PR Week (US) articles from May 2004

PR Week (US) archives from May 2004

Mitsubishi Motors North America to continue its product PR efforts.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... CYPRESS, CA: Mitsubishi Motors North America plans to continue its normal schedule of product PR while its parent company in Japan searches for ways to ensure its future financial viability. A decision late last month by DaimlerChrysler,...

Excellence Survey reveals clients want creativity, ROI.(Agency Excellence Survey)(return on investment valued by clients)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK: PRWeek's inaugural Agency Excellence Survey, conducted by Millward Brown, reveals that consumers of PR services want more creativity, collaboration, and ROI from their firms. The study asked 601 in-house PR professionals to rate...

French drug firm taps MS&L to run its US product PR.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK: MS&L will handle product PR for Sanofi-Synthelabo in the US, after the French pharmaceutical company absorbed smaller French-German rival Aventis in a dollars 6 billion deal that was inked in the middle of last month. Publicis...

LA mayor's decision puts several agencies' contracts into question.(James Hahn decision to stop the contracts of outside PR firms)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... LOS ANGELES: While much attention has been focused on Fleishman-Hillard's contracts with the city of Los Angeles, Mayor James Hahn's (D) decision last week to order all city departments to stop using outside PR agencies affects many other PR...

Kinko's rebranding stores after its merger with FedEx.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... DALLAS: Kinko's announced last week plans to rebrand its 1,200 stores as FedEx Kinko's Office and Print Centers, reflecting its recent merger with FedEx. Internal communications led PR strategy, said FedEx spokesman Howard Clabo. 'You...

Fleishman helps Home Builders Council.(Fleishman-Hillard Inc. handles public relations for newly formed public builders group)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK: Thirteen of the largest public home-building companies have formed the Public Home Builders Council of America to communicate better what they do. Fleishman-Hillard is handling PR for the council, which announced its creation on April...

Autodesk invites six firms to pitch for its PR account.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... SAN RAFAEL, CA: Six firms have been invited to pitch for the PR account of Autodesk. The six are Atomic PR, Bite Communications, CXO Communication, Fleishman-Hillard, OutCast Communications, and Sparkpr, PRWeek has learned. Tracey Stout,...

Italian clothes firm hires Workhouse as first US agency.(Borrelli )(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK: Borrelli, a Naples, Italy-based clothing line and boutique, has hired Workhouse Publicity as its first PR agency in the US. The agency was first put in touch with Borrelli at the suggestion of a mutual contact at Vogue, said Adam...

News Brief: Halsted Communications and People Media to merge.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... VENTURA, CA: Marketing communications firm Halsted Communications and publisher People Media Group will merge effective today. Principals of Halsted and People will remain in offices located in Ventura and Los Angeles. The name for the combined...

News Brief: Hill & Knowlton USA appoints SVP.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK: Hill & Knowlton USA has appointed Barbara Edler as SVP and US director of internal communications, a specialty of the firm's corporate and financial practice. Edler will be based in San Francisco.

News Brief: Subway Portland selects HMH.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... PORTLAND, OR: Subway Portland has selected HMH to handle media planning and placement, account service, PR, and promotions for the 165 Subway franchises in Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington.

News Brief: Samsung Telecoms hires McKie/Headstrom PR.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... RICHARDSON, TX: Samsung Telecommunications America has hired McKie/Headstrom PR as its lead US agency, focusing primarily on product PR support. This division of Samsung Electronics develops telecommunications and mobile networking technology.

News Brief: Jordan Associates named AOR.(Area Of Responsibility )(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... OKLAHOMA CITY, OK: Jordan Associates Advertising/Communications has been named AOR for strategic marketing and advertising efforts for Denver-based Sport-Haley, an apparel maker.

News Brief: Informatica names Text 100 as its global AOR.(Area Of Responsibility)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... REDWOOD CITY, CA: Informatica has named Text 100 as its global AOR. The business software company began working with Text 100 in Europe last year, and expanded the relationship to the US last month. Informatica develops data-management and...

News Brief: Peppercom promotes Maggie O'Neill.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO: Peppercom has promoted Maggie O'Neill to director of its San Francisco office. She will oversee overall strategy and account management, along with director Andy Hilton. O'Neill will also head new business development and focus...

