PR Week (US) articles from November 2005

PR Week (US) archives from November 2005

Rove's legal staff looks to Corallo for media support amid leak probe.(Karl Rove, Mark Corallo)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... WASHINGTON: Karl Rove's legal team has turned to Mark Corallo, former US Department of Justice public affairs director, for media strategies and communications support in response to special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald's CIA leak investigation....

Kwittken to exit top post at Magnet, pursue client work.
November 7, 2005... NEW YORK: Aaron Kwittken, the youngest CEO of a major PR firm, announced his intention to leave his post at Euro RSCG Magnet last week, citing his desire to return to client work. Kwittken said he gave Magnet notification in early October...

2005 CEO Survey reveals stakeholder comms up, but blog use low.
November 7, 2005... NEW YORK: Blogs are all the rage, but few CEOs are writing their own or plan to any time soon. Meanwhile, increasing communication with most stakeholders, including customers, staff, and government agencies, continues to be a priority. ...

Google bolsters its DC ties by handing Schrage job as VP.(Elliot Schrage appointed, vice president, Washington D.C.)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA: Elliot Schrage has joined Google as VP of global communications and public affairs, furthering the company's Washington aspirations. He will report to CEO Eric Schmidt. Schrage was previously with the New York-based...

White House expanding PR roles for Alito nomination.
November 7, 2005... WASHINGTON: The White House once again has tapped political strategist Ed Gillespie, co-chairman of Quinn Gillespie & Associates, to help President Bush's latest Supreme Court nominee, Samuel Alito, win confirmation in the Senate. But...

Bacon's purchases Multivision for dollars 25m.
November 7, 2005... CHICAGO: Bacon's Information, owned by Sweden-based Observer Group, has acquired broadcast-monitoring company Multivision in a dollars 25 million deal. Multivision will now be known as Bacon's Multivision. Babak Farahi, Multivision's CEO,...

Business Wire caught in middle of new SEC lawsuit.(Securities and Exchange Commission alleges Lohmus Haavel and Viisemann of insider trading)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO: A breach in the back-end of Business Wire's (BW) systems has drawn the company into a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lawsuit that charges an Estonian financial services firm with insider trading. The SEC complaint...

Marshall set to run corporate comms unit at Korn Ferry.
November 7, 2005... NEW YORK: Korn/Ferry International has lured The Home Depot's Richard Marshall to head the executive search firm's corporate communications practice. Marshall, Home Depot's corporate communications VP since 2001, will replace Bob Woodrum,...

News Brief: Miller president and COO.
November 7, 2005... LOS ANGELES: Dawn Miller will become the new president and COO of Levine Communications Office (LCO). She will replace Michael Levine, who has served at the helm for over 22 years. See full story at PRWeek.com.

News Brief: Strategic partnership formed.
November 7, 2005... WASHINGTON and TALLAHASSEE, FL: Fleishman-Hillard and Smith & Ballard, a government relations and public affairs consultancy in Florida, have formed a strategic partnership to provide a full range of government, public affairs, and PR services...

News Brief: Sluzewski VP.
November 7, 2005... CINCINNATI: Federated Department Stores has named Jim Sluzewski VP of corporate communications and external affairs, effective December 1. Sluzewski sold his agency Public Relations Partners to Northlich Public Relations last week for an...

News Brief: Merlot Marketing selected.
November 7, 2005... SACRAMENTO, CA: Perlick Corp. has selected Merlot Marketing to develop a national campaign highlighting the company's line of refrigeration and bar equipment for the home.

News Brief: Antoinette Fitapelli hired.
November 7, 2005... NEW YORK: MWW Group has hired Antoinette Fitapelli as VP of the firm's consumer lifestyle marketing practice. Most recently, she served as head and founding partner of fashion boutique agency DFPR Group.

News Brief: Gray appointed.
November 7, 2005... PROVIDENCE, RI: Advertising Ventures has hired Tim Gray as director of PR. Gray joins from the Autism Project of Rhode Island, where he served as director of community outreach.

