PR Week (US) articles from July 2008

PR Week (US) archives from July 2008

5W faces accusation for blog misconduct.
July 14, 2008... NEW YORK: An organization calling for ethical standards for producing kosher food products has alleged that a representative from 5W Public Relations posed as one of the group's directors on a blog discussing the matter. Heksher Tzedek, a...

Publicis buys Kekst & Co.
July 14, 2008... NEW YORK: Publicis Groupe's acquisition of corporate and financial PR firm Kekst & Company on July 2 boosts the company's US financial communications offerings. 'We gain several things,' Maurice Levy, Publicis chairman and CEO, told PRWeek...

C&W, GCI plan to focus on large clients, broaden global presence.(Cohn and Wolfe)
July 14, 2008... NEW YORK: Following the merger with sister WPP agency GCI Group, Cohn & Wolfe said it plans to expand its global presence and focus primarily on large-scale clients. The combined company will retain the name Cohn & Wolfe (C&W). C&W CEO...

The big cheese.
July 14, 2008... Kellogg's Cheez-It brand, with the assistance of Hunter PR, created a truly cheesy stunt to celebrate July 4th: The Cheez-It Big Cheese. The cracker brand tapped master cheese carver, Troy Landwehr, to sculpt the signing of the Declaration of...

Mormons seek distance from Texas polygamists.
July 14, 2008... SALT LAKE CITY, UT: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, known as the Mormon Church, has taken steps to distinguish itself from the controversial Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, following an April raid on...

National Guard to recruit a 'Rock Star' image at events.
July 14, 2008... WASHINGTON: In August, the US Army National Guard will launch a mobile marketing campaign, supported by outreach to local media, to sign up recruits at various music festivals and other outdoor events. Developed and executed by RedPeg...

CarryOn Communications AOR for Hansen's Natural Soda.
July 14, 2008... CORONA, CA: Hansen Beverage Company tapped CarryOn Communications to serve as AOR for Hansen's Natural Soda and Sparkling Refreshment product lines, after a competitive review. CarryOn's work will focus on 'communicat(ing) the benefits of...

Issues & Crisis Group opens.
July 14, 2008... WASHINGTON: Burson-Marsteller opened an Issues & Crisis Group practice June 24. Josh Gottheimer, Burson EVP worldwide, will chair the practice, which is comprised of former White House, congressional, and political employees. The division will...

Bob Gold AOR for Sorpresa.(Bob Gold and Associates)(Brief article)
July 14, 2008... LOS ANGELES: Spanish-language children's TV network Sorpresa hired Bob Gold & Associates as AOR, effective late March. The company waited to announce the news until details were confirmed about the agency's role with the Hispanic consumer side...

MNAA approves contracts.
July 14, 2008... NASHVILLE: The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) Board of Commissioners approved contracts with several PR and communications agencies, including Nashville-based McNeely Pigott & Fox for a communications plan and crisis...

Interim board of directors for The Social Media Club.
July 14, 2008... SAN FRANCISCO: The Social Media Club, an advocacy group promoting the interests of social media Web sites, created an interim board of directors with 41 industry leader volunteers. The board will address developing membership goals, local...

Qorvis Communications opens new polling firm.
July 14, 2008... WASHINGTON: Qorvis Communications opened a new polling firm called Clarus Research Group, with Ronald Faucheux as president. The new firm combines Faucheux's consulting business with Qorvis' in-house research group. Faucheux is a former editor...

Official launch for Latinovations.
July 14, 2008... WASHINGTON: Dewey Square Group officially launched its Latinovations practice, aimed at clients reaching out to the Hispanic community, on July 2, after a soft launch at the end of 2007. It will be based in Washington, with an office in LA

RLPR hired by Braille Institute.
July 14, 2008... LOS ANGELES: The Braille Institute of America, which has many centers in California, hired RLPR for outreach to increase awareness of vision loss in LA's Hispanic communities

Social Media Buzz launched.
July 14, 2008... NEW YORK: DS Simon Productions launched Social Media Buzz, expanding on its social media and digital offerings. The service builds upon its distribution capabilities

JetBlue hires MWW as its crisis comms agency.
July 14, 2008... FOREST HILLS, NY: JetBlue Airways selected MWW Group as its international crisis communications agency after a review underway since December. MWW will oversee JetBlue's communications for any kind of catastrophic event, as well as provide...