News Brief: Ketchum appoints Simon Kleine.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... LONDON: Ketchum has appointed Simon Kleine as a group director for its corporate practice, where he will report to corporate and technology MD Paul Baverstock in providing senior leadership and counsel to the agency's corporate business in the...

News Brief: Narus hires Golin/Haris as its AOR.(Area Of Responsibility )(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO: Narus, the provider of the carrier-class Internet Protocol platform, has hired Golin/Harris International as its AOR. Golin will work to advance Narus' market leadership in billing, mediation, and network security through the...

News Brief: Vox Medica names president of the Healthcare PR Group.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... PHILADELPHIA: Vox Medica, a healthcare marketing and communications company, has named Eve Dryer as president of the Healthcare PR Group, James Foreman as president of the Healthcare Marketing Communications Group, and Brian Russell as...

News Brief: Articulate Communications adds four new clients.
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK: Articulate Communications, a specialist in b-to-b and tech PR, has added four new clients: DataDirect Technologies, Odyssey Logistics & Technology, Viewpoint, and XTEND Communications.

News Brief: Linhart McClain Finlon PR selected.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... DENVER: Linhart McClain Finlon Public Relations has been selected to provide services to the Daniels Fund, the largest foundation in the Rocky Mountain region.

News Brief: The Apple Organization promotes Angelica Langston.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FL: The Apple Organization, a PR and marketing firm, has promoted Angelica Langston to president and Yaffa Mizrachi to VP, internal operations.

News Brief: Scanbuy selects Trylon Communications as its AOR.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK: Scanbuy, a software developer dedicated to creating mobile bar-code commerce solutions, has selected Trylon Communications as its AOR.

News Brief: High Point hires Margaret Bonilla as EVP.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... BOW, NH: High Point Communications Group has hired Margaret Bonilla as EVP. She previously served as VP for PR, internal comms, enrollment, and marketing at Emmanuel College, and as director of public affairs at the Executive Office of...

Starkman verifies representation of ex-NYSE chairman.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK: Starkman & Associates is representing Dick Grasso, the embattled former CEO and chairman of the New York Stock Exchange, the agency confirmed. Eric Starkman, president of the New York-based agency, has been named in recent media...

Collier County, FL, officials say no to dollars 2m budget for PR.(Collier County, Florida)(limit set to pay four outside public relations firms)(Kelley Swofford Roy, Kidd Tucker Group, AboveWater Public Relations & Marketing, and Gilbert & Manjura Marketing )(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... NAPLES, FL: At a Tuesday meeting, the commissioners of Collier County on Florida's Gulf Coast rejected a proposal to spend up to dollars 2 million on PR annually and instead set a limit of dollars 800,000 to pay four outside PR firms. The...

Edelman to run PR for health, fitness effort.(Daniel J. Edelman Public Relations Worldwide Inc.)(health and fitness intiative sponsored by Coca-Cola, Kraft Foods, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... ATLANTA: Edelman will handle PR for a major new health and fitness initiative being jointly sponsored by Coca-Cola, Kraft Foods, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Edelman oversaw media relations for a press conference held at a Harlem...

IPG explains '03 bonuses as Omnicom touts reductions.(Interpublic Group of Companies Inc.)(Omnicom S.A.)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK: Two of the three largest agency holding companies have had to take different public stands regarding their 2003 bonuses: Omnicom has touted its slimmed-down special compensation in a good year, while Interpublic Group has clarified...

ONDCP set to hear pitches for youth antidrug account.(Office of National Drug Control Policy)(other Fleishman Hillard accounts also up for review )(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... WASHINGTON: The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) will soon be hearing pitches for its dollars 50-million-a-year national youth antidrug media campaign, long considered a marquee account for Fleishman-Hillard's...

Labreche Murray to help Toro with Lawn-Boy push.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... MINNEAPOLIS: The Toro Company has hired LaBreche Murray to be part of a major new marketing push for its Lawn-Boy brand. Toro spoke with five agencies, including one from New York and one from Chicago, before selecting LaBreche. 'We really...