News Brief: HWH PR/New Media selected.
November 7, 2005... NEW YORK: Vocel, a wireless company, has selected HWH PR/New Media to lead a national campaign promoting its interactive applications for mobile phones, focusing on premium information content.

News Brief: CIPA chooses AOR.
November 7, 2005... TORONTO: High Road Communications has been tapped by the Canadian Information Productivity Awards (CIPA) as its AOR. Working closely with the CIPA, High Road will help raise awareness of the awards program to organizations across Canada.

News Brief: Formula campaign.
November 7, 2005... SAN DIEGO: Moxie Interactive, a digital marketing and advertising solutions provider, has tapped Formula, a national PR boutique, to launch a media relations campaign to help grow the group's national presence.

News Brief: DViOptix names AOR.
November 7, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO: DViOptix, a Fremont, CA-based developer and manufacturer of non-invasive local-tissue oxygen-measuring devices, has named Gibbs & Soell Public Relations its AOR.

News Brief: Weber Shandwick selected.
November 7, 2005... PORTLAND, OR: StalkMarket, which makes sugar-cane-fiber disposable tableware and food packaging, has selected Weber Shandwick for PR services. The company makes plates, serving trays, and sandwich boxes that break down completely in six to nine...

News Brief: Brown promoted.
November 7, 2005... SUNNYVALE, CA: Network Appliance has promoted Eric Brown to senior director of worldwide PR. Brown has led the company's PR program for the past five years.

News Brief: Dean Pagani VP.
November 7, 2005... GLASTONBURY, CT: Dean Pagani has been named VP of public affairs for Cashman & Katz Integrated Communications. Most recently, Dean was director of communications and marketing at the Capital City Economic Development Authority.

News Brief: Trylon AOR.
November 7, 2005... NEW YORK: UniPrivacy has selected Trylon Communications as its AOR. The San Francisco-based company creates and markets subscription privacy services for individuals, with an emphasis on the threats to privacy posed by the internet.

News Brief: Word Of Mouth retained.
November 7, 2005... TORONTO: Lenz Entertainment, an independent television and music production company, has retained publicity firm Word Of Mouth PR to develop and implement several national publicity campaigns for the company's growing list of television and...

Sam's Club hires Ogilvy to provide boost to its brand.
November 7, 2005... CHICAGO: Sam's Club, the Wal-Mart-affiliated warehouse retailer, has selected Ogilvy as its AOR. The contract was announced last week, following a competitive RFP. Ogilvy said that it beat out Edelman and Hill & Knowlton for the task,...

Both sides of DTC debate rally while FDA holds panels.(direct-to-consumer advertising)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... WASHINGTON: As the Food and Drug Administration holds public hearings on the future of direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising, groups with a stake in the process are working to make their views heard. 'DTC has to figure out what it wants to...

Times has yet to make good on old promises.
November 7, 2005... NEW YORK: With the Judy Miller/CIA leak fiasco playing out in headlines and blogs across the country, The New York Times is once again acknowledging fundamental journalistic oversights and pledging change. But a review of recommendations to...

The battle over Wal-Mart's reputation enters theaters.
November 7, 2005... BENTONVILLE, AR: Wal-Mart's corporate reputation is going to the movies. The giant retailer is testing its newfound strategy of proactively engaging its critics on a movie, Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price, which premiered in New York...

AHA taps Edelman to take Go Red effort to next level.(American Heart Association contracts Edelman Public Relations Worldwide)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... DALLAS: The American Heart Association (AHA) has chosen Edelman for its Go Red for Women campaign. Edelman bested 12 agencies for the business. The firm will oversee branding, media, events, promotions, and online marketing efforts. The...

WPP reports 17% PR growth as part of overall Q3 jump.
November 7, 2005... LONDON: The WPP Group's revenues jumped 26% in the third quarter to nearly dollars 2.4 billion. Organic revenue growth, which factors out acquisitions and currency changes, was about 5% in the quarter. The PR and public affairs sector...