RF wins Virgin Mobile task.
July 14, 2008... NEW YORK: Virgin Mobile has selected Ruder Finn as its AOR following a competitive review. Corinne Nosal, a spokesperson for Virgin Mobile, confirmed that Virgin has selected RF, but said contract negotiations are in progress. PR...

Burgundy Wine chooses FH.(Fleishman-Hillard Inc.)(Brief article)
July 14, 2008... PARIS, FRANCE: The Burgundy Wine Office in Paris hired Fleishman-Hillard to serve as AOR for global exports in an approximately dollars 1.5-million-plus project, beginning September 1. Known as the Bureau Interprofessionnel des Vins de...

Launch Pad: Martini & Rossi taps into '50s art to increase US cool factor.(Nike Communications)(Brief article)
July 14, 2008... Organization: Martini & Rossi Campaign: The MARTINI Factory PR Team: Nike Communications Launch: July 16 Budget: Undisclosed 'The agreement gives us the right to revive the artwork, put a modern spin on it,' said Michelle...

Don't miss out.
July 14, 2008... Logging on to prweekus.com/web-exclusives Gives you access to all of our Web exclusives and podcasts in one location. For breaking news, log onto PRWeek.com ONLY ON PRWEEK.COM: Aarti Shah talks to Paul Walker, EVP of digital media...

'US News' taps Kwittken to stress its online aspect.(U.S. News and World Report Inc.)(Kwittken & Co.)
July 14, 2008... NEW YORK: US News & World Report selected Kwittken & Co. (KCO) as its AOR July 1, a month after it decided to decrease its magazine's frequency to a biweekly schedule next year, as well as emphasize its online offerings. The company...

Small percentage is driving green trends.
July 14, 2008... NEW YORK: Only about 4% of the almost 12,000 people surveyed are driving consumer awareness on green trends and the efficacy of companies' environmental claims, according to a recent study by Porter Novelli and Synovate. The study included...

CCC launches Web program to aid PR pros.
July 14, 2008... NEW YORK: The Center for Communication Compliance (CCC) introduced an online program for PR pros to train and get certification about regulatory issues that affect the healthcare industry. It is the first standardized program of its kind, said...

Wearing kilts for a cause.
July 14, 2008... Colin Read and Iain Whyte of Scotland are riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles across the US, wearing kilts, to raise money and awareness about Moebius Syndrome, a rare disorder that affects cranial nerves Read's 5-year-old son George was...

PR Play of the Week: World leaders feast amidst a food shortage.
July 14, 2008... World leaders brought a large amount of media attention to the G8 Summit in Japan, but not in the best way: They hosted lavish feasts after discussing the world food crisis. From July 7 to 9, heads from eight of the world's wealthy nations,...

PBS introduces an online community for educators.(Website overview)
July 14, 2008... ARLINGTON, VA: PBS began promoting its new online community for educators, with the help of C. Blohm & Associates, July 1. PBS Teachers Connect (www.pbsteachers.org/connect/), which is a new Web site targeting pre-Kindergarten to 12th-grade...

Supergirl Jam touts athletes in its outreach.
July 14, 2008... LOS ANGELES: Warner Bros. Consumer Products and ASA Entertainment ramped up PR for their second annual all-female action sports competition and music festival, Supergirl Jam. The event takes place in Huntington, CA, July 25-27. The...

Sermo aids doctors' grassroots initiative.
July 14, 2008... CAMBRIDGE, MA: Sermo, a social networking site for doctors, launched its first national awareness effort July 1. The drive encourages doctors to sign an open letter, created by the site's physician community, which calls for change in...

Empire State Bldg. to reposition brand.(Daniel J. Edelman Public Relations Worldwide Inc.)(Empire State Building Co.)(Brief article)
July 14, 2008... NEW YORK: The Empire State Building (ESB) recently hired Edelman to support its brand repositioning and outreach to international tourism markets. The new, consumer-focused PR and marketing campaigns come during the building's ongoing dollars...