Burson helps unveil new dollars 50 bill, center.(Burson-Marsteller )(US Bureau of Engraving and Printing's new currency design to foil counterfeiting)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... FORT WORTH, TX: Government officials last week unveiled the new dollars 50 bill and a new visitors center at the facility where it will be printed first. The introduction marks Burson-Marsteller's second act in the US Bureau of Engraving...

H&K opens up new practice in FL with O'Connell at helm.(Hill & Knowlton )(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... TALLAHASSEE, FL: Hill & Knowlton opened a Tallahassee office headed by Cindy O'Connell, formerly managing partner of her own firm, RBBO Public Relations. O'Connell will serve as the office's general manager. When it opened two days ago,...

Publishers group names Polskin its new VP of comms.(Publishers of America)(Howard Polskin )(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK: The trade organization Magazine Publishers of America has named former Sony communications executive Howard Polskin as its VP of communications. Polskin will be responsible for overseeing internal and external communications...

IL, Fleishman working to keep base open.(Illinois)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... SPRINGFIELD, IL: Anxious to preserve a major US military base within its borders, Illinois has hired Fleishman-Hillard for a dollars 180,000, one-year public-affairs and government-relations assignment. Fleishman's St. Louis and Washington,...

Principor and Lime Street to work with anti-spyware firm.(Principor Communications)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... WASHINGTON: Pest Patrol, a leading producer of spyware-detection software, has tapped Principor Communications and Lime Street Studios PR to help make it a leading voice in the debate over network security. At least five state legislatures...

Hispanic agency to aid NY eatery launch.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK: Pollo Campero has selected Reynardus & Moya to develop marketing, PR, and promotions plans for the launch of the Latin American fast-food chain in New York City. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. Reynardus & Moya beat out four...

Governors Island activist starts up public outreach.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK: For more than six years, Joep de Koning has waged a lonely battle to convince politicians to turn over one-third of Governors Island for a 'living museum-park.' The nonprofit park would honor New York's legacy of tolerance, the roots...

MS&L taps ex-DLC head as strategic development SVP.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... WASHINGTON: Chuck Alston, former executive director of the Democratic Leadership Committee (DLC), is joining MS&L as SVP for creative and strategic development. MD Joe Gleason described Alston's role as something of an internal political...

Toshiba links with retailer to lure women.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... WAYNE, NJ: Toshiba is teaming up with an upscale furniture maker and retailer to woo women customers as they become more influential in consumer-technology buys. Toshiba has partnered with Drexel Heritage Furniture Industries to feature...

Poll reveals approval of pitching young kids.(results of survey of public relations and marketing professionals)
May 3, 2004... ROCHESTER, NY: In a new survey, youth marketers, including PR professionals, said they feel it is appropriate to begin marketing to children at age 7 on average - two years younger than when they feel children can view advertising critically...

Brazil coffee firm taps Keating & Co to boost US profile.(Cafe Bom Dia)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... MIAMI: A major Brazilian coffee producer, Cafe Bom Dia, has hired Keating & Co. to increase awareness of Brazilian coffee in the US and to help it develop brand recognition as it enters the US retail market. The firm plans to put six...

Kentucky's Guthrie Mayes finalizes deal to acquire Pelfrey Associates.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... LOUISVILLE, KY: Guthrie/Mayes PR announced that it has acquired Pelfrey Associates in a deal that closed on April 1. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. As a result of the acquisition, president Deanna Pelfrey joined the Guthrie/...

Newscast names Sulley to head up new office in NYC.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK: Newscast, the UK-based provider and distributor of corporate, consumer, and financial photography, has opened an office in New York. WirePix founder Jim Sulley has been tapped to lead the new outpost, which has yet to announce a...

Kiehl's continues to support AIDS fight with 'treadathalon'.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... NEW YORK: In keeping with its tradition of raising funds for YouthAIDS education and prevention programs, Kiehl's flagship store in New York City's East Village planned last week to host its first-ever 'treadathalon.' Scheduled to begin at 8am...

Long Island, NY ad shop starts PR unit to up client service.(Austin & Williams Public Relations)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... HAUPPAUGE, NY: Austin & Williams Advertising, a 35-person shop on Long Island, has opened a PR company, Austin & Williams Public Relations. Michael Finnegan, who had his own PR agency, West Communications, will head up the new business....