Breaking stories on prweek.com.(Advanced Cell Technology Inc. plans for a public relation campaign)(Mars Inc. contracts Weber Shandwick)(Halliburton Co. appoints Wendy Hall)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... Promoting Healthy Candy Mars Inc. uses Weber Shandwick to unveil its new health-food chocolate bar Advanced Cell Tech. rethinks PR Amid discovery that embryonic stem cells can be retrieved without destroying the embryo ...

Edelman, M&C Saatchi win dollars 3m NM tourism business.
November 7, 2005... SANTA FE, NM: Edelman and advertising agency M&C Saatchi have won a dollars 3 million account to brand New Mexico and promote tourism. Although the state has previously worked with ad agencies, this is the first time Gov. Bill Richardson...

NFL's 49ers select Lang to head their PA, local outreach.
November 7, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO: The San Francisco 49ers have hired Lisa Lang as the team's VP of communications, a new position. Lang is one of two key communications hires for the NFL team this year. In July, Aaron Salkin joined as PR director,...

Quigley to educate seniors on OTC risks.
November 7, 2005... NEW YORK: Quigley Corp., maker of Cold-Eeze zinc lozenges, is partnering with the National Council on the Aging (NCOA) on a campaign to educate seniors about the potential dangers of over-the-counter drugs. The educational campaign will...

PR experts back think tank on media tools.
November 7, 2005... PALO ALTO, CA: A distinguished litany of international PR experts are throwing their weight behind a new think tank focusing on new media, the Society for New Communications Research (SNCR). Founded by Jennifer McClure, a 20-year...

Israeli news entity seeks firm to buoy profile in America.
November 7, 2005... JERUSALEM: The Media Line (TML), an Israeli news organization that specializes in distributing 'unfiltered' news about the region to a global audience, is seeking a PR firm that can help boost its brand in the US. The nonprofit news group,...

Drug office kicks off new brand for teens.
November 7, 2005... WASHINGTON: The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) last week unveiled a new brand that will communicate its antidrug message to teenagers. The 'Above the Influence' brand replaces the tagline 'What's your antidrug?' The...

Qwest comms VP departs for same post at Donnelley.
November 7, 2005... CARY, NC: Tyler Gronbach has left Qwest Communications for a VP of corporate communications post with R.H. Donnelley, the Yellow Pages and online local search company. The title, identical to the one he held at Qwest, is a new one at...

B. Smith Enterprises chooses Westin Rinehart for global AOR post.(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... NEW YORK: B. Smith Enterprises has appointed Westin Rinehart as its global branding AOR. Headed by former fashion model B. Smith, the company has several successful ventures in the food, clothing, jewelry, and home-furnishing arenas. ...

Biogen Idec taps Wag Ed to tout its psoriasis offering.
November 7, 2005... CAMBRIDGE, MA: Drug company Biogen Idec has hired Waggener Edstrom to support outreach for psoriasis drug Amevive. The agency won the account after a competitive pitch. Terms were not disclosed. Amevive competes in a crowded market...

Mistrust of drug trials rises due to coverage of recalls.
November 7, 2005... BOSTON: Media coverage of drug withdrawals over the past year has made the public warier of clinical trial participation, according to a study by a group that promotes clinical trial awareness and education. The nonprofit Center for...

Online travel firm Expedia fills new VP of comms job.
November 7, 2005... BELLEVUE, WA: Wendy Grover has joined newly public online travel company Expedia as VP of corporate communications, a new position. Expedia spun off from parent company IAC earlier this year. Grover said she wants to build the brand among...

Semiconductor manufacturer hands its global account to Ogilvy PR.
November 7, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO: Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide picked up another global account last month when Silicon Image, a manufacturer of semiconductors, selected the WPP firm as its AOR. Ogilvy will focus largely on the North American and Asian...

Speaker company pegs CRT Tanaka agency of record.
November 7, 2005... RICHMOND, VA: Altec Lansing Technologies has tapped CRT/Tanaka as its AOR, the first account win for the newly merged PR firm. Altec manufactures consumer and professional speaker systems, including inMotion portable speakers for personal...

