PR Week (US) articles from July 2003

PR Week (US) archives from July 2003

Tyco lures GE marketing head as it begins to rebuild in-house PR.(Charles Young joins company as senior vice president of corporate communications)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... BERMUDA: More than a year after its board of directors handed the reins of its day-to-day PR operation to crisis firm Robinson Lerer Montgomery (RLM), Tyco appears to have begun reestablishing its own in-house corporate PR operation. Tyco,...

PR teams enter the battle in Big East-ACC expansion row.
July 7, 2003... PROVIDENCE, RI and GREENSBORO, NC: Both the Big East and the Atlantic Coast Conference have brought in PR help for their showdown over the ACC's expansion thrust. Mark Fabiani and Chris Lehane, who earned their swashbuckling reputation for...

Financial Times revamps PR strategy to capitalize on growth in US.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... NEW YORK: The Financial Times, the international business newspaper striving to consolidate gains in the US, has named Jolie Hunt PR director for North America. As part of the newspaper's brand expansion on this continent, Hunt, who...

Dolby seeking firm in push to spotlight vast tech offerings.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO: Dolby Laboratories, whose brand is synonymous with movie theater sound systems, is looking for a PR agency to help highlight the company's other technological innovations. The company, which develops technologies that it...

Wayport taps GCI to tackle its rivals in wireless arena.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... AUSTIN, TX: WiFi pioneer Wayport has switched PR firms as 'hot spot' competition heats up across the country. Edelman's three-year relationship with Wayport dated back to the company's start-up days, but GCI Read-Poland heavily courted the...

Morin steps down as CEO of PR Newswire.(Charlie Morin)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... NEW YORK: Charlie Morin, CEO of PR Newswire (PRN) since 1999, has resigned to focus on a small 'business venture,' said a company press release. Charles Gregson, executive director for United Business Media - PRN's parent company - and...

GYMR hired to run PR for Ad Council's healthy living push.(in connection with the Department of Health and Human Services)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... NEW YORK: The Ad Council, in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services, has awarded a dollars 125,000, six-month account to GYMR. The Washington, DC-based firm will handle a national PR campaign designed to promote...

NEWS BRIEF: Geraldine Ferraro joins Global Consulting Group.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... NEW YORK: Former US Vice Presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro joined Global Consulting Group last month, a Huntsworth Group subsidiary, as EVP and public affairs practice head. Ferraro, who was formerly president of management consultancy...

NEWS BRIEF: Key3Media changes its name to Medialive International.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... LOS ANGELES: Key3Media, the hi-tech trade-show company responsible for Comdex, Networld & Interop, and other shows, has changed its name to Medialive International. The name change is part of the company's rebranding efforts as it emerges from...

NEWS BRIEF: VisitScotland chooses Laura Davidson PR.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... NEW YORK: VisitScotland, the Scottish Tourist Board, has chosen Laura Davidson Public Relations (LDPR) as its North American media relations agency. In addition to proactive media efforts, LDPR will organize and host press trips, arrange...

NEWS BRIEF: Captaris picks Brodeur Worldwide as its AOR.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... BELLEVUE, WA: Captaris, which develops business-information delivery technology, has picked Brodeur Worldwide as its new global AOR. Brodeur will develop branding, positioning, and communications initiatives to help build awareness of Captaris...

NEWS BRIEF: Duffey Communications adds InComm to its portfolio.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... ATLANTA: Duffey Communications has added InComm to its portfolio of consumer accounts. InComm is one of the nation's largest prepaid phone services companies, providing wireless and long-distance products to retailers including Target,...

NEWS BRIEF: Hill & Knowlton names director.(John Quick joins firm as director of New York healthcare and pharmaceutical practice)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... NEW YORK: Hill & Knowlton has named John Quick director of its New York healthcare and pharmaceutical practice. Prior to joining, Quick was a GM in Euro RSCG Life NRP's New York office, where he led the healthcare marketing communications...

NEWS BRIEF: Tracy Syler-Doctson promoted to director of communications.(at Texas Chrisitan University)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... FORT WORTH, TX: Tracy Syler-Doctson has been promoted to director of communications for Texas Christian University. She replaces Kelli Horst, who is moving out of state. Syler-Doctson handles media relations and communications planning for the...