Walt Cannon passes away after 76 years.
July 14, 2008... SARASOTA, FL: Walt Cannon, a former corporate VP at AT&T credited for his role in the company's iconic, 'Reach out and touch someone' campaign, died June 27. He was 76 years old. Cannon and his wife, Weta, were married for 50 years. He is...

News Analysis: Microsoft, Yahoo face scrutiny in takeover.
July 14, 2008... The two companies' wavering stances have left many questioning the entire acquisition. Since January, tech giants Microsoft and Yahoo have been entangled in an acquisition battle that is considered one of the most dramatic in Silicon...

Newsmaker: Lange makes sure PETA stays on top of the news.(People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)
July 14, 2008... Lisa Lange's career in animal rights activism has come full circle. Sixteen years ago, Lange went to Pennsylvania to protest a pigeon shoot, which landed her in prison for 12 days. She shared a cellblock with Ingrid Newkirk, cofounder of...

Companies: Corporate Profile - Coldwell Banker builds up media strategy.(Company overview)
July 14, 2008... From its online presence to its leaders' accessibility, the company is reaching a broader audience. With foreclosure and subprime issues all over the media, real-estate companies have faced challenges in their communications and PR...

Companies: The Agency Business - Collaborative spirit permeates consumer practices.
July 14, 2008... 'Integration' has long been a PR buzz word. Nowadays, for many consumer practice areas, working with other marketing disciplines - and other divisions within the firm - is making integration more of a necessity than an aberration. Due to...

Opinion:Subtler PR tone from Fox would be welcomed news.
July 14, 2008... When David Carr penned a New York Times article that complained of aggressive PR tactics from Fox News Channel, it set off a round of head-nodding in newsrooms. New York Magazine's Daily Intel blog responded with a post entitled, 'David Carr...

Op-Ed: User-generated content can be risky.
July 14, 2008... Is user-generated content (UGC) the solution that marketers have been waiting for? YouTube, the 'digital revolution,' and Web 2.0 have certainly opened the floodgates for consumers to create what they want Seizing on the popularity, clients are...

Op-Ed: 'Oprahlusion' continues to invade PR.
July 14, 2008... Certain buzzwords and ideas become a part of almost every PR pitch 'Going green' and 'amazing' are just about at the end of their cycles. In their place, a new and pretty ugly phenomenon is invading PR. The prospective clients lining up...

Opinion: Kekst sale could be harbinger of expansion, acquisitions to come.
July 14, 2008... Publicis' acquisition of Kekst and Co. took the PR industry by surprise, if I'm to extrapolate the recent conversations I've had with senior PR leaders. It shouldn't have. That is not to say that anyone should have known that Kekst was up...

Opinion: PR, IR advisers have Kekst to thank for their seat at the table.(public relations, Investor relations)(Publicis Groupe S.A. acquired Gershon Kekst )
July 14, 2008... The recent announcement that Gershon Kekst was selling the firm that bears his name to the French giant Publicis might signal the end of an era, though Kekst himself would surely scoff at the idea. As the story goes, Kekst got his start in...

Factfile: Companies update marketing tune amid declining CD sales.
July 14, 2008... In the news As slowing CD sales lead the music industry to evolve and change, a number of companies have partnered with musicians as a creative way to gain exposure for both their own products and the artists, many of whom are emerging and...

Media: Positive signs emerge in XM-Sirius union.
July 14, 2008... Although the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and other special interest groups fought the merger of XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio, recent statements in support of the merger by Federal Communications Commission...

Media: Journalist Q&A - Mitra Kalita, Mint, The Washington Post.
July 14, 2008... Name: Mitra Kalita Title: National editor and columnist (Mint); reporter (The Washington Post) Outlets: Mint, The Washington Post Preferred contact method: mitra.k@livemint.com Web site: www.livemint.com PRWeek: What made you...