MN Vikings owner looks to repair fans' image of team.(New Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... MINNEAPOLIS: New Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf is trying to make up for the team's sluggish start to the football season and allegations of sexual misconduct among players with a series of apologetic gestures aimed at fans. On October...

Outdoor-sporting trade show hires Mullen for AOR job.
November 7, 2005... CHANTILLY, VA: Outdoor Retailer, an outdoor-sporting industry trade show, has tapped Mullen Public Relations as its AOR. The trade show, held twice a year in Salt Lake City, attracts more than 37,000 attendees from throughout the industry....

Editorial: The relevance of web exclusives must not be undervalued by those pitching stories.(Editorial)
November 7, 2005... Digital cameras are now ubiquitous, which makes sense because they take great pictures and are wonderfully efficient. But while I am no slouch in the electronics-adoption stakes, I have stuck to my standard 35mm camera, even though it means I...

Op-Ed: Note to corporate bloggers - The truth shall set you free.
November 7, 2005... For brands the world over, blogs and other forms of new media have become the equivalent of nuclear fission. What to do with this wondrous source of energy? Use it as an alternative source to reach the new word-of-mouth culture? Or exploit it...

Analysis: Media and Government - Smith criticism fuels debate on media's role in terrorism.(Dorrance Smith accuses media outlets of aiding terrorism)
November 7, 2005... After the Pentagon's nominee to direct public affairs voices his concerns, many question whether media aid terrorists by airing their messages. When Dorrance Smith accused US media outlets of aiding and abetting terrorism, he touched a...

Dangillmor: 'Forbes' piece makes some good points, but blogs overall should not incite fear, loathing.
November 7, 2005... The blogging backlash is under way. Pay attention, but don't get the wrong message. Recent articles in prominent publications, including a Forbes cover story called 'Attack of the Blogs,' have held the practice up to harsh scrutiny. A...

Analysis: Corporate Case Study - Vonage proves its worth after Hurricane Katrina.
November 7, 2005... Vonage, a voice-over internet protocol phone service provider, takes a leadership position in its market by showcasing the technology's value - even in the face of Hurricane Katrina. Chris Daniels reports. It wound up taking a natural...

Analysis: The Agency Business - Virtual status offers firms geographic, economic benefits.
November 7, 2005... 'Bricks and clicks' virtual agencies are becoming attractive business models for PR pros who like the flexibility in location and staff recruitment that such online enterprises provide. Though lacking the physical assets of traditional PR...

Media Roundup: Small daily papers retain influence.
November 7, 2005... Despite their limited circulations, small-market dailies provide fertile ground for PR pros looking to gain in-depth local coverage or reach diverse audiences. The unrelenting residential sprawl occurring in many parts of the country is...

Media: Journalist Q & A - Bill Carey.(Interview)
November 7, 2005... Publication: News 10 Now Title: Senior reporter and field anchor Preferred contact method: bill.carey@news10now.com Website: www.news10now.com Time Warner launched the local news station in November 2003, making it one of eight in a...

Media Watch: Media commends retiring Greenspan.(Federal Reserve Board's Alan Greenspan )(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... After more than 18 years serving as chairman of the Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan will retire on January 31, 2006 from the most powerful banking job in the world. Greenspan has overseen a national finance policy that many believe was...

Media: Inside The Mix - If predictions hold true, consumers in future will need to tap into creativity over privacy.
November 7, 2005... Creativity isn't just a fuzzy concept; it's a tangible driver of the British economy, according to the UK's chancellor of the exchequer, Gordon Brown. In the most recent UK budget this past spring, Brown stated that the creative industries were...

Profile: Roth's efforts continue to earn pharma industry's trust.(Michael Roth )(Biography)
November 7, 2005... As a partner at BMC Communications and the outgoing chairman of the PRSA Health Academy, Michael Roth works to foster an inclusive, relevant, and trustworthy healthcare industry. Healthcare PR is a diverse and multifaceted field, but a few...

Market Focus: CEO Comms Relationships - The outside edge.
November 7, 2005... PR counsel from external sources gives CEOs a new perspective on business. CEOs are a picky bunch by nature. They have to be. When the fate of a company can rest, in part, on the ability to charm the press, inspire employees, and woo...