NEWS BRIEF: Dey teams up with Feinstein Kean Healthcare.(to promote EpiPen epinephrine auto-injector)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... NAPA, CA: Specialty pharmaceutical company Dey has teamed up with Feinstein Kean Healthcare to launch a patient-education campaign in support of its EpiPen brand. The EpiPen epinephrine auto-injector is a prescription treatment for anaphylaxis,...

NEWS BRIEF: The CJP hires Regan Communications Group to enhance its PR.(Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... BOSTON: The Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) of Greater Boston, the oldest federated charity in the US, representing nearly 250,000 people and more than 200 agencies, has hired Regan Communications Group to enhance its public relations and...

NEWS BRIEF: Euro RSCG Middlebert assumes management for marketing agency.(Euro RSCG Tatham Partners)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... NEW YORK: Euro RSCG Middleberg has assumed management for the PR operations of Chicago-based integrated marketing agency Euro RSCG Tatham Partners. Aaron Kwitten, president of Euro RSCG Middleberg, will serve as president of the new group.

NEWS BRIEF: SR Marketing signs Goldberger Doll for PR services.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... WALNUT CREEK, CA: SR Marketing has signed Goldberger Doll, an 87-year-old doll company based in New York, for a host of PR and marketing services. The agency has also hired Mario Flores as a Hispanic PR specialist to manage new business for SR...

Female brigadier general picked to head Marines' PR.(Brigadier General Mary Ann Krusa-Dossin )(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... WASHINGTON: The Marines, famously looking for a few good men, have chosen a woman as their new director of public affairs. Brigadier General Mary Ann Krusa-Dossin took over the top PR position June 13, becoming only the second woman in...

Kraft promises active role in health debate.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... NORTHFIELD, IL: Kraft Foods grabbed the PR high ground in the public debate about obesity and America's unhealthy eating habits by announcing a series of planned changes in how it will make and market its products. The changes include...

Nike hints at future silence after high court dismissal.
July 7, 2003... WASHINGTON: Nike executives warned last week that they may be forced to further restrict their already curtailed PR activities following the US Supreme Court's June 26 dismissal of the company's free-speech case. The court decided on...

MWW to carry out regional effort as new AOR for Oxford.(Oxford Health Plans Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... TRUMBULL, CT: Oxford Health Plans has awarded The MWW Group what Maria Gordon-Shydlo, director of PR for the provider, calls a 'significant six-figure,' one-year contract. Burson-Marsteller confirmed that it was the other of the two firms...

Jernstedt named chairman in Golin senior staff shifts.(Rich Jernstedt)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... CHICAGO: Golin/Harris International has revamped its top tier of management, with CEO Rich Jernstedt moving into the chairman's role. Former chairman Al Golin will now take on the title of founder. The CEO role will be filled by Fred Cook,...

Cendant taps Ogilvy after reorganizing travel group.(Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide will be agency of record for Cendant Corp.'s Travel Distribution Services division)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... PARSIPPANY, NJ: Cendant Corporation's Travel Distribution Services (TDS) division has streamlined its communications structure and taken on Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide as agency of record. The reorganization will incorporate 10 brands...

Burson study finds corporate rumors to spread quickly.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... NEW YORK: A study conducted by Burson-Marsteller's research unit found that 81% of internet opinion leaders report forwarding via internet a rumor or other piece of unsubstantiated information about a company, a brand, or top executive to their...

Atlantic City bets on WS to boost tourism.(Weber Shandwick Worldwide wins public relations contract from Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority)
July 7, 2003... ATLANTIC CITY, NJ: As part of an effort to reposition the Northeast's gambling mecca, the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority (ACCVA) has named Weber Shandwick its agency of record. The agency's task will be to spur economic...

TNN rebranding to proceed despite Spike Lee setback.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... LOS ANGELES: The New TNN is going ahead with its planned rebranding efforts to transform itself into 'the first network for men,' said VP of communications Robert Pini, despite an injunction last month upholding auteur Spike Lee's contention...

Golden and Babbit promoted into new roles at GCI Group.(Ellen Golden, Joel Babbit)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... NEW YORK: GCI Group has promoted Ellen Golden to EVP and director of its North American consumer marketing practice. Joel Babbit has been named to a new position, North American chief creative officer. Golden joined the firm in 1999 when...

