PR Week (US) articles from May 2005

PR Week (US) archives from May 2005

PhRMA consolidates outreach efforts with selection of Edelman.(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... WASHINGTON: PhRMA, the US drug industry's politically influential trade group, has chosen Edelman in a consolidation of business that was previously handled by 14 separate firms. Ken Johnson, PhRMA's communications SVP, said, 'Edelman will...

Congressional mandate on VNR labels nears approval.(video news release)
May 9, 2005... WASHINGTON: Congress is halfway to passing a bill that will prohibit the government from spending money for one year on VNRs that do not include video or audio disclaimers that identify them as government products. Introduced by Sen....

Sears suffers big loss as Nike stops supplying retailer.(Sears Holdings Corp.)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL: Newly created Sears Holdings suffered its first image blow last week when Nike said it would no longer sell its products to Sears. In a statement to Reuters, Nike explained, 'This was a brand decision following a...

Army CRC teams with Pario, Reingold to reduce noncombat deaths.(Army Combat Readiness Center)
May 9, 2005... WASHINGTON: The US military has been plagued by noncombat deaths since the beginning of its campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq in recent years, accounting for what many experts call an unacceptable percentage of overall casualties. Now the...

Poll shows Americans not impressed by new pyramid.
May 9, 2005... CAMBRIDGE, MA: Many Americans were quick to recognize the new Food Pyramid just a week after its unveiling, but most do not believe it improves over the icon's original design. Those are the findings of food industry researcher Opinion...

Publicis revenue grows to dollars 1.14b for Q1.(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... PARIS: Publicis Groupe tallied revenues of dollars 1.14 billion in Q1 2005, an organic growth rate up from dollars 1.06 billion in Q1 2004. That growth rate was in line with the yearly rate posted for all of last year. North American...

Lenovo taps Text 100 in US following its deal with IBM.(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... NEW YORK: As Chinese PC company Lenovo Group completes its acquisition of IBM's PC division, it faces both challenges and opportunities for redefining its brand. So Lenovo has tapped Text 100 as its global lead agency to introduce its...

Interim CEO for PR Newswire obtains a permanent post.(Charles Gregson)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... NEW YORK: Charles Gregson has been named PR Newswire CEO after having served as interim CEO for two years. He will work primarily in its New York office. Gregson said his official appointment will give him more time to interact with...

News Brief: Sullivan nominated.(Kevin Sullivan nominated as next assistant secretary of education for communications and outreach)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... WASHINGTON: Kevin Sullivan, most recently SVP of corporate communications and media relations at NBC Universal PR, has been nominated as the next assistant secretary of education for communications and outreach. See full story at prweek.com.

News Brief: Ashcroft Group appoints.(Juleanna Glover Weiss)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... WASHINGTON: Juleanna Glover Weiss, former press secretary for Vice President Dick Cheney and current lobbyist with Clark and Weinstock, is joining former Attorney General John Ashcroft at his new consulting firm, The Ashcroft Group. The agency...

News Brief: Dart brings in partners.(Leslee Dart hires people for her new venture, The Dart Group)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... NEW YORK: Leslee Dart, who recently left a top-level post with PMK/HBH, has brought aboard a trio of partners for her new venture, The Dart Group: Amanda Lundberg and Cynthia Swartz both join from Miramax, while Robert Garlock will leave his...

News Brief: BNC re-hires Golihew.(Tammy Golihew)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... LOS ANGELES: BNC (Bragman Nyman Cafarelli) has re-hired Tammy Golihew to head its TV, home entertainment, and corporate entertainment units. Most recently media relations director at Sony Pictures Television, Golihew will return after leaving...

News Brief: MWW appoints.(Elana Bodner)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ: Elana Bodner has joined MWW Group as VP for MediaMixx, the agency's radio promotions and broadcast services division. She will work primarily out of the agency's New York City office. See full story at prweek.com.

News Brief: APCO Worldwide appoints.(Denise Davis)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... SACRAMENTO: Denise Davis, former chief deputy communications director for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA), has joined APCO Worldwide as a VP.

