PR Week (US) articles from November 2008

PR Week (US) archives from November 2008

Ketchum acquires tech specialist agency Access.(Ketchum Public Relations Worldwide Inc. acquired Access Communications (San Francisco, California))
November 3, 2008... SAN FRANCISCO: Global firm Ketchum has acquired San Francisco-based technology agency Access Communications. Access will continue to operate independently under its own name and will be led by its founder and CEO Susan Butenhoff. Butenhoff...

Hewlett-Packard to review firms for social media AOR.
November 3, 2008... PALO ALTO, CA: Tech giant Hewlett-Packard is reviewing firms to serve as its social and digital media agency, according to a senior source at the company. HP has not previously worked with an agency in this capacity, so there is no incumbent,...

CSC hires Ogilvy for first effort.
November 3, 2008... FALLS CHURCH, VA: CSC selected Ogilvy PR as its new AOR to help launch the global IT services and consulting company's first-ever branding campaign. More than a dozen firms initially pitched for the multi-year contract. Guy Nielsen, VP and...

Q3 earnings up, holding companies see tough '09.
November 3, 2008... NEW YORK: Holding companies Publicis Groupe, WPP, and The Interpublic Group (IPG), all reported positive third quarter earnings results last week, but they predicted a future softening due to the down economy. 'In this context, we believe...

BIO utilizes new CBS show to counter industry myths.
November 3, 2008... WASHINGTON: Biotechnology trade association BIO is using interest around CBS' new Eleventh Hour drama to tackle misinterpretations about its industry. The group launched a Web site, eleventhhourfacts.com, on October 15 to educate the...

News briefs: UnitedHealthcare prepare soft launch of educational campaign.
November 3, 2008... MINNETONKA, MN: UnitedHealthcare is preparing for the soft launch of an educational campaign that will target Hispanic seniors on November 4. The effort aims to educate Hispanic seniors and their caregivers about Medicare through the...

News briefs: Racepoint Group cutting 20% of staff.(Brief article)
November 3, 2008... WALTHAM, MA: Racepoint Group SVP Jackie Lustig confirmed a report by Mass High Tech that the agency is cutting 20% of its total staff of about 125. Lustig described the cuts as being 'across the board,' though the bulk of Racepoint's staff is...

News briefs: Study presented at the Health 2.0 conference.(Survey)(Brief article)
November 3, 2008... NEW YORK: In the Edelman Health Engagement Barometer, a first-time study that looked at how people want to interact with companies, organizations, and brands, 70% said it's increasingly important for companies and organizations in health to...

News briefs: Endace selects Weber Shandwick as global AOR.(Brief article)
November 3, 2008... NEW ZEALAND: Endace, a network monitoring solutions company, selected Weber Shandwick as global AOR. WS' London, New York, and San Francisco offices will provide strategic communications services for an integrated technology, corporate, and...

Concierge Direct selects Wall Street Communications for PR services.
November 3, 2008... SALT LAKE CITY: Concierge Direct, a custom-integrator of concierge systems for luxury hotels and condos, selected Wall Street Communications for PR services. The firm will raise awareness of Concierge Direct in US and Canadian trade media that...

Harnessing the Power of Blogs study.
November 3, 2008... SAN FRANCISCO: About 50% of respondents to a survey conducted by BuzzLogic and JupiterResearch said they find blogs useful for product or service pre-purchase information. The Harnessing the Power of Blogs study, released October 28, also found...

Correction.(Correction notice)
November 3, 2008... CORRECTION: The cover story last week on value-based efforts incorrectly stated that Kmart discontinued its layaway program in 2006 Kmart has offered layaway for 40 years, but stopped using PR and advertising to promote the program in 2006. It...

Health Info.
November 3, 2008... 39% People in the Edelman Health Engagement Barometer that actively seek or share health info. -------------------- Did you find this article useful? Why not subscribe to the magazine? Please call 08451 55 73 55 for more...

Trojan encourages youth to 'evolve' in Web effort.(Website overview)
November 3, 2008... PRINCETON, NJ: Church & Dwight Co.'s Trojan condom brand recently kicked off its largest online initiative, 'Evolve One, Evolve All,' in partnership with MTV Networks Digital Fusion. The condom maker hopes to provide young US consumers with an...

'OK' chooses Freud as AOR.
November 3, 2008... NEW YORK: OK magazine selected Freud Communications as AOR. The firm will focus on corporate positioning, media relations, and weekly publicity outreach. Freud is conducting media outreach for OK content and staff members, targeting...

Sharper Image taps Kwittken.
November 3, 2008... NEW YORK: The Sharper Image recently named Kwittken & Co. as its AOR to assist in the brand's relaunch. It recently filed for bankruptcy and was acquired by Hilco Consumer Capital, Gordon Brothers, and Bluestar Alliance. The retailer is...

