PR Week (US) articles from May 2006

PR Week (US) archives from May 2006

Swanson's tenure at Raytheon in doubt after plagiarism charge.(William Swanson)(Raytheon Aircraft Co.)
May 8, 2006... WALTHAM, MA: The decision taken May 3 by the Raytheon board of directors to reprimand rather than fire CEO William Swanson for plagiarism has left PR experts and defense industry analysts questioning whether Swanson may ultimately choose or be...

Low-calorie drinks to hit school vending machines.(limit sodas to 100 calories per drink)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... NEW YORK: The beverage industry is touting last week's agreement by several beverage companies to limit school vending-machine sodas to 100 calories per drink. 'The reason we established this policy is that we all understand that there are...

Times hires Citigate Sard.(contracts)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... NEW YORK: The New York Times Co. has hired Citigate Sard Verbinnen to help it deal with a Morgan Stanley-led shareholder revolt, according to industry sources. Last month, Morgan Stanley began a public push to reform the Times' stock...

Napster takes initiative with free music service.(service introduction of web services)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... LOS ANGELES: Napster has launched a free music service, partially as a marketing initiative to entice new users to sign up for its subscription offering. The Web-based service allows users to listen to any of Napster's 2 million tracks up...

Final witnesses testify as Dowie-Stodder trial wraps.( Doug Dowie-John Stodder trial)
May 8, 2006... LOS ANGELES: Before both the prosecution and defense rested last Tuesday in the Doug Dowie-John Stodder trial, the prosecution called FBI agent Dane Costley as its final witness. Stodder's defense team also had two final witnesses, Jennifer...

News brief: Bridgestone Firestone suuports motor train.(Firestone tractor trailers)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Nashville, Tn: Bridgestone Firestone is supporting a transcontinental motor train by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials this June. The event, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the US Interstate System,...

News brief: CRT/Tanaka selected to provide counsel for Fleet Laboratories.(CRT/Tanaka a public relations firm)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... RICHMOND, VA: CRT/Tanaka has been selected to provide strategic counsel for Lynchburg, VA-based Fleet Laboratories. The agency will service the account through its health practice. The company, best known for laxative products, also fields...

News brief: Formula PR hired by Centerra Wine Co.(New Zealand-grown Monkey Bay brand)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... SAN DIEGO: Formula PR has been hired to conduct sampling programs by Centerra Wine Co. for its Australian wine, Alice White, and New Zealand-grown Monkey Bay brand. The accounts will be handled by Formula Street, which is the brand activation...

News brief: FD retained by K & F Industries.(K & F Industries Holdings)(Financial Dynamics)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... NEW YORK: Financial Dynamics (FD) has been retained by White Plains, NY-based K & F Industries Holdings for investor relations and PR. K & F Industries is a global company specializing in aircraft wheels, brakes, brake control systems, and...

News brief: The Weather Channel Interactive chooses agency.(Trevelino/Keller Communications Group )(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... ATLANTA: Trevelino/Keller Communications Group has been retained by The Weather Channel Interactive. The Weather Channel division includes weather.com, which reaches an average of 20 million users each month. The agency will handle media...

News brief: The North Face partners Pace Communications.(custom publisher Pace Communications)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... GREENSBORO, NC: Outdoor apparel manufacturer The North Face has partnered with custom publisher Pace Communications to launch Epic, a new online magazine targeted to outdoor adventure enthusiasts. Epic will feature sporting expeditions via...

News brief: Gerard Group chooses PR agency.(To promote its programs and services)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... BOSTON: Gerard Group International, consultants in homeland security and counterterrorism strategy, has chosen the New York firm Benador Associates Public Relations to promote its programs and services. Gerard Group International was founded in...

News brief: Fast Horse retained as AOR.(contracts )(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... MINNEAPOLIS: Fast Horse has been retained as AOR by fishing tackle company Pure Fishing and Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America. For Allianz, Fast Horse will tackle brand awareness through sponsorship communications campaigns.

News brief: The Children's Internet signs contract with KTPR.(marketer of browsers for children, has signed a contract with KTPR )(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... PLEASANTON, CA: The Children's Internet, marketer of browsers for children, has signed a contract with KTPR of Sausalito, CA, for a PR and awareness campaign to tout the company's products as solutions to issues of Internet child exploitation.