Media: Research - New-vehicle buyers and online TV.
July 14, 2008... Sample: 12,809 new-vehicle buyers (February to April) Goal: To determine online TV's effectiveness in targeting auto consumers KEY FINDINGS 79% of new midsize premium utility vehicle buyers go online to find TV show content 68% of new...

Media Roundup: Press sees value in covering frugal living.
July 14, 2008... The current economic pinch that many Americans are facing due to declining home values, rising food prices, and soaring gasoline costs is triggering a great deal of coverage in the mainstream press. Along with the doom-and-gloom articles,...

Media: Critical Hit - WABC-7 helps establish Box Butler.(Interview)(Brief article)
July 14, 2008... Who is your client? What are its media goals? Liz Anklow: The Box Butler is a brand new company that provides New Yorkers with a service that picks up, stores, and delivers clothing and other items cluttering up their apartments until they...

Media: Inside Information - In-house promos tap directly into target demographics.
July 14, 2008... In-home promotions might seem like a throwback to 1950s Tupperware parties, but with PR pros at the helm, these brand-building events are cutting edge, with viral marketing and social networking components. Such events still feature...

Media: Ups and Downs.
July 14, 2008... CNBC launches the Bullish on Books blog, edited by senior producer Gloria McDonough-Taub, covering finance-related titles Despite employing a subscription-based model, The Wall Street Journal Online had 16.2 million unique visitors in June,...

Cover Story: Playing for keeps.
July 14, 2008... Timberland is building on its history of CSR with a new program that aims to engage consumers to make a difference. Last fall, Timberland introduced its Earthkeeper boots, a new waterproof line made of recycled and organic materials. The...

Market Focus: A taste of the good life.
July 14, 2008... From Champagne to coffee, brands are increasingly using high-end lifestyle PR programs to appeal to a broad range of consumers. Nicole Zerillo reports. Whether in a dimly lit cubicle or on a yacht off the coast of Capri, eating and...

PR Technique: Social networks can boost pitch potential.
July 14, 2008... Forging online relationships with tech reporters requires the same tact as traditional approaches, finds Aarti Shah. Tony Obregon, director of social media at Cohn & Wolfe, regularly engages with reporters by responding to their Twitter...

Campaigns: Raytheon channels its 'Iron Man'.(Apelco Marine Electronics)
July 14, 2008... Raytheon PR TEAM: Raytheon (multiple locations) and Text 100 (New York and Boston) CAMPAIGN: Part of the Raytheon You Don't Know campaign DURATION: February-May 2008 BUDGET: dollars 40,000 However, the company is also trying to...

Campaigns: Focus Express encourages kids to be healthy and walk.(Focus Express Pharmacy)(Furia Rubel Communications Inc.)(Brief article)
July 14, 2008... Focus Express Pharmacy PR TEAM: Focus Express Mail Pharmacy (Horsham, PA) and Furia Rubel Communications (Philadelphia) CAMPAIGN: Peds for Prevention DURATION: April 2008 BUDGET: dollars 37, 940 Implemented in five Haverford, PA...

Campaigns: Drambuie creates 'Pursuit' to target younger audience.
July 14, 2008... Drambuie PR TEAM: Drambuie (Miami, FL) and Maloney & Fox (New York) CAMPAIGN: Drambuie Pursuit DURATION: June 2007-April 2008 BUDGET: approximately dollars 750,000 The event was designed to help promote the spirit to a younger,...

PR Toolbox: State radio networks, online community interaction, more.
July 14, 2008... Radio What type of story works for state radio networks? When it comes to using minimal client time for maximum results, state radio networks offer a unique opportunity to target tens of thousands of listeners across a state, says...

People Moves: Burson-Marsteller.(appointment of Karen Hughes )(Brief article)
July 14, 2008... NEW YORK: Former Bush administration communications counselor Karen Hughes has joined Burson-Marsteller as global vice chair, effective immediately. Hughes, the former US Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, is...

People Moves: Edelman.(Daniel J. Edelman Public Relations Worldwide Inc. appointed Chris Komisarjevsky )(Brief article)
July 14, 2008... NEW YORK: Edelman hired Chris Komisarjevsky, a former CEO of Burson-Marsteller, as strategic advisor to the agency's president and CEO, Richard Edelman. He will also act as pro-tem chair of its global corporate practice. Komisarjevsky retired...