Launch pad: PlantSense aims for amateur gardeners with new plant tool.(Red Consultancy)(Brief article)
November 3, 2008... Company: PlantSense Campaign: Site launch PR Team: Red Consultancy, San Francisco Launch: October 28 Budget: Undisclosed Idea: 'First, we wanted to launch it to the tech and influencer community in Silicon Valley,' said Alice Chan,...

Analysis: News Analysis - Internal comms is key amid financial crisis.
November 3, 2008... With news of bailouts and failures, experts tout reaffirming stability to employees and clients. News during the past month concerning bank failures, government bailouts, and global stock market lows have been accompanied by talk of...

Analysis: Newsmaker - Dakin dials up effort to curb the use of robocalls.
November 3, 2008... Shaun Dakin calls it his '15 minutes of fame,' but his foresight in creating a nonprofit last year devoted to adding automated political phone calls to the national, voluntary 'Do Not Call' registry is generating media attention lasting quite a...

Companies: Corporate Profile - Netflix benefits from measured approach.(Company overview)
November 3, 2008... Strategic relationships and reliance on metrics helps the company keep its membership strong. Last year, New York Times reporter Katie Hafner sent Netflix CEO Reed Hastings an e-mail commending him for a positive customer experience she...

Companies: The Agency Business - Internships help both parties reach their objectives.
November 3, 2008... Interns are expected to do many things for their organizations. They, in turn, expect an opportunity to learn. The best internships have always helped individuals learn new skills and consider future career paths while providing businesses...

Opinion: Editorial - Criticism of AIG hiring PR firm shows misperception.(AIG Life Insurance Co. appointed public relations firm Burson-Marsteller)(Editorial)
November 3, 2008... The announcement that insurance company AIG hired Burson-Marsteller for PR work brought out the critics, including the New York Post, which said the company was 'wasting money on a high-priced public relations firm.' But AIG isn't the only one...

Op-Ed: Clarity, honesty vital during volatility.(Survey)
November 3, 2008... With turmoil in financial markets, reverberations continue to spread throughout the economy. Volatility continues, its impact felt across industries around the world. As fortunes shift, companies need to communicate new priorities to...

Opinion: Comms offers fertile ground for candid discussion of vital issues.
November 3, 2008... In Detroit last week, I met with a number of PR pros at the PRSA International Conference. The crowd, estimated at just under 3,000, included educators, CEOs, top-level agency and corporate PR pros, and students who attended a PRSSA session...

Opinion: Lessons from Tuesday's election: confidence, consistency are key.(Column)
November 3, 2008... I'm going out on a ledge here, and writing this column two weeks before Election Day. There's a decent chance you're reading this after we know the identity of our next president. So if Sen. John McCain won the election, what follows won't hold...

Opinion: Factfile - Pitching difficulty increases in wake of newsroom layoffs.
November 3, 2008... In the news In recent weeks, newsroom layoffs at daily and weekly newspapers have seemingly increased throughout the US. Just last week the Los Angeles Times announced a plan to let 75 people go, which is 10% of its newsroom staff. In...

Media: Analysis - Polls drive news narratives to the election.
November 3, 2008... On the eve of a presidential election, polls, which, at press time, show Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) with a considerable lead over Republican Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) - heavily drive the election media narrative. Yet some...

Media: Journalist Q&A.
November 3, 2008... Name: Cable Neuhaus Title: Editorial director Outlet: Newsmax Preferred contact method: cablen@newsmax.com Web site: www.newsmax.com PRWeek: Since you've come on board, has the magazine broadened its reach in terms of coverage? ...

Media: Research: Mobile marketing messages.
November 3, 2008... CONDUCTED BY: HipCricket Sample: 517 respondents, via e-mail (August) Goal: To determine consumers' attitudes toward mobile marketing KEY FINDINGS 96% of respondents remembered a mobile message's call to action 37% of...

Media: Roundup - Radio emerges as a tech, personality topic.
November 3, 2008... For years, radio has taken a backseat to TV - and, more recently, the Internet - when it comes to obtaining press interest. Yet, thanks to the influence of political chat, as well as a host of new technologies, radio is re-emerging as a hot and...

Media: Criticalhit - 'NY Observer' serves boost to Levy.
November 3, 2008... Who is your client? What are its media goals? Danielle Pagano: Levy Restaurants is a food-service operator with nationwide (chain of) restaurants, as well as premium and general concessions at major sports venues. (Its) media goals are to...

Media: Media ups and downs.
November 3, 2008... - The AP announces it will cut member newspaper fees by about dollars 9 million next year, following a reduction of dollars 21 million announced earlier this year - The Huffington Post sees about 4.5 million visitors in September, a jump...