News brief: Navigational Sciences chooses AOR.(E. Boineau & Co.)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... CHARLESTON, SC: Navigational Sciences, a product and services company specializing in radio-frequency communications, wireless security, and logistics, has named E. Boineau & Co. as marketing and PR AOR.

Royal Caribbean set for ship's high-profile push.(service introduction of cruise ship )(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... MIAMI: Royal Caribbean will introduce the largest cruise ship in the world next week in New York amidst a flurry of high-profile PR events. The launch comes as the company deals with fallout - most recently in the April issue of Vanity...

Burson advising Duke PR.(Duke University)(Burson-Marsteller)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... CHAPEL HILL, NC: Duke has hired Burson-Marsteller in a strictly advisory role to assist the university with crisis communications work in the wake of its lacrosse team scandal. John Furnass, Duke's SVP for public affairs and government...

Demand drives WS growth.(Weber Shandwick facilities)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... NEW YORK: Weber Shandwick has made a major expansion into the Eastern European market, opening three new offices in Poland, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and signing on affiliates in seven countries. Harris Diamond, CEO of WS, said...

Launch Pad: Hanes goes Hollywood for its 'Panti-monium' launch party.(marketing)(Company overview)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Company: Hanes Campaign: Panti-monium for Hanes Perfect Panty and ComfortSoft for Women PR Team: Weber Shandwick, BNC, Los Angeles Other marketing: General market PR, sampling, and advertising Launched: April 2006 Budget: Undisclosed...

PR Play of the Week: Proposal to offset fuel prices flops.(public relations)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Journalists are notoriously bad at economic matters, so help us out here if we're missing something. But perhaps the proposal by some Republican senators to send dollars 100 checks to 100 million Americans to help offset high gas prices was...

After exiting PN, Tsantes starts TCG.(Porter Novelli)(Tsantes Consulting Group)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... SAN JOSE, CA: Former president of Porter Novelli's advanced technology division John Tsantes has formed Tsantes Consulting Group (TCG). He is leaving after five years with the firm because of disagreements with management. 'My departure...

Mine mistakes reviewed.(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... A state mining inspector admitted last week that his shouts during the recovery of the victims of the Sago Mine disaster might have contributed to the miscommunication that led the families of 12 dead miners to believe their loved ones were...

Edelman expands.(Appointments)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... NEW YORK: Edelman is expanding its multicultural practice with several senior-level hires across its regional offices. The firm has hired Rosa Alonso as SVP and head of Edelman multicultural, which currently focuses on Hispanic and...

Newcastle's indie-rock tie-ins target hipsters.
May 8, 2006... LOS ANGELES: The 79-year-old British beer brand Newcastle Brown Ale is launching a promotional effort aimed at building awareness among trendsetters. The push links the brew to alternative music and a pair of well-known and youth-skewing...

Ketchum takes lead on G8.(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... MOSCOW: The Kremlin has hired Ketchum to lead an Omnicom team in a multi-firm, multimillion-dollar contract to promote Russia's 2006 presidency of the G8, or Group of Eight leading industrialized nations. Ketchum - as well as the other...

Mazda PR to 'wait and see'.
May 8, 2006... IRVINE, CA: Mazda North American Operations will take a 'wait and see' approach to PR efforts to support its newest vehicle, the Mazda CX-7. The company this week launched a promotion with Google Earth, 'The Mazda CX-7 Earth Search...

AT&T faces PR challenge over national surveillance.(AT&T Inc.)(Electronic Frontier Foundation)
May 8, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO: AT&T is facing a potential PR conundrum, as the US government has filed a 'Statement of Interest' in the Electronic Frontier Foundation's (EFF) class-action lawsuit against AT&T. The government wrote that it would 'assert...

PriceGrabber taps Ketchum.(Ketchum for a brand-building campaign)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO: PriceGrabber.com, a shopping comparison Web site, has retained Ketchum for a brand-building campaign that will tap into the growing popularity of online shopping. The seven-year-old company previously worked with Edelman. ...