Editorial: Ongoing government-contract saga in LA is an ominous sign for PR firms coast to coast.(Editorial)
May 3, 2004... The latest news out of Los Angeles, that Mayor James Hahn has ordered a cessation of all negotiations with PR firms and the cancellation of existing contracts, is disheartening. No longer just Fleishman-Hillard's problem, the crisis over PR...

Op-Ed: Firms must show they're not cheating to win with public.(OPposite the EDitorial page )
May 3, 2004... When President Bush gave his State of the Union address, there was some amusement, even among Republicans, about his decrying the use of steroids in baseball - as though this national problem ranked up there with the deficit or the war on...

Analysis: Corporate Accountability - Impact of Spitzer probes is felt by IR pros and analysts.(Investor Relations)
May 3, 2004... By going after Wall Street firms, New York state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer was key to shaping the corporate landscape into a more transparent one. The joke is now part of the lore surrounding Eliot Spitzer. The self-proclaimed...

Paul Holmes: Push to include paid advertising in magazine articles will cheapen effect of media relations.(Editorial)
May 3, 2004... If marketers get their way, the value of media relations will be reduced to the point that the discipline no longer has purpose. Does that sound hyperbolic to you? If so, maybe you haven't been keeping up with the discussion over product...

Organization: Case Study - Alzheimer's group aims efforts at baby boomers.
May 3, 2004... As more than 70 million baby boomers get ready for retirement, the Alzheimer's Association is targeting the group with a dollars 20 million campaign to raise funds and awareness. Alvin Hattal reports. Over the past two decades, the growing...

The Agency Business: When evaluating employees, it's important to stick to specifics.
May 3, 2004... At many agencies, spring is the time for employee performance reviews. When done properly, these reviews can help employees set goals, while also including feedback from clients. Spring may be when a young man's fancy turns to love, but for...

Media Roundup: Broadband internet coverage grows.
May 3, 2004... As more consumers use high-speed broadband internet connections on their home computers, David Ward finds that the ways the technology is covered are continuing to evolve. In a case of better late than never, broadband is finally beginning...

Media: Journalist Q & A - Gene Weingarten, The Washington Post Magazine.(Interview)
May 3, 2004... Name: Gene Weingarten Publication: The Washington Post Magazine Title: 'Below the Beltway' columnist Preferred contact method: weingarten@washpost.com Website: washingtonpost.com Gene Weingarten is a bully. In four years...

Media Watch: Broadcasters blast FCC ruling on Bono.(Federal Communications Commission)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... Recently, Clear Channel Communications dropped radio shock-jock Howard Stern from its lineup for being... well, himself. Now, a group of broadcasters and free-speech groups are challenging an FCC 'indecent' and 'profane' ruling against rock...

Media Brands: Disney's, Stern's uses of internet during crises prove good ways to stay connected to public.
May 3, 2004... It's hard to imagine a pair of media figures more different than Roy Disney and Howard Stern. One was born into prominence in the entertainment business; the other is a self-made broadcast titan. One is a staid businessman who talks about his...

Profile: Weiss changes approach to turn news into kid stuff.(make complex issues more accessible to teens)(Biography)
May 3, 2004... After years of bringing hard-hitting news to adult audiences, Alan Weiss shares his journalism experience with a younger generation to make complex issues more accessible to teens. Alan Weiss' decision to tell his 10-year-old daughter that...

Market Focus: Five teams under a CMO - CMO strategies.
May 3, 2004... Five marketing officers prove there is no perfect team. PITNEY BOWES - Arun Sinha, VP and CMO When Arun Sinha arrived at Pitney Bowes two years ago, he took on the curious, unofficial title of 'intangible asset custodian.' Using a...

PR Technique: Product Launches - Adding excitement to everyday items.
May 3, 2004... For every debut of a sexy new product, 10 more pedestrian ones struggle to win headlines. Mark Hazlin discovers how to spice up a mundane launch. Doing dishes is low on anyone's list of enjoyable pursuits. So what could possibly excite a...