PR Technique: Audience Research - Channeling the right tools to reach your target.
November 7, 2005... Many services can tell you what stations and shows people tune into. Craig McGuire discovers how to best use the tools to ensure your message doesn't fall on deaf ears. Anchoring your radio or broadcast campaign placement strategy on...

Campaign: Happy Tails drives support for dogs serving overseas - Fundraising.
November 7, 2005... PR team: Happy Tails Dog Spa (Tysons Corner, VA) and Jaffe Communications (Cranford, NJ) Campaign: Lapping up Support Time frame: July to September 2005 Budget: dollars 1,235 When CEO Amy Nichols read about the overseas military...

Campaign: Widespread press push helps Bluefly tout its new focus - Repositioning.(Bluefly Inc. contracts RLM Public Relations )
November 7, 2005... PR team: Bluefly.com and RLM Public Relations (both New York) Campaign: Bluefly Repositioning Campaign Time frame: April to October 2005 Budget: dollars 72,500 CEO Melissa Payner realized the company needed to educate the media and...

Campaign: Apple Core Hotels lures families with grandparent deal - Consumer Outreach.
November 7, 2005... PR team: Apple Core Hotels and Nancy J. Friedman PR (both New York) Campaign: Take the Grandkids, Leave the Parents Time frame: July 2005 Budget: dollars 8,125 To convince families to abandon the beach and brave the city, Apple Core...

The Publicist: If the greeting is not friendly, kiss your PR hopes good-bye.
November 7, 2005... On a recent trip from New York to Florida, I stayed at a gorgeous hotel in Charleston, SC, where I was reminded of something that many businesses too often neglect: The first, and perhaps most vital, detail of retail PR begins with the person...

PR Play of the Week: Indiana school gags on its media ban.
November 7, 2005... There are few elements on Earth more excitable than college students and journalists (maybe uranium), so if you do not currently have one on your case, best not to tempt fate. This should be obvious enough to anyone who runs a college in...

Toy Box: Unotron will clean up with messy types.(Unotron Washable Keyboard )(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 7, 2005... If you're like us, you eat your lunch at your desk. Also breakfast and occasionally dinner. So any product that helps meal-proof your workspace is a welcome invention. The Unotron Washable Keyboard virtually dares you to knock over that...

Book Review: 'Simple Secrets' to successful comms.(10 Simple Secrets of the World's Greatest Business Communicators )(Brief Article)(Book Review)
November 7, 2005... Title: 10 Simple Secrets of the World's Greatest Business Communicators Author: Carmine Gallo Publisher: Sourcebooks (May 2005), 288 pages Reviewed by: Andrew Gordon The tone is straightforward and simple, though the language and...

Business leaders view PR more favorably than public, survey finds.
November 14, 2005... NEW YORK: The business leaders most familiar with PR professionals are more likely than congressional staffers and the general public to view the industry favorably, according to a new survey by Harris Interactive and the PRSA. The...

Popeyes, KFC forge plans in case of bird flu outbreak.
November 14, 2005... NEW YORK: Bird flu fears and misconceptions have some of America's largest chicken retailers quietly preparing for a widespread crisis response in the US. Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits has hired two agencies as crisis management and media...

New PRWeek.com enters final week of ungated status.(Brief Article)
November 14, 2005... NEW YORK: The newly designed PRWeek.com, launched on September 26, will once again be password protected, starting November 21. The site had been ungated to allow unfettered access to the full range of options. New features include RSS...

Edelman ad unit helps oil group portray problems despite profits.
November 14, 2005... WASHINGTON: Edelman is working with the American Petroleum Institute (API), the oil industry's primary lobbying group, on a public issues campaign aimed at convincing Americans that the industry is facing severe challenges, even as its members...

Grand Central Terminal in NY names DKC its lead firm.
November 14, 2005... NEW YORK: Grand Central Terminal, New York City's most visible transportation hub, has hired Dan Klores Communications as its AOR. The terminal, which is controlled by New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority, is hoping to transform...