People Moves: Chryler.
July 14, 2008... AUBURN HILLS, MI: Chrysler recently integrated its human resources, employee relations, and communications practices, and tapped Nancy Rae to lead the new department as EVP of human resources and communications Rae, who has worked for Chrysler...

People Moves: MS&L.(appointments of Holly Jarrell and Jessica Broome )(Brief article)
July 14, 2008... NEW YORK: MS&L promoted Holly Jarrell to global director of the insight and research team. She will create and implement research practices in key regional offices, and develop processes to make current research accessible to client and new...

People Moves: Ketchum.
July 14, 2008... NEW YORK: Ketchum named six new partners to its management team: Ron Culp, MD of Ketchum Midwest; Roy Edmondson, SVP and global brand director for Kodak; Jose Gonzalez, deputy GM of Madrid; Hilary Hanson McKean, director of Ketchum South;...

People Moves: Hill & Knowlton.
July 14, 2008... WASHINGTON: Hill & Knowlton appointed Michael Kehs as US head of public affairs and GM of its Washington, DC, office, effective on July 14. Prior to joining H&K, Kehs was partner and director of Porter Novelli's public affairs practice in...

People Moves: Swarovski North America.
July 14, 2008... NEW YORK: Swarovski North America hired Livia Marotta as its new director of communications and PR. Marotta will oversee advertising, media, and PR in the consumer goods department. Previously, Marotta headed Luxottica Group's US communications...

People Moves: US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
July 14, 2008... WASHINGTON: The US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which regulates national banks in the US, named Bryan Hubbard director of public affairs operations. Hubbard was previously special adviser to the deputy comptroller for public...

Careers: Expert Advice - Michael Olguin President, Formula PR.(public relations)(Brief article)
July 14, 2008... How can I best create a fulfilling experience for interns so they are ready to enter the PR field? A: As an agency, you should have two goals for your internship program First, be sure to provide interns with the opportunity to experience...

MySpace in conversations with tech-focused agencies.
July 21, 2008... SAN FRANCISCO: MySpace has embarked on talks with various tech-focused agencies, according to several industry sources. It is unclear whether the nature of the work sought includes the potential for a firm becoming a full-fledged AOR...

Ogilvy renews multimillion-dollar heart health campaign.
July 21, 2008... BETHESDA, MD: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute renewed two multi-year contracts worth nearly dollars 10 million, including the organization's well-known The Heart Truth campaign, with Ogilvy PR Worldwide after a competitive bidding...

Video game companies offer holiday peek at E3.
July 21, 2008... LOS ANGELES: Several top players in the video game industry set the tone for their holiday communications strategy at last week's E3 conference in LA. David Hufford, global director of Xbox PR, said that during the conference Microsoft...

MLB emphasizes iconic NYC for All-Star Game.
July 21, 2008... NEW YORK: To gear up for Major League Baseball's All-Star Game in the Bronx July 15, the MLB's PR team used New York City as the backdrop for its campaign. Forty-two Statue of Liberty replicas, one for each team and others with general...

Botox Cosmetic targets men in consumer education effort.
July 21, 2008... IRVINE, CA: Allergan, the Irvine, CA-based pharma company that makes Botox Cosmetic, announced the launch of a consumer education campaign on July 15 that will include men in its target demographic for the first time, as well as women. Chandler...

Gather selects RF l Binder Partners as AOR.(Acknowledgement Of Receipt)(Brief article)
July 21, 2008... NEW YORK: Social networking site Gather selected RF l Binder Partners as AOR after a competitive review that included several firms The agency will work with Gather, which was founded in 2004, to expand its brand and attract new members....

Zwilling J.A. Henckels chooses Bullfrog & Baum as AOR.
July 21, 2008... NEW YORK: Zwilling J.A. Henckels, a German-based manufacturer of premium cutlery products, chose Bullfrog & Baum as AOR for the US subsidiary. The firm will be responsible for media relations, strategy, and consumer programming for the...