Media: Inside information - LinkedIn provides a channel for outreach, recruitment.
November 3, 2008... LinkedIn invitations are piling up in the inboxes of PR pros. Yet, the value of getting involved in this business-focused social networking site depends on the end goal. Krista Canfield, PR manager at LinkedIn, said pros can best optimize...

Feature: Instant connection.
November 3, 2008... Real-time communication tactics such as Twitter are providing technology-focused companies with a way to quickly address consumer concerns. Aarti Shah reports. When Frank Eliason joined Comcast last year, he didn't plan for his job as...

Market Focus: Public Affairs - Stimulating conversation.
November 3, 2008... This year, PRWeek will visit eight cities where an industry close to that respective region will be discussed. For each event, leading PR pros from a variety of agencies, companies, and nonprofit organizations gather for a roundtable discussion...

PR Technique: A relationship that works well both ways.
November 3, 2008... It is very important for Big Pharma to learn how to work well with patient advocacy groups, finds Tanya Lewis. Good relationships between advocacy groups and businesses can provide mutually beneficial outcomes. Positive relationships...

Campaigns: Modality taps into a new market.
November 3, 2008... Modality PR TEAM: Modality (Durham, NC) and Vault Communications (Plymouth Meeting, PA) CAMPAIGN: Modality iPod App Store Launch DURATION: May-October 2008 BUDGET: dollars 75,000 Apple's announcement this past spring that...

Mitchell International takes its marketing to the skies.
November 3, 2008... MITCHELL INT'L AIRPORT PR TEAM: General Mitchell International Airport (Milwaukee), Weiss & Co. (Milwaukee), and Harvest PR & Marketing (Portland, OR) CAMPAIGN: Fly Smart. Fly MKE.com DURATION: June 21-22, 2008 BUDGET: dollars...

St. Francis Winery aims for women with its 'Savvy Style'.
November 3, 2008... ST. FRANCIS WINERY PR TEAM: St. Francis Winery & Vineyard (Santa Rosa, CA) and Sharp Communications (New York) CAMPAIGN: Savvy Style... Entertaining with Wine DURATION: May-September 2008 BUDGET: dollars 50,000 St....

Toolbox: PRToolbox - Bolstering press releases, social media tips, and more.
November 3, 2008... Press releases - What can I do to expand the reach for my press release? 'Including search engine optimization and multimedia elements in your press release can generate more interaction with your target audience and make your release...

Careers: Expert Advice.(Brief article)
November 3, 2008... Jane Waldman, Kaplow director of recruitment How should I go about asking my employer for a raise if I believe I am worthy of receiving one?. A: Before asking for a raise, it is a good idea to assess whether your company is in a position...

Careers: People moves - Alcoa.
November 3, 2008... New York: Jack Bergen, VP of corporate affairs and marketing at Siemens, is leaving the company November 12 to join Alcoa, an aluminum producer based in Pittsburgh, where he will be the VP of corporate communications. He joined Siemens in 2001....

Careers: People moves - Dorland Global PR.
November 3, 2008... PHILADELPHIA: Camela Morrissey will join Dorland Global PR as president, effective November 10, replacing Nancy Bacher Long, who served as president since 1992. Morrissey will oversee the agency's PR in all three offices. She is a former SVP...

Careers: People moves - Tyco International.(appointment of Catherine Bennett)(Brief article)
November 3, 2008... NEW YORK: Tyco International appointed Catherine Bennett as VP of public affairs, leading the company's Washington office and overseeing state, federal, and international government affairs and public policy issues. Bennett succeeds Fruzsina...

Careers: People moves - FD.(appointment of Dan Dent )(Brief article)
November 3, 2008... BOSTON: FD hired Dan Dent to fill the MD and GM role in the agency's Boston office. He will provide senior counsel to new and existing clients in the technology sector. Dent has 20 years of PR experience, and most recently was VP at Blanc &...

Careers: People moves - Weber Shandwick.(appointment of Robert McFarlin)(Brief article)
November 3, 2008... MINNEAPOLIS: Robert McFarlin joined the Minneapolis-St. Paul office of Weber Shandwick as VP of the corporate, community, and public affairs practice. Previously, McFarlin was assistant commissioner for policy and public affairs at the...

Careers: People moves - United Rentals.(appointment of Fred Bratman)(Brief article)
November 3, 2008... GREENWICH, CT: Fred Bratman will join equipment rental company United Rentals as VP of corporate communications and IR, effective November 3. Bratman, who writes a monthly column for PRWeek, will leave his post as president of Hyde Park...

Careers: People moves - US Census Bureau.(appointment of Raul Cisneros )(Brief article)
November 3, 2008... WASHINGTON: The US Census Bureau named Raul Cisneros chief of the decennial media relations branch, in charge of the public affairs and media relations for the 2010 Census. Cisneros most recently was the Small Business Administration's deputy...