News Brief: Smith joins MS&L.(John Smith)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... BOSTON: John Smith has joined MS&L as an SVP to direct the healthcare group. He was previously VP of marketing for MedPanel, an online medical market research company, and has also led the health technology practice at Brodeur Worldwide.

News Brief: Franz hired.(Jerry Franz appointed by Spectrum Science Communications )(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... WASHINGTON: Spectrum Science Communications has hired social marketing and health communications veteran Jerry Franz as EVP of the firm.

News Brief: GS Schwartz hired.(GS Schwartz and Co.)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... NEW YORK: GS Schwartz & Co., an independent firm, has been hired by Cesar Pelli & Associates, one of the world's leading architecture firms, to coordinate with institutions, municipalities, and other groups to generate exposure for the opening...

News Brief: T-Mobile names VP.(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... BELLEVUE, WA: T-Mobile USA has named David Beigie VP of corporate communications, a new position. He will oversee all external and internal communications. Prior to T-Mobile, Beigie was VP of corporate communications at garbage-collection and...

News Brief: AGG hired.(AGG International)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... NEW YORK: AGG International has been hired as a communications advisor in the US by DaimlerChrysler. The assignment marks the first time Daimler has taken on a US firm to handle corporate communications issues for it in the US automotive...

News Brief: FMI names Peters VP.(Food Marketing Institute new vice president Claudia Peters)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... WASHINGTON: The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) has named Claudia Peters its VP of communications and marketing. Peters will oversee media and editorial services, creative services, and membership communications. FMI is a trade group for...

News Brief: Shea SVP.(Chris Shea, senior vice president of General Mills Foundation)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... MINNEAPOLIS: Chris Shea, president of the General Mills Foundation, has taken on the additional role of SVP, external relations. She will assume responsibility for strategic direction of the company's corporate communications and government...

Vespa teams with CooperKatz to up its profile in the US.(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... NEW YORK: Vespa USA has hired CooperKatz as the scooter manufacturer ramps up its presence in the US. As US AOR, CooperKatz will provide an integrated PR push involving traditional media outreach, public affairs, and a blogging campaign....

Online pharmacy picks Golin as its first lead agency.(drugstore.com choses GolinHarris)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... LOS ANGELES: Internet pharmacy drugstore.com has chosen GolinHarris as its first AOR. The company had used other agencies on a project-by-project basis, but decided to consolidate its PR resources with a full-service national firm, said...

'Standard' turns to 360 for circulation boost.(Weekly Standard hires 360Advantage)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... WASHINGTON: The Weekly Standard has tapped 360Advantage, a new public affairs partnership between WPP shops Burson-Marsteller and Quinn Gillespie & Associates, for a campaign to boost the conservative magazine's circulation. Russ...

Jobs' ire over bio results in media boon for publisher.(Steve Jobs angered over John Wiley & Sons Inc publishing of iCon)
May 9, 2005... HOBOKEN, NJ: Book publisher John Wiley & Sons, best known for its Frommer's travel books and Dummies series, is inadvertently generating outsize publicity for an upcoming title by invoking the wrath of Apple CEO Steve Jobs. Wiley will soon...

Private equity firm hires Gavin Anderson as its AOR.(EMP Global's agency of record)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... NEW YORK: Gavin Anderson & Co. has been chosen as the AOR for EMP Global, a multibillion-dollar private equity firm that focuses its investments on emerging markets around the world. EMP did not issue a formal RFP, and there is no immediate...

Oestreicher lands job directing H&K pharma practice.(Paul Oestreicher at Hill and Knowlton)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... NEW YORK: Paul Oestreicher has joined Hill & Knowlton as the new director of the US health and pharmaceutical practice. Oestreicher, who stepped into the position last Tuesday, most recently led the healthcare practice at DeVries PR, a...

Democrats bolster religious outreach.(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... WASHINGTON: Democrats are developing a new communications strategy to reach out to people of faith through media outlets that cater to them. The plan, said to be in its very early stages, is spearheaded out of Senate Minority Leader Harry...

Lettes departs job as VP of corporate comms at Oracle.(Jeff Lettes)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... REDWOOD SHORES, CA: Jeff Lettes has left his post as Oracle VP of worldwide corporate communications after just three months. 'It didn't seem to be a good cultural fit,' said Lettes. Bob Wynne, VP of corporate communications, is...