Campaign: NEA tours the US to bring Shakespeare to new audiences.(Shakespeare in American Communities)(National Endowment for the Arts)(Edelman Public Relations Worldwide)
May 3, 2004... PR team: Edelman's Washington, DC office and the National Endowment for the Arts (Washington, DC) Campaign: Shakespeare in American Communities Time frame: March to December 2003 Budget: dollars 30,000 a month In an effort to clear...

Campaign: NC utilities unite to promote different sources of energy.
May 3, 2004... PR team: NC GreenPower and Capstrat, formerly Capital Strategies (Raleigh, NC) Campaign: It's Not Easy Being Green, but Now It's Easier, Effective, Affordable, and the Right Thing to Do Time frame: April to December 2003 Budget: dollars...

Campaign: Soldiers play a key role in DS USA push to up events profile.(Schwartz Communications)
May 3, 2004... PR team: Disabled Sports USA (Rockville, MD) and Schwartz Communications (San Francisco) Campaign: The Hartford Ski Spectacular Time frame: November through December 2003 Budget: Pro bono (approximately dollars 30,000) Strategy ...

The Publicist: Hollywood goes the extra mile to win over the travel industry.(Travel Industry Association of America)
May 3, 2004... I was surprised to read in a best-selling mystery that Jesus had a brother. I was even more shocked to learn so does Wolfgang Puck. The famed chef's sibling hosted a room of journalists last week at his Vert restaurant, where I sampled some...

PR Play of the Week: Arnold finds way to impress W.O.M.E.N.(Women Organized for Mentoring, Education, and Networking)(Arnold Schwarzenegger)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... WASHINGTON: Quick quiz: Of the three men honored by a women's-empowerment group in LA last week for their 'support and advocacy of the issues that are important to women,' how many in the past year have publicly mused over his great fortune at...

Toy Box: Tiny camera is a big hit for Panasonic.(digital video camera )(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... The first camcorder I bought when my son, now 19, was little came with its own suitcase and made me look like part of a TV news crew. I still loved it. Now Panasonic has come out with its latest digital video camera and it's so cool, I...

Book Review: Verbose 'Tween' is still advisable read.(Children's Review)(Book Review)
May 3, 2004... In this updated version of a comprehensive how-to guide for marketing to 8- to 12-year-olds, the authors, principals in a successful agency specializing in the kids market, offer a great deal of valuable information and advice. Unfortunately,...

MWW Group assists Oxford during its acquisition by UnitedHealth.(MWW Group agency of record for Oxford Health Plans Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... TRUMBULL, CT: The MWW Group has been handling across-the-board communications work for Oxford Health during its acquisition by UnitedHealth. The East Rutherford, NJ-based shop has served as agency of record for Oxford, a well-known health...

NYSE appointment leaves State Department in lurch.(Margaret Tutwiler joins New York Stock Exchange)
May 10, 2004... NEW YORK and WASHINGTON: The changing of the PR guard at the New York Stock Exchange is also stirring doubts about the State Department's floundering Mideast efforts, as the NYSE job is being filled by America's top public diplomacy official....

Burson lands DFW contract following a broad PR search.(Burson-Marsteller wins Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport )(area of responsilbility account)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... DALLAS: Burson-Marsteller has bested 10 rivals to win an AOR account from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). The assignment is worth dollars 825,000 over three years. The rate marks a dollars 35,000-per-year increase over DFW's...

Edelman bolsters UK presence with purchase of JCPR.(Daniel J. Edelman Public Relations Worldwide)(Jackie Cooper Public Relations)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... LONDON: On Thursday, Edelman acquired Jackie Cooper Public Relations (JCPR), which has long held itself out as Britain's leading consumer PR agency. Terms were not disclosed. The combined firms will have about dollars 27 million in billings and...

Dan Klores scores Foxwoods business.(Foxwoods Resort Casino)(Dan Klores Communications as area of responsibility)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... MASHANTUCKET, CT: Foxwoods Resort Casino has retained Dan Klores Communications (DKC) as its AOR, as of May 1, replacing Euro RSCG Magnet. DKC was a finalist in the pitch - along with RF Binder Partners - when Foxwoods hired Euro RSCG...