Chinet hires Snackbox PR as AOR.
July 21, 2008... CHICAGO: Chinet, the disposable tableware company, hired Snackbox PR as its AOR, after a pitch involving three PR firms. The win was effective May 27, but the companies waited to announce it until Snackbox started its media outreach. Jenna...

Kekst & Co confirms PR handling.
July 21, 2008... NEW YORK: Kekst & Co. confirmed that it's handling PR related to Steve & Barry's chapter 11 filing. The retail chain that sells a number of licensed brands at low rates, including Sarah Jessica Parker's line Bitten, announced its bankruptcy...

Interwoven hires Waggener Edstrom.
July 21, 2008... SAN FRANCISCO: Interwoven, a content management solutions company with a global client base, recently hired Waggener Edstrom to increase global awareness and drive adoption of the brand

JBLH Communications adds three clients.
July 21, 2008... NEW YORK: JBLH Communications added three clients: the National Lampoon Comedy House, online Mandala-inspired apparel retailer Mandinez.com, and dog-accessory company Doggy Tug. JBLH will handle PR and corporate and crisis communications

Digital Rodeo increases PR strategy.(Webster & Associates)(public relations)(Brief article)
July 21, 2008... PITTSBURGH: Country music social networking Web site Digital Rodeo recently increased its PR strategy to help reach more mainstream media The move comes after the year-old site received outside investment money earlier this year. It hired...

Correction.(Correction notice)
July 21, 2008... In our June 30 article on the Port of LA, Arley Baker, senior director of communications and legislative affairs for The Port of LA, was mistakenly referred to as 'she.' A Baker quote was also misstated It read, 'We have a great, great story to...

The Limited awards its account to Alison Brod.
July 21, 2008... NEW YORK: The Limited has hired Alison Brod PR (ABPR) to support all PR efforts for the brand and play a key role in its new product launches, corporate initiatives, and national and regional outreach. Jennifer Bayley, PR director at The...

Social media firms to merge.(Livingston Communications Inc.)(Brief article)
July 21, 2008... DUNDAS, ONTARIO: Social Media Group (SMG) plans to acquire DC-based Livingston Communications in August, combining two firms focused exclusively on social media marketing and communications. The combined entity will employ 20, including...

New marketing head at P&G.
July 21, 2008... CINCINNATI: Procter & Gamble will have a new global marketing officer August 1, but the company is emphasizing a 'seamless transition.' James Stengel, a 25-year P&G veteran and the global marketing officer for the past seven years, plans to...

Launch pad: Humane Society encourages the support of cage-free eggs.(Humane Society of the United States)(Adfero Group LLC.)(Brief article)
July 21, 2008... Organization: Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) Campaign: All Creatures Great and Small PR Team: HSUS and Adfero Group Launch: Mid-August Budget: Undisclosed IDEA: While cage-free production eggs are widely available in...

Analysis: Grasso bullish on PR's worth.(Richard Grasso)(Eric Starkman)(public relations)(Interview)
July 21, 2008... Richard Grasso and Eric Starkman speak exclusively to Tonya Garcia about comms' role in the 2004 suit against the NYSE's former CEO. The four-year legal case against Richard Grasso, former CEO of the New York Stock Exchange, came to a...

Companies: Corporate Profile - Shure's history helps lure a new audience.(Company overview)
July 21, 2008... A quality reputation and smart product tie-ins are proving to be a powerful outreach combination. Despite its rich 83-year history, including periods as a leading microphone, radio parts, record needle, and military equipment maker, sound...

Companies: The Agency Business - Some PR pros make social media their own business.
July 21, 2008... As clients demand more social media expertise, some PR pros are abandoning the traditional agency model to launch new media-focused firms. In the past year, at least three Bay Area social media experts left traditional agencies to start...

Op-Ed: Radio PSAs are still a valuable tool.
July 21, 2008... Radio is a medium with incredible staying power, with a reach that continues to grow despite outside challenges from TV and online resources. There is no more effective way in getting messages to people wherever they happen to be - at home, in...