IPG PR agencies in Asia-Pacific reshuffle.(Weber Shandwick Worldwide, Golin/Harris International, FutureBrand)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... SINGAPORE: Under the recent IPG grouping of Weber Shandwick, Golin/Harris International, and FutureBrand, changes to the organizational structures of the two PR arms have been unveiled in Asia-Pacific. In a June 10 internal memo, WS CEO...

BroadVision ready to take on PR firm after spell of quiet.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... REDWOOD CITY, CA: After a year of keeping quiet to focus on finances and ride out media scrutiny of hi-tech companies, BroadVision is searching for a PR agency to help it reemerge from the media darkness. The company, which develops portal...

Five agencies team up as Lumin network.(five agencies have formed Lumin, which will develop new PR products and provide education for their employees)
July 7, 2003... RICHMOND, VA: Five midsize agencies have banded together to develop new PR products and provide business education for their employees. The quintet has formed Lumin, calling it an 'intellectual collaborative' to distinguish themselves from...

Gold's taps Riester-Robb to help attract wider range of consumers.(Gold's Gym)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... LOS ANGELES: Gold's Gym has chosen Venice, CA-based Riester-Robb Pacific as its AOR for both corporate and franchise operations. Riester-Robb is charged with creating a campaign that maintains the gym's image as a serious spot for...

Bernhardt bought by Noblemen in bid to expand services.(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... PORTLAND, OR: Investment banking firm The Noblemen Group has acquired The Bernhardt Agency, a virtual hi-tech agency. 'We were looking to establish a stronger suite of services so our clients would get the most out of working with us, and...

Farmers turn to PR to get past their bumpkin image.(National Association of Wheat Growers hirse Aker Partners for public relations campaign)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... WASHINGTON: The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) has hired Aker Partners to launch a public education effort to promote accurate perceptions of farmers. The campaign, called 'Home Grown,' will focus on media relations to...

Blanc to retire from role as director of H&K tech practice.(Maureen Blance to leave Hill & Knowlton)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... NEW YORK: Maureen Blanc, cofounder of Blanc & Otus (the tech firm that merged with Hill & Knowlton in 1999), is retiring. A replacement for Blanc, director of the global tech practice, has not yet been named. Blanc said she will pursue...

EDITORIAL: Supreme Court silence on Nike case must not dissuade corporations from communicating.(Editorial)
July 7, 2003... The US Supreme Court has dismissed the Nike case over a technicality, and now the industry is left with feelings of anticlimax and foreboding. Reactions from PR organizations and individuals have ranged from disappointed to rebarbative. ...

OP-ED: Technology can't substitute for human relationships.(Editorial)
July 7, 2003... PR is a people business. Relationships, creativity, and strategy may be enabled through technology, but the essence of public relations can only come from the human experience. As such, it is no small wonder that PR service companies - not...

ANALYSIS: Nike vs. Kasky - Court sidestep ensures Nike debate will continue to loom.(Editorial)
July 7, 2003... The Supreme Court's failure to rule on Nike vs. Kasky is prolonging the conclusion to a case that will long define what constitutes free and commercial speech. Not since the Supreme Court's infamous decision in New York Times vs. Sullivan,...

PAUL HOLMES: Microsoft validates its 'leadership' status by actively addressing spam and privacy issues.(Editorial)
July 7, 2003... Bill Gates has already made me feel better about myself. And he has apparently embarked on a PR strategy that could eventually make me feel better about Microsoft - something I would not have considered possible a few months ago. Gates...

CORPORATE CASE STUDY: The season never ends for the New York Jets' PR staff.
July 7, 2003... With Coach Herman Edwards' integral involvement, the New York Jets' PR team constantly adjusts its game plan to build the team's brand among fans and media alike. Gideon Fidelzeid reports. 'You play to win the game.' This was New York Jets...

MEDIA WATCH: Latest Harry Potter offering enchants an already dazzled media.
July 7, 2003... Media Watch has covered the Harry Potter series as it has experienced its exponential growth and become the worldwide phenomenon that it is today. Writing in 1999 and 2001, this column has observed how the Potter series has overcome initial...

MEDIA ROUNDUP: Press reserves space for internet's success stories.
July 7, 2003... Because the internet is no longer a novelty, getting coverage of a dot-com is trickier than it used to be - unless there's a focus on the company's viability and a slew of satisfied customers. David Ward reports. Several years after the...