ClearPlay works to promote DVD player amid opposition.(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... SALT LAKE CITY: Just as its technology hits stores, ClearPlay is having to deal with a vocal opposition - and a lawsuit - against it. The innovation allows viewers to block from DVDs sex, violence, and other material that some might find...

Ogilvy starts social-marketing practice.(Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide)(practice includes several government departments)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... WASHINGTON: Ogilvy PR unveiled a new practice last week dedicated to social-marketing work, a specialty it has long maintained under its health and medical practice. 'Social marketing is something we've done for a very long time,' said Tom...

IBM uses website to rebut analyst for the first time.(International Business Machines Corp.)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... NEW YORK: For the first time, IBM used its website to challenge an analyst's report. A recent sell-side report from an unnamed Wall Street analyst questioned Big Blue's long-term business model of mid to high single-digit revenue growth...

Dhillon leaves job with H&K to head FD's public affairs.(Neil Dhillon becomes head of public affairs at Financial Dynamics Inc.)(Don Meyer becomes vice president communications at Hill and Knowlton Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... WASHINGTON: Financial Dynamics last week pried away longtime Hill & Knowlton DC public affairs head Neil Dhillon. Dhillon will recreate his role at FD. A former chief of staff to Rep. Bob Matsui (D-CA), he ran unsuccessfully for a US...

News Brief: Mothers' Council releases report.(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... NEW YORK: The Mothers' Council, a group concerned with the commercialization of childhood, has released a report blasting the marketing industry for its inability to regulate itself when it comes to pitching to children. The report, released...

News Brief: Kelly VP.(Schering-Plough Corp. appoints Alex Kelly vice president)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... KENILWORTH, NJ: Schering-Plough has appointed Alex Kelly as VP of investor relations.

News Brief: MWW retained.(MWW Group retained by 24/7 Real Media)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... NEW YORK: The MWW Group has been retained by 24/7 Real Media, an interactive marketing company that offers publishers and advertisers a platform of serving, targeting, tracking, and analytics technologies.

News Brief: Cohn & Wolfe name change.(Montreal name changed from Pyramid/Cohn & Wolfe to Cohn & Wolfe Montreal)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... MONTREAL: Cohn & Wolfe is changing the name of its Montreal office from Pyramid/Cohn & Wolfe to Cohn & Wolfe Montreal.

News Brief: McSweeney & Antman.(new corporate branding and communications consulting firm)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... CHICAGO: Communications veterans Dennis McSweeney and Michael Antman, former partners in The Weiser Group, have formed a corporate branding and communications consulting firm, McSweeney & Antman.

News Brief: Berman VP.(investor relations agency Financial Relations Board Inc.)(Laurie Berman appointed vice president)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... LOS ANGELES: IR agency Financial Relations Board has appointed Laurie Berman as VP.

News Brief: Washington Lottery renews relationship.(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... SEATTLE: The Washington Lottery has renewed its relationship with Publicis' Seattle office for a host of marketing services, including PR from Publicis Dialog. Publicis has worked with the Washington lottery since 1998.

News Brief: Bateman Group hired.(The National Wildlife Federation hires the Bateman Group)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO: The National Wildlife Federation has hired The Bateman Group to provide PR services for its media properties, National Wildlife and eNature.com. The agency's first initiative is the re-launch of the magazine.

News Brief: CooperKatz promotes.(several promotions at CooperKatz and Co.)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... NEW YORK: CooperKatz & Company has promoted four executives to senior positions: Anne Green to SVP, client services; Susan Pralgever to VP, client services; Andrea Martone to VP, media services; and Steve Rubel to VP, client services.

News Brief: Hensley SVP.(National Restaurant Association)(Sue Hensley becomes Senior Vice President)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... WASHINGTON: Sue Hensley will join the National Restaurant Association as SVP in the marketing, communications, and media relations division. Katharine Kim has been promoted to VP of media relations.

News Brief: Brodeur Worldwide selected.(wFunds Corp. selects Brodeur Worldwide )(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... SCOTTSDALE, AZ: Brodeur Worldwide has been selected by eFunds as its agency of record. The company provides risk management, electronic payment, ATM, and global-outsourcing services and products.