BW, CNW Group ink deal.(Business Wire contracts with CNW Group)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... NEW YORK: Business Wire has entered a distribution agreement with CNW Group, Canada's largest news distribution service. The agreement replaces BW's relationship with CCN Matthews, which bought Market Wire last month. Under the terms of...

Landmark first AOR client for Cornerstone PR unit.(public relations)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... NEW YORK: Cornerstone Promotion has launched a dedicated PR practice with inaugural AOR client Landmark Event Services, a provider of corporate and special events decor and design. Ten-year-old Cornerstone has built its brand on...

News Analysis: Universal walks fine line for 'United 93'.
May 8, 2006... United 93 debut prompts concerns about how films about real-life tragedy should be promoted. The challenges Universal has had to face around the film United 93 transcend potential criticism of the 'thumbs up, thumbs down' variety. The...

News Maker: Cassidy helps DKC bring in diverse client mix.(Dan Klores Communications)(Sean Cassidy)
May 8, 2006... Ever thumb through an Us Weekly article about Bon Jovi's new album during a flight on Delta Airlines on your way to the W Hotel for a US Open tennis match? That experience has been brought to you by Dan Klores Communications (DKC), whose...

Companies: Corporate Profile - PR modernizes Harry & David image.(Company overview)
May 8, 2006... Giving free rein and a sizable budget to PR has helped Harry & David evolve its iconic brand. Harry & David (H&D) is a brand that is probably familiar to anyone who has ever given or received gift baskets filled with fruits, sweets, or...

Companies: The Agency Business - Learning has become a full-time job for firms.(Chief learning or knowledge officer )
May 8, 2006... Chief learning or knowledge officer jobs started to crop up at Fortune 500 companies in the early 1990s, when General Electric is credited with being the first to formalize the role. Marketing services firms have been late to the game,...

Editorial: Honoring Bingham, others is story that must be told.(Editorial)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... The release of the film United 93 has awakened painful memories for those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001, as well as those who were not personally impacted, but felt a profound sense of devastation and loss. The scars are broad and...

Op-Ed: Don't ignore intangible assets' value.
May 8, 2006... During my 25 years in the PR agency business, most senior communications executives at large corporations I have worked with focus their attention on major announcements, such as acquisitions, earnings results, changes in the C-suite, major...

Opinion: Immigration marches make noise, but who's listening?
May 8, 2006... The immigration marches culminating in last week's one-day boycott have been nothing if not polarizing, galvanizing Latinos, but having perhaps little impact on the so-called 'general population' meant to receive the message that immigration,...

Opinion: Benefiting the common good is also good for shareholders.
May 8, 2006... Adam Smith writes in The Wealth of Nations, Book I, Chapter VIII: 'What improves the circumstances of the greater part can never be regarded as an inconveniency to the whole. No society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far...

Opinion: Fact File - PR key to education once male contraceptives hit the market.(Public Relations)
May 8, 2006... In the news After decades of research, the commercial reality of male hormonal contraception may be on the horizon. Researchers from UCLA and the University of Sydney have published a study in The Lancet showing that male sperm levels will...

Media: Analysis - WSJ Online sets paid content standard.
May 8, 2006... In 1996, Bill Clinton was getting ready for his re-election campaign, Atlanta was gearing up to host the Summer Olympics, and The Wall Street Journal officially launched its online edition. Just four months later, it became a subscription-only...

Media: Journalist Q&A - Nick Dunn, CNBC.(Consumer News and Business Channel Partnership)(Interview)
May 8, 2006... Name: Nick Dunn Outlet: CNBC Title: Executive editor, booking Preferred contact method: nick.dunn@nbcuni.com Web site: www.cnbc.com PRWeek: What makes a good guest for CNBC? Nick Dunn: Most often, we want great talkers with...

Media: Research: Maximizing PR investment at E3.(Public Relations)
May 8, 2006... CONDUCTED BY: Access Communications SAMPLE: 120 journalists attending the 2006 E3 conference GOAL: To determine journalists' attitudes about how they want to get news at E3 KEY FINDINGS: 72% of respondents use the on-site press...

Media: Roundup - Celebrity tabloids face new competition.
May 8, 2006... If recent headlines like 'Brit's baby fractures skull' or 'Heather heats up with Spade' leave you confused, you're not up to speed with one of the fastest-growing media categories of the past decade: celebrity outlets. 'We're in such a...