MEDIA PROFILE: It takes a gutsy story, not one that's in the gutter, to get into Nerve.
July 7, 2003... Nerve.com is not pornography, and it isn't erotica. It's somewhere in between, in an area that's explored with a unique look at everything from politics to art. So a pitch can't just be about sex. A dot-com descendant of the 1960s and '70s...

PROFILE: Passion and persistence make Aaron Tiffany's IR jewel.
July 7, 2003... An equal enthusiasm for teaching people about his company and learning new skills has not only led Mark Aaron to Tiffany & Co.'s top IR spot, it's earned him a seat as NIRI's chairman as well. When Mark Aaron stepped to the podium to open...

SELL-SIDE STORY: Paul Cordasco looks at the challenges of getting sell-side research coverage.
July 7, 2003... In the summer of 2002, Don Stewart was facing a big problem. The CFO of medical-device manufacturer Rita Medical found himself without a single brokerage analyst regularly producing research on his small company. In Wall Street parlance, he had...

PR TECHNIQUE: INVESTOR RELATIONS - Annual reports must reflect the times.
July 7, 2003... With an uncertain economy and corporate governance a necessity, annual reports must clearly show how a company sees its prospects and challenges. The ongoing economic doldrums and tense regulatory environment continue to force companies to...

CAMPAIGN: Website's push to spur Delta demise takes off strongly.
July 7, 2003... PR Team: Bill Scannell (San Jose, CA) Campaign: Boycott Delta Time Frame: March 2003 - ongoing Budget: dollars 17 Bill Scannell, a software company communications director who splits his time between San Jose, CA and Austin, TX, was...

CAMPAIGN: MLS enlists its fans and players to kick off Iraqi Aid project.
July 7, 2003... PR Team: Major League Soccer (New York) Campaign: Iraqi Aid Time Frame: May 2003 - ongoing Budget: Under dollars 3,000 As the US toppled the government of Saddam Hussein, American officials were searching for similar gestures that...

CAMPAIGN: FIU student contest picks up business via wider outreach.
July 7, 2003... PR Team: O'Connell & Goldberg (Hollywood, FL) and Florida International University (Miami) Campaign: Bringing Innovation to Market Time Frame: Summer 2002 - April 2003 Budget: Approximately dollars 10,000 Three years ago, the...

THE PUBLICIST: The Big Easy's financial lure is hard for filmmakers to ignore.
July 7, 2003... So I'm driving down a street in New Orleans, and it's raining so hard I can't see 10 feet in front of the car. Suddenly a flash flood starts moving my vehicle sideways, and I'm no longer in control. Sort of like my life. Not that I'm...

PR PLAY OF THE WEEK: New FTC website answers the public's call.(Federal Trade Commission launches Donotcall.gov)(Brief Article)
July 7, 2003... WASHINGTON: Last week, Harry Potter met his match. And the tweener wizard could not have been thwarted by a more unlikely force: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC last week unveiled Donotcall.gov, a website that enables Americans...

TOY BOX: Nokia's 3650 brings the fun into focus.(camera phone)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 7, 2003... In this column's limited space, it's impossible to fully describe Nokia's 3650 camera phone. Forget about having space to actually offer an opinion. What follows strictly covers the basics. Once you get used to the circular keypad, the...

BOOK REVIEW: Unlimited access enriches Moneyball.(Book Review)
July 7, 2003... For the savvy reader who knows how narratives are made and how they in turn make reputations, Michael Lewis' Moneyball is three stories in one. First, there's the tale of the disappointing big league career of the highly touted Billy...

FD loses head of US operation as it embarks on rebranding initiative.(Anton Nicholas resigns from FD Morgen-Walke)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... NEW YORK: Just two weeks before Financial Dynamics finally announced the agreement for its long-awaited buyout from Cordiant Communications, the recently appointed head of the agency's US operation quietly left the company. The change...

Free-speech debate rises again in PETA's KFC lawsuit.(People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)
July 14, 2003... LOS ANGELES: Furthering the legal debate begun by the Nike v. Kasky case on whether PR is protected free speech, PETA sued KFC last week over allegedly false statements on its website and in releases. At issue is how chickens purchased by...