Fleishman opens consulting business.
November 14, 2005... NEW YORK: Fleishman-Hillard has launched Communications Consulting Worldwide (CCW), a measurement-based consulting business. The venture is the result of a two-year investment by the firm and input from Paul Argenti, professor of corporate...

Kodak sets out on gallery tour to tout wi-fi camera.
November 14, 2005... NEW YORK and SAN FRANCISCO: Kodak has developed a new way for consumers to view its latest innovation. Kodak's new product, the EasyShare-One wi-fi digital camera, allows users to e-mail pictures directly from the camera. Kodak is hoping...

Party City selects Stanton for job as agency of record.(Stanton Communications)(Brief Article)
November 14, 2005... NEW YORK: Party City, a party-supply retailer with more than 500 stores, has chosen Stanton Communications as its AOR. 'We were meticulous about finding the best partner,' said Melinda Behrens, VP of product development for Party City,...

News Brief: Cushman & Wakefield promotes Philip Russo.
November 14, 2005... NEW YORK: Cushman & Wakefield, a privately held real-estate services firm, has promoted Philip Russo to senior MD and chief of staff, media and corporate affairs. He has been with the firm since 2000. In his new position, Russo will oversee...

News Brief: SHIFT Communications selects RSA Conference.
November 14, 2005... WATERTOWN, MA: SHIFT Communications, an independent firm, has been selected by RSA Conference to promote the company's expanding series of events and online resources. The RSA Conference brings together decision-makers and influencers from...

News Brief: Christina Enterprises retains Raker Goldstein & Co.
November 14, 2005... PHILADELPHIA: Christina Enterprises has retained Raker Goldstein & Co. to represent Christina Pirello, the author and Regional Emmy Award-winning PBS host of Christina Cooks.

News Brief: Luquire George Andrews appoints Colleen Brannan.
November 14, 2005... CHARLOTTE, NC: Luquire George Andrews (LGA), a full-service advertising, marketing, and PR agency, has appointed Colleen Brannan as SVP and director of PR Prior to joining LGA, Brannan was VP of PR at Mullen in Winston-Salem, NC.

News Brief: University Settlement hires 5W Public Relations.
November 14, 2005... NEW YORK: University Settlement, a New York-based social service group that works from within the community to buoy the lives of individuals, families, and the community, has hired 5W Public Relations as its AOR.

News Brief: North American Jaguar and Land Rover appoint ASG Renaissance.
November 14, 2005... IRVINE, CA: North American Jaguar and Land Rover have appointed ASG Renaissance (ASG) its communications AOR following an annual review. This is the first time Jaguar and Land Rover have awarded all communications support to one agency. ASG has...

News Brief: Tina Ruggiero accepts position at University of Chicago.
November 14, 2005... CHICAGO: Tina Ruggiero, director of Burson-Marsteller's brand marketing practice, has just accepted a position as an adjunct professor teaching PR at the University of Chicago. She has been appointed adjunct instructor, Graham School of General...

News Brief: David Schull tapped to lead West Coast office.
November 14, 2005... SAN DIEGO: David Schull has been tapped to lead the West Coast office Euro RSCG Life Public Relations, where he will serve as SVP and MD. He was previously SVP at Thorp & Co.

News Brief: Ogilvy PR Worldwide hires Linda Weinberg.
November 14, 2005... WASHINGTON: Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide has hired Linda Weinberg as SVP, homeland security group, and Bryan Callahan as VP, social marketing. Weinberg joins Ogilvy from the American Institutes for Research's Health Program, where she...

News Brief: Velocity Sport Performance retains HLD/Blankman PR.
November 14, 2005... ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY: Velocity Sport Performance has retained HLD/Blankman Public Relations, the PR arm of Harrison Leifer DiMarco, to help build awareness of the chain's growing Long Island, NY locations.

News Brief: Andy Morris & Co changes its name.
November 14, 2005... NEW YORK: Andy Morris & Co. has changed its name to The Morris & King Co. (MKC) to reflect the contributions of both co-founders to the four-year old company. It also marks a broadening of the firm's services beyond traditional PR disciplines.