Media: Critical Hit - CNN goes international for Geneva.(Interview)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Who is your client and what are its media goals? Mike Schwager: My client is Geneva Global, a philanthropic advisory and grants management company that helps wealthy American donors find well-run grassroots charitable projects in the Third...

Media: Media ups and downs.(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Conde Nast announces plans for a Web site for teenage girls that will contain user-generated content Yahoo introduces a Web site on consumer technology, called Yahoo Tech, part of its ongoing strategy to include original content VH1...

Media: Inside Information - Easy-to-produce video blogs are next wave of distribution.
May 8, 2006... Video is coming to the Internet in a major way. Now that blogs themselves have been cautiously adopted by the corporate world as an effective way to disseminate a message, video blogs - or vlogs - may be the next step in the march toward new...

Cover Story: The team behind the transformation.
May 8, 2006... It takes more than just the communications team to pull off a corporate rebranding effort. Michael Bush shows how ITT tapped a variety of expertise. In 2004, when the then-named ITT Industries was preparing its major rebranding effort, Tom...

Regional Focus: PR's smallest large market.(Public Relations)
May 8, 2006... With Arizona a state of transplants, Phoenix's melting pot is a great test market for campaign and business approaches. In the Navajo language, Phoenix is known as Hoozdo, or 'the place is hot.' And while economists expect growth to slow a...

PR Technique: Live, from a computer near you.(public relations)
May 8, 2006... Webcasting builds brands and thought-leadership. David Ward learns how to make the most of it. Though it's been around for nearly a decade, webcasting remains a technology still waiting to truly take off as a PR tool. 'It's a...

Campaign: PR powering property battle.(public relations)
May 8, 2006... INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE PR Team: Institute for Justice (Arlington, VA) Campaign: The Fight Against Eminent Domain Abuse Duration: September 2005 - ongoing Budget: dollars 5,000 The problem: Owners of 15 homes on 1.54 acres of the...

PR Toolbox: Electronic press kits, best podcast content, and more.
May 8, 2006... Press kits What information should I send in an electronic press kit? 'Journalists lack both time and resources to follow up and research your release, so it's best to include as much information and materials as possible to support...

Careers: Expert Advice - Reggie Kouba, VP, SheaHedges Group.
May 8, 2006... Who benefits the most when students do internships in place of courses: the intern or the company? A:Internships expose students to the workings of a real company and let them test the waters of a particular industry without the commitment...

Careers: People Moves - Edelman.(Catherine Ogilvie appointed)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... San Francisco: Catherine Ogilvie has joined Edelman as EVP and GM of its San Francisco office. Ogilvie will report to Patrick McGuire and Gail Becker, co-presidents of Edelman's Western region. She replaces Warren Egnal, who left in February...

Careers: People Moves - McDonald's.(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... OAK BROOK, IL: McDonald's has promoted Michon Ellis to director of global corporate communications, beginning immediately. Ellis will develop communications strategies and programming for the company's global image and initiatives, as well as...

Careers: People Moves - Wheatley & Timmons.(Alyssa Burns appointed )(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... CHICAGO: Alyssa Burns has joined Wheatley & Timmons as VP and director of client services. Burns was most recently at Kraft Foods, where she served as senior manager of communications. Among other duties, she helped to develop PR efforts for...

Careers: People Moves - Dukas Public Relations.(Todd Barrish appointed )(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... NEW YORK: Todd Barrish has joined Dukas Public Relations as SVP and head of the firm's technology practice. He was previously at Connors Communications, where he worked for such clients as Vonage, TowerStream, Priceline, Education Testing...

Careers: People Moves - 360 PR.(Meagan Ellis appointed)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... BOSTON: Meagan Ellis has been named a senior account executive at 360 PR. Ellis came to 360 from Caster Communications where she ran the 'Big Honkin' Truck Makeover' campaign for Castrol Motor Oil, as well as a variety of consumer electronics...

Careers: People Moves - Slack Barshinger.(Michelle Damico appointed)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... CHICAGO: Slack Barshinger, an integrated marketing communications agency, has hired Michelle Damico as VP of PR. Damico reports to Carol Jouzaitis, SVP. Previously, Damico was senior manager of communications and marketing for the Illinois...