Canning quits job at Edelman amid European revamp.(Alison Canning)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... LONDON: Edelman's head of international operations, Alison Canning, has resigned her post, and is leaving the firm this week after two years of service. Edelman, the world's largest independent PR firm, plans to eliminate her position and...

WorldCom intensifies DC comms to improve standing with Congress.(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... WASHINGTON: WorldCom is sharpening its PR efforts in the nation's capital in hopes of shoring up support as it faces increasing legislative hostility. Hill & Knowlton, brought in to help rebrand the beleaguered company in April, along with...

McDonald's builds on fast reputation by offering wi-fi.(fast food chain will offer high-speed wireless access at San Francisco unit)
July 14, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO: McDonald's may be more synonymous with French fries than wi-fi, but the fast-food giant is about to change all that. The company debuted its high-speed wireless access at one of its San Francisco restaurants, one of 75 in the...

TNN holds off on 'Spike' relaunch for now.(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... LOS ANGELES: Despite the settling last week of a lawsuit brought by director Spike Lee, Viacom-owned station The New TNN will not immediately relaunch as Spike TV. 'We have not targeted an actual date,' said head of communications for The...

Edelman to help improve image of nanotechnology.(wins public relations account from NanoBusiness Development Group)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... CHICAGO: The NanoBusiness Development Group, a consulting firm affiliated with a nonprofit industry trade group, has hired Edelman to increase awareness and improve the image of nanotechnology. Randy Pitzer, SVP of Edelman's tech group,...

Ogilvy taps Love to run Atlanta office.(Bari Love)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... ATLANTA: Bari Love, founder of Atlanta ad shop Fletcher Martin Ewing's (FME) PR practice, now runs Ogilvy PR in the city. Love replaces Genna Keller, who retired this week after 11 years with the firm. Keller was promoted to MD two years...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Applied Communications signs clients.(Genentech, Proofpoint grant public relations contracts to Applied Communications)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO: Applied Communications has signed Genentech and Proofpoint as new clients. Genentech is using Applied for corporate and product research to develop a better understanding of how the media perceives the company, particularly...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Pacific Medical retains APCO Worldwide.(Pacific Medical Centers)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... SEATTLE: Pacific Medical Centers has retained APCO Worldwide to provide public affairs and communications services. APCO will help the healthcare provider with media relations, government relations, and public outreach. Pacific Medical Centers...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Bianchi picked.(for public relations, media relations account at Motor Parts Federal Credit Union)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... TROY, MI: The Motor Parts Federal Credit Union has picked Bianchi Public Relations to handle public relations and media relations support. The credit union had more than 15,000 members and assets of dollars 116 million at the end of last year.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Edelman adds four clients.(GRIC Communications, PriceGrabber, Landmark Networks, Eton)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA: Edelman's Silicon Valley office has added four new technology clients: Eton, which develops, designs, and manufactures electronics; GRIC Communications, which provides internet-based mobile office communications services;...

NEWS IN BRIEF: McGrath/Power PR names director.(Siobhan MacDermott)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... SANTA CLARA, CA: McGrath/Power PR has named Siobhan MacDermott as a client-services director. As a member of the management team, MacDermott will focus on client management, program implementation, and business development. Previously,...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Leopold Ketel chosen.(for Salishan Lodge & Golf Resort)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... GLENEDEN BEACH, OR: The four-star Salishan Lodge & Golf Resort has chosen Leopold Ketel & Partners to help create a new seasonal marketing and PR campaign. The agency will work with the resort's new owners to develop a campaign that will show...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Benton joins Menlo Worldwide.(David Benton will serve as director of corporate communications)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... REDWOOD CITY, CA: David Benton has joined Menlo Worldwide as director of corporate communications. He will manage all global PR for Menlo, which develops supply-chain management services. Benton was formerly senior director of PR at Aspect...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Michael A. Burns hires Harwood.(Robert Harwood)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... HAMDEN, CT: Dallas-based Michael A. Burns & Associates has hired corporate PR veteran Robert Harwood to open a New York-area office. Harwood most recently worked as an SVP for The Strickland Group consulting firm, but previously held executive...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Golin/Harris wins pitch.(for Central Texas account of Verizon Wireless)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... DALLAS: Golin/Harris International has won a competitive pitch for Verizon Wireless' Central Texas regional account. Serving as AOR, Golin's Dallas office will provide corporate and employee communications, as well as consumer media relations...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Schick SVP.(Michael Schick joins Goddard Claussen Porter Novelli)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... WASHINGTON: Michael Schick, director of communications at the US Chamber Institute for Legal Reform since 2001, has joined Goddard Claussen Porter Novelli as an SVP. Schick was previously COO of Justice Fellowship, the public-policy arm of...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Susan Magrino agency of record.(for chef Rocco DiSpirito and his company Spirit Media)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... NEW YORK: The Susan Magrino Agency has become agency of record for chef Rocco DiSpirito and his company, Spirit Media. The celebrity chef has appeared on the Food Network, ABC, and NBC.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Tech Image picks up clients.(including Logic Tools, WDI, InfoPower Systems)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL: Tech Image has picked up three new clients: Logic Tools, a software developer; InfoPower Systems, an application development company; and WDI, the IT division of Brunswick New Technologies.