Absolut hires two new directors for its marketing unit,.(Absolut Spirits Company Inc. appoints Jeffrey Moran and Kate Pomeroy)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... NEW YORK: Absolut Spirits has rounded out its marketing team with a new director of PR and events, and a director of consumer insights and planning. Jeffrey Moran assumes the head PR role, and Kate Pomeroy fills the latter position. Both...

Institute forms group to study global PR.(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... GAINESVILLE, FL: The Institute for Public Relations (IPR), an independent research organization based at the University of Florida, has created a commission to research the 'science' of international PR. Frank Ovaitt, IPR's president and...

Horizon BCBS harkens back to simpler time for healthcare push in NJ.(Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... NEWARK, NJ: Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is seeking to invoke a time when doctors made house calls and getting medical care was a whole lot simpler. The state's largest health insurer is launching a new image campaign with...

Levine set to focus on growth as SVP of IR at GCI Group.(Rachel Levine)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... NEW YORK: GCI Group has hired Rachel Levine as SVP of IR in the corporate communications practice in New York. Levine, who moved to GCI from The Anne McBride Co. last month, will be the only IR pro in GCI's New York office. She will report...

Tunheim ups efforts to help Twins win funds for stadium.(Tunheim Partners for Minnesota Twins)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... MINNEAPOLIS: Tunheim Partners is stepping up public affairs efforts for the Minnesota Twins as the team navigates legislative obstacles to financing a new stadium. The Twins and Hennepin County, in which Minneapolis is located, announced...

Carma's new web service lets users analyze coverage.(Carma Online to review press coverage)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... WASHINGTON: Carma International has introduced Carma Online, a web tool that gives clients the ability to perform their own analysis of press coverage with research conducted by the media-content analysis company. 'This is really a...

Editorial: Blogs may be hipper than mainstream media, but are equal in terms of the scrutiny they face.(weblogs)(Column)
May 9, 2005... Mainstream media is catching on to blogs, just as some blogs are fundamentally turning into something else. A recent BusinessWeek cover story on the phenomenon quaintly describes blogs as 'online journals,' when many of the most famous examples...

Op-Ed: Pharmas will lose if messaging doesn't address risk.
May 9, 2005... In the wake of the cox 2 controversy, exemplified by the recalls of Merck's Vioxx and Pfizer's Bextra, major questions loom: What degree of risk are we willing to accept to cure what ails us? Who gets to decide what degree of risk is...

Analysis: Tom DeLay - DeLay facing pressure as groups question his ethics.
May 9, 2005... As groups tout Tom DeLay as an example of all that is wrong with US politics, the Texas congressman known for his offense finds himself on defense. Has the former exterminator finally begun to choke on his own poison? Tom DeLay...

Paul Holmes: Suspicions regarding Don't Count Us Out can be attributed to News Corp's lack of transparency.
May 9, 2005... Last week, Nielsen Media Research executives came across a case study posted to the website of Washington, DC, public affairs firm Glover Park Group (GPG). In that study, GPG took credit for the creation of a coalition called Don't Count Us Out...

Corporate Case Study: Taser facing uphill battle to safeguard its image.(Taser International Inc.)
May 9, 2005... With Amnesty International calling its stun guns torture devices and with media reports questioning their safety, Taser International has its hands full defending its product. Hamilton Nolan reports. At Taser International, there is only...

The Agency Business: Taking summer breaks without compromising client service.
May 9, 2005... Even though PR is a 24/7 industry, Keith O'Brien discovers that some agencies have found ways to award staff extra time off during the summer without sacrificing attention to clients Once Memorial Day hits corporate America, offices begin...

Media Roundup: Car gadgets ride into new outlets.(media coverage of automobile aftermarket industry)
May 9, 2005... Now that MTV's 'Pimp My Ride' has made the growing interest in car customization more apparent, mainstream outlets are latching on to the story. Of all the reality shows that have debuted in recent years, perhaps one of the most surprising...