Careers: People Moves - Sawchuk Brown Associates.(Robin Wood appointed )(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... ALBANY, NY: Former business journalist Robin Wood has joined Sawchuk Brown Associates as an assistant VP. Formerly with the Capital District Business Review, Wood will serve on the firm's developing media team and will provide writing training...

Careers: People Moves - San Francisco State University.(Lisbet Sunshine appointed)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO: San Francisco State University has named Lisbet Sunshine director of government relations, effective April 3. Sunshine is charged with generating support for the university and its interests by working with the San Francisco...

Careers: People Moves - Engage PR.(Cindy Foley Appointed)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... ALAMEDA, CA: Cindy Foley has been named director of operations for Engage PR. She will oversee the non-PR functions of the company, such as financing HR responsibilities. Foley previously worked with IT consulting firm TechOne and software...

Next-gen DVD players mount marketing battle.
May 15, 2006... NEW YORK: The war over next-generation DVD standards invaded last week's E3 Electronic Entertainment Expo in LA. At present, Toshiba has the advantage of being the only manufacturer currently shipping a next-generation DVD player. The...

IPG hails its US PR firms.(sales and earnings of Interpublic Group of Companies Inc)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... NEW YORK: Although Interpublic Group's first quarter revenue of dollars 1.33 billion was virtually unchanged from the first quarter of 2005, PR was singled out as a positive force in the US. IPG CEO Michael Roth said The Constituency...

Critics call out telephone giants on privacy invasion.(information management of telecommunications industry)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... WASHINGTON: On the same day last week that USA Today reported that Verizon, BellSouth, and AT&T have been 'secretly' providing call records of millions of Americans to the National Security Agency (NSA), 72 members of Congress declared support...

Comms posts among cuts as Whirlpool nets Maytag.(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... BENTON HARBOR, MI: Communications positions are among the 4,500 Whirlpool will cut following its dollars 2.6 billion acquisition of Maytag. Karen Lynn, Maytag corporate communications VP, has already left after last month's merger. ...

Pac/West prepares oil exploration push for AK.(Pac/West Communications is preparing to build support for oil exploration )
May 15, 2006... WILSONVILLE, OR: Oregon-based public affairs firm Pac/West Communications is preparing its strategy for a targeted national campaign aiming to build support for oil exploration in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The effort will...

MWW Group taps Barrett for content creation team.(Larry Barrett joined MWW Group as a senior director and the first member of the agency's new content creation team)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ: Tech journalist Larry Barrett has joined MWW Group's San Francisco office as a senior director and the first member of the agency's new content creation team, a 'think tank' devoted to creating thought-leadership platforms...

News Brief: Bugatti Automobiles SAS hires JMPR Public Relations.(Bugatti Automobiles SAS hired JMPR Public Relations)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... WOODLAND HILLS, CA: Bugatti Automobiles SAS, a division of the VW Group and designer and manufacturer of the Bugatti Veyron supercar, has hired JMPR Public Relations to assist with the promotion of the dollars 1.3 million, 1,001-horsepower,...

News Brief: Lippe Taylor named AOR for Cetaphil.(Lippe Taylor appointed in Galderma Laboratories)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... NEW YORK: Lippe Taylor has been named as the AOR for Cetaphil, a skin care brand by Galderma Laboratories. Lippe Taylor will work to improve sales and membership to the Cetaphil Skin Care Club.

News Brief: Marcus & Co hired by Oracle Corp.(Marcus & Co has been hired by Oracle Corp)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... BOSTON: Marcus & Co. has been hired by Oracle Corp. to manage the judging process for the 2006 Oracle Titan North American Partner Awards, which recognize solutions and business practices developed during Oracle's 2006 fiscal year. Marcus & Co....

News Brief: Classic TV Media hires 5W Public Relations.(Classic TV Media hired 5W Public Relations )(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... NEW YORK: Classic TV Media, owner of the Lassie image, has hired 5W Public Relations to promote the iconic dog. The agency will provide media relations, strategic communications counsel, and marketing communications.

