSBAD, CA: Jenny Craig, the weight management company privately held by Nestle, recently named Taylor as its AOR, following a competitive review. Taylor will provide the company with PR strategy to leverage the brand, including support...

Banks introduce merger blog.
January 12, 2009... SAN FRANCISCO: Wells Fargo launched The Wells Fargo-Wachovia Blog on January 2 in an effort to maintain a dialogue with customers following the completion of the banks' merger December 31. The Wells Fargo-Wachovia blog - the fifth for Wells...

Launch Pad: Fanatix's new site puts the ball in sports ticket holders' court.(Maroon Public relations)(Brief article)
January 12, 2009... Company: Fanatix Campaign: Launch of FanatixNetwork.com PR Team: Maroon PR Launch: Early- to mid-February Budget: Undisclosed IDEA: It is going out with the message that, 'We can save you considerable time and energy with managing...

PR Play of the Week: Giant offers free cure for financial ills.
January 12, 2009... Are you sick of the incessant depressing economic news? Head to Giant Food stores where, with a prescription of course, you can get yourself some free drugs. The supermarket chain started a program on January 2 that offers a free two-week...

Pedigree helps homeless dogs with movie alliance.
January 12, 2009... FRANKLIN, TN: Dog food brand Pedigree launched an awareness campaign to coincide with the upcoming Paramount Pictures' film Hotel for Dogs. Employing the message of, 'See the movie. Help a dog,' the campaign is reaching out to educate consumers...

Study shows airing news brings profits.(capital markets)(Brief article)
January 12, 2009... CHICAGO: Greater dissemination of company news results in greater capital markets benefits, according to a new study from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. The study analyzed 9.3 million articles from the post-Reg FD...

A welcome donation.
January 12, 2009... National transplant network Donate Life America took part in the 2009 Rose Parade on January 1 in Pasadena, CA, with its 'Stars of Life' float. Organized by local member agency OneLegacy, the float is part of an annual public awareness drive...

Twitter offers blog responses to hacks.
January 12, 2009... SAN FRANCISCO: Twitter responded on January 5 to a hacking incident on its site by posting information to its blog and using its microblogging service to distribute details. Hackers posted fake messages from the accounts of 33 Twitter users...

Garden Fresh hires FH for national push.
January 12, 2009... SAN DIEGO: Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp., the parent company of the eateries Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes, recently named Fleishman-Hillard as its AOR, following a competitive review. The company plans to open up several new restaurants...

Consumers Union touts goals of new acquisition.(Gawker Media)
January 12, 2009... YONKERS, NY: Consumers Union (CU) is emphasizing that it will not change the editorial style of the shopper-advocacy blog The Consumerist after acquiring it from Gawker Media December 31. As the publisher of Consumer Reports, the company's...

WaterBrick selects FWV as its AOR.(WaterBrick International Inc. appointed French/West/Vaughan)(agency of record)(Brief article)
January 12, 2009... ORLANDO, FL: WaterBrick International, a manufacturer and supplier of water containers for disaster zones, named French/West/Vaughan (FWV) its AOR. The firm is providing media relations, strategy, public affairs, and event coordination for...

ESPN Zone ushers in '09 sitting down.
January 12, 2009... CHICAGO: ESPN Zone kicked off 2009 with a PR stunt that challenged participants to remain in their recliners watching continuous sports coverage for as long as possible. The 'Ultimate Couch Potato Contest' took place January 1 among sports fans...

Profit, transparency top consumer study.
January 12, 2009... NEW YORK: A majority of consumers, surveyed around the globe, believe companies can succeed while maintaining transparency, according to the MS&L Global Values study. The highest expectation for transparency from consumers occurred in the...

Companies: Organizational Profile - US Marshals Service pursues recognition.(Agency overview)
January 12, 2009... From staff training to blog monitoring, the law enforcement agency is prioritizing outreach. Founded in 1789, the United States Marshals Service (USMS) is the nation's oldest federal law enforcement agency, yet many people - even some in...

Companies: The Agency Business - Digital remains in demand despite economic ills.
January 12, 2009... Despite global economic concerns, digital talent is still highly sought at PR firms. Because it's rare to find candidates with a perfect balance of communications and digital expertise, agencies have invested in training new and current...