Media: Journalist Q & A - Jim Blasingame.(Interview)
May 9, 2005... Publication: The Small Business Advocate Show Title: Nationally syndicated radio host Preferred contact method: jim@jbsba.com Website: www.jbsba.com Since 1997, Jim Blasingame has been offering small-business leaders advice on...

Media Watch: Battle heats up over Bolton confirmation.(John Bolton)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... The White House has been in a serious battle to have conservative hard-liner and former Undersecretary of State John Bolton confirmed as the next US Ambassador to the United Nations. There is growing speculation in DC that the Bush...

Inside The Mix: A new breed of company has found a sweet spot marketing to concerned, but busy moms.(Dream Dinners' and Super Suppers target women)
May 9, 2005... Growing up in the '70s, an enduring memory of what my parents deemed to be a healthy meal for their child invariably involves meat derived from the less-popular areas of whichever animal it had previously belonged to. It was cheap, easy, and...

Profile: Sanofi's Rouse adapts to changing face of pharma.(Chip Rouse of Sanofi-Aventis )
May 9, 2005... Chip Rouse, VP of US communications at Sanofi-Aventis, has not only proven adept at managing the myriad PR challenges of mergers - he's been through plenty - but he truly enjoys them. Sanofi-Synthelabo's dollars 65 billion purchase of...

Merging cultures.(managing acquisitons is challenging for public relations teams)
May 9, 2005... For all major corporate M&As, there are two PR teams behind the scenes. Mergers and acquisitions produce not only headlines in the business section, excited shareholders, and lots of talk of 'synergy,' but also a host of challenges for...

Regional Focus: Mountain States - A marketing oasis.(Las Vegas, Nevada)
May 9, 2005... Las Vegas stands out among its neighbors as a global icon. Many visitors come to Las Vegas with dreams of striking it rich, but perhaps no residents of Sin City are on a better roll than its PR pros. As Vegas enjoys a continuing economic...

PR Technique: Entertainment - Getting your good game face on.
May 9, 2005... With E3 looming, video-game makers are competing for space in both specialist and mainstream consumer press. David Ward highlights some handy cheats. In an indication of just how mainstream video games have become, Sony's recent launch of...

Campaign: 'Sideways' tie-in advances profile of Santa Barbara.(Santa Barbara Conference and Visitors Bureau and Santa Barbara Film Commission)
May 9, 2005... PR team: Santa Barbara, CA, Conference & Visitors Bureau and the Santa Barbara Film Commission Campaign: Sideways in Santa Barbara Time frame: June 2004 to present Budget: dollars 30,000 Only a short drive from LA, its pristine...

Campaign: White Castle finds a different way to romance patrons.
May 9, 2005... PR team: Justice & Young Public Relations (Cincinnati) and White Castle (Columbus, OH) Campaign: Valentine's Day at White Castle Time frame: January to February 2005 Budget: dollars 1,000 The chain turned to Justice & Young Public...

Campaign: Mykrolis displays expertise in push to elevate renown.(RF Binder)
May 9, 2005... PR team: RF Binder and Mykrolis Corp. (both Boston) Campaign: Enhancing Mykrolis' Brand Awareness Time frame: January to December 2004 Budget: dollars 132,000 Seeking to establish itself as a brand separate from Millipore and...

The Publicist: Keeping photogs from shooting stars is a delicate balancing act.(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... The film I'm currently on is terrific, but not the kind of movie where there are lots of exciting things to watch - like car chases, explosions, or bar fights. (We did have some nudity last week, but it was a closed set. Attempting to disguise...

PR Play of the Week: President puts his better half to full use.(Laura Bush stands for George W. Bush at White House Correspondent's Association Dinner)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... President Bush has a standard quip when introducing fellow GOP candidates on the stump: 'Like me, (he) had the good sense to marry above himself.' Statistically impossible as it may be (no way that many decent women are willing to marry...

Toy Box: Three reasons for iPod users to rejoice.(iConcepts' 3 in 1 Car Kit for iPod and iPod Mini)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... Apple's iPod has created its own cottage industry of items that attach to or work with the popular music player. My daughter wanted to play her iPod mini in the car, so we were both anxious to try iConcepts' 3 in 1 Car Kit for iPod and iPod...