News Brief: Sloane & Co announces several account wins.(contracts of Sloane & Co)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... NEW YORK: Sloane & Co. announced several account wins over the past month. They include Panera Bread, Boston Private, Sagent Advisors, and Epoch Investment Partners. The agency has also opened a new office in Boston, headed by SVP John Hartz.

News Brief: MMG Mardiks retained by Midwest Airlines.(contracts)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... NEW YORK: MMG Mardiks has been retained by Midwest Airlines. The agency has been hired on a contract basis to support brand positioning through an ongoing PR effort aimed at consumers and stakeholders nationwide, as the airline expands beyond...

News Brief: DRP Group hired by Supply Chain Consultants.(DPR Group has been hired by Supply Chain Consultants)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... CARY, NC: DPR Group, a full-service technology-focused agency, has been hired by Supply Chain Consultants, a software and consulting company. DPR Group will work to boost market positioning and brand awareness in the chemical, food processing,...

News Brief: CTA Public Relations retained by Homeland Security.( CTA Public Relations retained by Homeland Security & Defense Corp)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... LOUISVILLE, CO: CTA Public Relations has been retained by Columbia, MD-based Homeland Security & Defense Corp. to design and produce a Web site, fully animated product demonstration, sales and marketing materials, trade show display and banner,...

News Brief: Trylon Communications has rebranded.(Trylon Communications changing its name to Trylon SMR )(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... NEW YORK: Trylon Communications has rebranded, changing its name to Trylon SMR (strategic media relations). Lloyd Trufelman, president, noted that the change is to emphasize the firm's expertise in media relations, particularly for clients in...

News Brief: Blackboard names Fleishman-Hillard as its AOR.(Fleishman-Hillard has been appointed in Blackboard)(Blackboard completed a merger with WebCT)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... WASHINGTON: Blackboard, a provider of e-software and services to the education industry, has named Fleishman-Hillard as its AOR. Fleishman will act as an extension of Blackboard's marketing team. Blackboard recently completed a merger with...

Wachovia, Golden West merger handled in-house.(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... CHARLOTTE, NC: Wachovia didn't hire a firm for its communications on its dollars 26 billion acquisition of Golden West Financial last week, the company said. Spokeswoman Christy Phillips said the transaction communications were handled...

Emusic retains Shore Fire.(Emusic has hired Bruce Springsteen's PR firm, Shore Fire Media)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... NEW YORK: Emusic, a subscription-based e-tailer of independent music, has hired Bruce Springsteen's PR firm, Shore Fire Media, to solidify its customer base and reach out to new users. Cathy Halgas Nevins, eMusic's senior director of...

Wag Ed realigns exec staff.(Reorganization and restructuring of Waggener Edstrom )(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... SEATTLE: Waggener Edstrom is reassigning duties after recently losing SVP John Taylor, GM of the Dallas and Austin, TX, offices, and Katie Kemp, EVP of the Asia-Pacific region and head of marketing and business development. Taylor left for...

Launch Pad: WBG banking on educational retail cafe to humanize image.(Advertising of Pangea)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... Company: The World Bank Group International Finance Corp.'s Grassroots Business Initiative Campaign: Pangea Cafe PR Team: IFC and Metropolitan Group, Washington Other marketing: Media outreach, events Launching: May 22 Budget:...

McDonald's, Disney set record straight on split.(divestments of McDonald's kids' meals and Disney films)
May 15, 2006... LOS ANGELES: After a decade-long relationship, McDonald's kids' meals and Disney films are parting ways. However, after reports last week that Disney wanted out because of childhood obesity issues, both companies are saying the reasons for the...

PR Play of the Week: Pocho uses baby talk to sting Dobbs.(public relations)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... Lou Dobbs, for one, is outraged. Lou Dobbs isn't gonna take this sitting down. Lou Dobbs is going to stand up for all Americans and demand what's his! A pacifier? That's what the host of the LA radio show Pocho's Hour of Power thinks would...

Analysis: Blogs struggle to get on IR pros' radar.(BloggingStocks.com)(investor relations)
May 15, 2006... Though not invisible, investment blogs need a market-moving event for IR pros to truly take note. BloggingStocks.com, an aptly-named AOL blog devoted to covering stocks, launched with a limited focus on eight public entities, including AOL...