News Analysis: Firms wait out retainer freeze from clients.
January 12, 2009... With many clients asking agencies to go on hiatus in '09, experts now stress success through flexibility. A number of PR firms are reporting that clients are asking them to take a hiatus from full-time work as the country enters 2009 with a...

Newsmaker: Russel leads ongoing evolution of Getty's image.(Bridget Russel)
January 12, 2009... 'Careers kind of take their paths,' says Bridget Russel, senior director of corporate communications for Getty Images. She has certainly followed hers through posts at Seattle University, MSI Consulting Group, and her current company. 'It...

Editorial: Tailored messaging is key to explain exec departures.(Editorial)
January 12, 2009... In recent weeks, a number of companies, including Dell, Orbitz, Tyson Foods, and Borders, have announced the departure of top executives and CEOs. As the economy continues to make positive returns a fading reality for investors, it's likely...

Op-Ed: Healthcare must exercise social media.
January 12, 2009... John Milton wrote, 'As there of necessity will be much arguing, much writing, many opinions; for opinions in good men is but knowledge in the making.' That's about as good a rationale for social media as I've yet heard. But the truth is that...

Op-Ed: PR helps boost future market share.
January 12, 2009... In today's economic climate, industrial manufacturers need to promote more than ever to compensate for the worsening market conditions. Those that expand marketing and sales during these difficult times will emerge with increased market share...

Opinion: A bad boilerplate could negate an otherwise effective Web site.
January 12, 2009... Many years after corporations set up real estate on the nascent World Wide Web, tech enhancements have made many tools available to corporate communicators: online press rooms, video, customized looks based on a visitor's geographical location,...

Opinion: Laying out the business case for target marketing in tough times.
January 12, 2009... A year ago, not many people would have thought that our economy would be where it is right now. The downturn in the economic tide has caused almost everyone to reconsider their spending habits. As companies' dollars are shrinking and budgets...

Opinion: Employee comms is not a luxury during down times.
January 12, 2009... A small item in last Tuesday's edition of The Wall Street Journal reported that a town-hall meeting that had been planned for employees of the newly conjoined Merrill Lynch and Bank of America had been cancelled. The article suggested the...

Media: Analysis - DC bureau cutbacks bring shift in comms.
January 12, 2009... The closings of Washington media bureaus, and severe cutbacks at others, are resulting in a simple equation for DC-based journalists and PR pros: Less staff equals fewer story opportunities, less experienced correspondents, and more work for...

Media: Journalist Q&A - Stuart Kirk, Financial Times.
January 12, 2009... Name: Stuart Kirk Title: US Lex Editor Outlet: Financial Times Preferred e-mail address: stuart.kirk@ft.com Web site: www.ft.com PRWeek: What topics have you found that interest readers most? Stuart Kirk: We get interesting...

Media: Research - Sources for news.(Survey)(Brief article)
January 12, 2009... Conducted by: Gallup Sample: 1,009 US adults (December 4-7) Goal: To determine where consumers are turning for information KEY FINDINGS 40% report that they watch cable news channels every day 34% say they view a nightly network news...

Media Roundup: Snow sports remain hot despite economy.
January 12, 2009... Few industries are immune to the current economic downturn, but one showing some resilience to the recession is snow sports. A recent report by SnowSports Industries America (SIA) found sales of new skis, snowboards, and related products were...

Media: Critical Hit - Networked Insights measures up.
January 12, 2009... Name: Jeremy Frank, account executive, LaunchSquad (New York) Placement: Forbes.com, October 30 Pitch timeline: One week Jeremy Frank: Networked Insights is a Madison, WI-based company specializing in customer intelligence in social...

Media: Ups and Downs.
January 12, 2009... Former media rivals - like The Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram - share news to offset declining readership CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News Channel saw record ratings in '08 due to interest in the presidential election Senate...

Media: Inside Information - Small companies see big benefits from XBRL adoption.
January 12, 2009... The Sec has made eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) a mandate for financial filers. The largest companies will begin using the electronic data tagging system for financial submissions beginning June 15. Though smaller companies...