JCPR to help retire BA Concorde fleet.(Jackie Cooper PR will handle media for British Airways during final days for Concorde)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... LONDON: British Airways has hired UK firm Jackie Cooper PR (JCPR) to handle the media during the Concorde's final days as a commercial airliner. Media interest surrounding the Concorde's retirement has been seized upon by rival airline...

GCI loses heads of two major offices.(Rick Rice, Mary Croitoru resign from GCI Group Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... NEW YORK: Rick Rice, head of GCI Group's San Francisco office, is leaving the firm. Rice, who came out of semi-retirement to join the San Francisco operation after the dot-com bubble burst, is leaving to 'pursue personal interests.' He...

Local agencies to play up DC as sports city.(Washington, D.C.)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... WASHINGTON: The Greater Washington Board of Trade wants to brand DC as a sports mecca, and it's calling on the area's PR and ad executives to make it happen. Representatives from Magnet Communications, Hill & Knowlton, APCO Worldwide,...

Advocacy groups use Bush trip to push Africa agenda.
July 14, 2003... WASHINGTON: President Bush's first tour of Africa reverberated in Washington last week as African advocacy groups took the opportunity to win press for their various causes. DATA (Debts, Aid, Trade in Africa) launched a campaign last week...

ALF picks Golin as agency of record.(American Legacy Foundation awards contract to Golin/Harris International)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... WASHINGTON: The American Legacy Foundation (ALF) has named Golin/Harris International its new AOR after a long review. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but previous estimates of the ALF's annual PR outlay ranged from dollars...

Lockheed sends in crisis team quickly.(Lockheed Martin Corp. works to handle communications after plant shooting in Meridian, Mississippi)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... MERIDIAN, MS: Lockheed Martin had a seven-person crisis communications team on the ground here only hours after an employee killed five fellow workers and himself at a company plant last Tuesday. Some team members worked 40 hours straight...

Gay-rights group pushes Wal-Mart shift.(Pride Foundation publicizes retailer's new antidiscrimination policies)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... SEATTLE: When news broke that Wal-Mart was broadening its employee antidiscrimination policies to include gays and lesbians, it wasn't the giant retailer that broke the story. Local gay and lesbian group the Pride Foundation urged Wal-Mart...

Latina PR to stress its authority status.(Andy Morris & Co. wins account for lifestyle magazine)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... NEW YORK: Latina, the lifestyle magazine for Hispanic women, has retained New York-based Andy Morris & Co. for a media outreach campaign. The goal will be to promote the magazine and its staff as authorities on Latina culture, and...

MS&L revises staff to up client service.(public relations firm announces promotions to correspond with reorganization)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... NEW YORK: MS&L has undergone a reorganization that puts an emphasis on strategic counseling and client services. The shift includes a number of high-level promotions designed to remove management responsibilities from account participants...

Dell takes heat for recycling program's labor practices.
July 14, 2003... AUSTIN, TX: Dell's consumer recycling program is continuing to draw fire from a small group of environmentalists, despite the company's conciliatory moves. On Saturday Dell wrapped up a tour touting the program, through which consumers can...

SIA initiative touts health benefits of winter sports.(SnowSports Industries America)(Brief Article)
July 14, 2003... MCLEAN, VA: SnowSports Industries America (SIA), a trade association for winter sports companies, is launching a public awareness campaign dedicated to promote the health benefits of winter sports. Called 'Winter Feels Good,' the campaign...