Book Review: 'Media Relations' has good perspective.(Media Relations: From a Journalist's Perspective)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
May 9, 2005... Title: Media Relations: From a Journalist's Perspective Author: David Henderson Publisher: iUniverse, New York (March 2005), 118 pages Reviewed by: Mike Brown, partner, Brown & Raleigh, San Francisco And he writes effectively, too....

Panel's suggestions to up 'Times' credibility spark some concerns.(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... NEW YORK: The New York Times is pondering recommendations from an internal panel on how to improve communication and build credibility with its readers. A 14-page report released last week says the newspaper needs improvement in its...

GlaxoSmithKline places its HIV business up for review.
May 16, 2005... RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC: GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is giving the rest of the industry a shot at its HIV product portfolio. An undisclosed number of firms has been invited to pitch for the drug franchise, which carries a significant price...

DoE seeks vendor to measure effect of public comms.(Department of Education)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... WASHINGTON: The Department of Education (DoE), just weeks after a controversial report criticized it for not getting adequate ROI on payments made to commentator Armstrong Williams, is looking for a vendor to help it measure how well it is...

Survey finds PR rising in marketers' eyes.(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... NEW YORK: The PR industry has seized the challenge posed by a rapidly changing marketplace and is gaining ground as a go-to for marketers seeking better ways to reach consumers using nonmainstream tactics. Many of the findings of the third...

MWW's Kempner also holding post as CEO for IR firm.(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ: MWW Group CEO Michael Kempner has assumed duties as CEO of the Financial Relations Board (FRB), Interpublic Group's specialized IR agency. FRB is also positioned as the IR partner of Weber Shandwick. Donni Case, the...

Journalism center readies: China for US media arrival.(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... CAMBRIDGE, MA: Chinese officials preparing for the 2008 Olympics are getting a crash course on the US media, tapping into the resources of a prestigious journalism center. The Nieman Foundation for Journalism, which runs a well-known...

CNN News Group appoints first SVP of PR.(appointed Laurie Goldberg as SVP of PR )(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... ATLANTA: Laurie Goldberg has been named SVP of PR for CNN News Group, a new role overseeing PR for CNN/US, CNN Headline News, CNN. com, CNN en Espanol, CNN Airport Channel, CNNRadio, and CNN Newsource. 'I've always been about building the...

Wag Ed moves into Asia; Edelman re-enters Japan.(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... HONG KONG and TOKYO: America's two largest independent firms are stepping into Asia this week, with Waggener Edstrom making its first foray into the region, while Edelman takes another shot at Japan. Wag Ed has acquired 4-year-old Shout...

Pawle to replace Knox as FD's new global chairman.(appointed Oliver Pawle as its new global chairman)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... LONDON: Financial Dynamics has named Oliver Pawle, a vice chairman of UBS Investment Bank, as its new global chairman. He succeeds Tony Knox, who is stepping down after 17 years in the position. Pawle has served as chairman of FD's advisory...

News Brief: Siemens Home Appliances selects Paine PR.(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... LOS ANGELES: Siemens Home Appliances has selected Irvine, CA-based Paine PR as its AOR. Paine will handle national communications support to increase brand awareness. See full story at PRWeek.com.

News Brief: Appointment at MSNBC.com.(appointed atherine Captain as VP of marketing)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... NEW YORK: Catherine Captain has joined MSNBC.com as VP of marketing. She was previously the director of marketing research at USA Today. Captain will oversee all marketing functions within the company, including advertising, PR, consumer...

News Brief: Appointment at Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation.(appointed Elizabeth Sharpas VP, investor relations)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... LOS ANGELES: Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation, the parent company of the 153-year-old firearms maker, has hired Elizabeth Sharp to fill the newly created post of VP, investor relations. Based out of Arizona, Sharp will handle all shareholder...

News Brief: Hill & Knowlton and Rudder Finn have launched Flashpoint PR.(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO: Three executives from Hill & Knowlton and Ruder Finn have launched Flashpoint PR, a tech and consumer agency. The principals are H&K SVP Jennifer Colton, and from Ruder Finn/Switzer SVP Kristin Greene and VP Christopher Dowling....

News Brief: Appointment at Mylan Laboratories.(appointed Patrick Fitzgerald as VP of PR)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... PITTSBURGH: The second-largest generic drug maker in the US, Mylan Laboratories, has tapped Patrick Fitzgerald as VP of PR, its top communications post. He joins Mylan from General Nutrition Centers, where he was PR director. He will report to...

News Brief: ment at Hill & Knowlton Tampa.(Appointed Leo Bottary as SVP in the corporate practice)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... TAMPA, FL: Hill & Knowlton Tampa has hired Leo Bottary as SVP in the corporate practice. Bottary joins H&K from St. John & Partners Advertising & Public Relations, where he served as PR director.

News Brief: Appointment at Vox Medica.(appointed Jeffrey Stein as VP, Institute for Continuing Healthcare Educatio)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... PHILADELPHIA: Vox Medica, an independent healthcare marcomms company, has hired Jeffrey Stein as VP, Institute for Continuing Healthcare Education. Prior to joining, Stein worked at Wolters Kluwer Health, focusing on publication planning and...

News Brief: TLC names its AOR.(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... LOS ANGELES: TV network TLC has named PR/marketing consulting shop JS2 Communications its AOR.

News Brief: Appointment at Grey Global Group.(promoted Christine Brown to SVP and director of corporate communications )(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... NEW YORK: Christine Brown has been promoted to SVP and director of corporate communications at Grey Global Group, where she will head up all corporate communications, including media relations, executive speechwriting, and all online and...

News Brief: Appointment at Fleishman-Hillard.(appointed Kevin McGuirk as co-chairman of its tech practice)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO: Fleishman-Hillard has named SVP Kevin McGuirk as co-chairman of its tech practice. McGuirk joined Fleishman in October, having previously served as VP of corporate communications at BEA Systems. The practice's other co-chairman...

News Brief: The San Jose Skyrockets chooses its AOR.(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... SAN JOSE, CA: The San Jose Skyrockets, a new team in the American Basketball Association, has chosen Reverb Communications as its AOR. Reverb will help introduce the new club, which will make its debut in the fall.

News Brief: Connell Foley hires Keating & Co.(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... FLORHAM PARK, NJ: Connell Foley, a full-service law firm with offices in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, has hired Keating & Co. to provide PR counsel.

News Brief: Appointment at APCO Worldwide.(appointed Laura Query as a manager)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... SEATTLE: Laura Query has joined APCO Worldwide's Seattle office as a manager. Previously, she was Group Health Cooperative's media relations coordinator.

News Brief: Appointment at Rubenstein Public Relations.(appointed Harrison Wise as VP)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... NEW YORK: Rubenstein Public Relations has hired Harrison Wise as VP. He joins from Trylon Communications, where he served in various executive positions for six years, most recently as an account director.

Magnet assists as Heineken unveils its first light beer.(Euro RSCG Magnet )(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... NEW YORK: Heineken USA will use AOR Euro RSCG Magnet to launch its first-ever light beer, Premium Light Lager, in four US cities this month. The cities will serve as test markets for the product's national launch. Magnet is putting 20...

A&R Partners set to bolster Firefox as AOR for Mozilla.(Mozilla Foundation )(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA: Open-source software developer Mozilla Foundation has selected A&R Partners as its AOR. Mozilla recently struck gold with its Firefox web browser, which now has 8.7% of the global browser market, according to web...

USFS draws fire for its plan to outsource PR.(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... WASHINGTON: The US Forest Service (USFS) is under fire from watchdog groups for its recently announced intention to explore outsourcing 100 jobs in its communications department to private agencies. Public Employees for Environmental...

Bush to sign bill requiring labels in government VNRs.(Video News Release)(George, Bush W.)
May 16, 2005... WASHINGTON: A bill prohibiting the use of government funds for video news releases that are not clearly labeled as government productions was scheduled to be signed by President Bush last week after passing unanimously in the Senate. Sen....

R&C fuses with shop to up focus on celebrity fashion.(Rogers & Cowan Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 16, 2005... LOS ANGELES: Influential product placement firm Film Fashion is merging into Rogers & Cowan (R&C) in what CEO Tom Tardio describes as 'an evolving of product placement.' The boutique shop specializes in placing high-end designer clothes...