Bald billboards.
November 3, 2008... California residents went bald and became 'cranial billboards' for Air New Zealand on October 26, a campaign with AOR CRT/Tanaka that coincided with the airline's new 'Depart a Californian, Return a Kiwi' ad effort. Twenty-five men and women...

Obama administration to offer jobs, change for communicators.
November 10, 2008... WASHINGTON: The November 4 election, which transferred power of the executive branch to the Democratic party, will now lead to jockeying for political appointments in the communications sector, public affairs experts said. The Obama...

Pharmavite hires PN to lead brand comms.
November 10, 2008... NORTHRIDGE, CA: Pharmavite, maker of Nature Made vitamins and Soyjoy nutrition bars, named Porter Novelli its AOR after a procurement-led review. The work began October 13 and encompasses the Nature Made and Soyjoy brands, as well as...

Access to aid Toshiba push.
November 10, 2008... IRVINE, CA: Toshiba hired Access Communications as North American AOR for its digital products sector. Access was awarded the seven-figure account after a competitive review with two other agencies in the final round, according to sources...

Companies create efforts to capitalize on election.
November 10, 2008... NEW YORK: Diverse consumer-facing companies, ranging from Tropicana to Liberty Mutual, sought to tap the excitement running up to the presidential election by creating accompanying PR efforts. Liberty Mutual created a real-time,...

Thermos touts water usage with chemical-free product.
November 10, 2008... ROLLING MEADOWS, IL: Thermos launched a campaign called 'Hydration for All' on November 3 to educate consumers about the health benefits of drinking water and to promote its Intak, a new Bisphenol A (BPA)-free Thermos. The campaign...

InVentiv Communications reports increase.
November 10, 2008... SOMERSET, NJ: InVentiv Communications reported Q3 revenues of dollars 84.1 million, an increase of 14% from the dollars 73.8 million it posted during the same period in 2007. The segment, which includes Chamberlain Healthcare PR and Chandler...

BGR Holding acquires Westin Rinehart.(Brief article)
November 10, 2008... WASHINGTON: BGR Holding, a full-service government affairs and PR firm, acquired public affairs firm Westin Rinehart. Westin Rinehart was founded by Morris Reid, a former aide to commerce secretary Ron Brown Terms of the deal were not...

BeenVerified selects Atomic PR as AOR.
November 10, 2008... LOS ANGELES: BeenVerified, an online background checking service for businesses and individuals, selected Atomic PR as its AOR. Atomic will provide communications strategy; PR services in print, broadcast, and online media; and SEO, SEM, and...

FTI Consulting reports increase revenue.(Financial report)
November 10, 2008... WEST PALM BEACH, FL: FTI Consulting reported revenue for FD, its strategic communications division, increased by 24.3% to dollars 56.1 million for Q3 2008, compared to the same period in 2007. Overall, FTI saw a 28.5% increase in Q3 revenue to...

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide select NJFPR as AOR.
November 10, 2008... NEW YORK: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide chose Nancy J Friedman PR (NJFPR) as AOR for Element Hotels, its LEED-certified, flexible-stay plan hotels. NJFPR will focus on media relations and brand awareness. -------------------- ...

New clients for MS&L.(Goodmail Systems Inc.)(Brief article)
November 10, 2008... NEW YORK: MS&L is the AOR for two new clients. The firm will provide b-to-c and b-to-b media relations, influencer marketing, and stakeholder engagement for Goodmail. For Dolphin Digital, it will provide media relations, influencer marketing,...

Formulatin officially launched.
November 10, 2008... SAN DIEGO: Formula PR officially launched Formulatin, a new Hispanic division. Formulatin will be headquartered in New York and have five full-time bilingual and bicultural staffers. -------------------- Did you find this article...

PRIME Research and IBM partner.
November 10, 2008... LAS VEGAS: PRIME Research and IBM have partnered to launch PRIME web.Analysis, a real-time tool for monitoring and contextualizing Web-based news, blogs, and forums. This is a first partnership for PRIME. -------------------- Did you...

Trew selects SnL Communications as AOR.
November 10, 2008... LOS ANGELES: Trew, a snowboard outerwear company, hired SnL Communications as AOR beginning in late December. The agency will oversee PR efforts for the company, including a Trew Tour, where the company's owners will travel across the US and...

Rocket Racing League hires Makovsky & Co as AOR.
November 10, 2008... NEW YORK: Rocket Racing League, an entertainment sports league, hired Makovsky & Co. as AOR. Makovsky will handle traditional and social media relations services for the company. -------------------- Did you find this article useful?...

Gillette and EA Sports partner for global effort.(Electronic Arts Inc. EA Sports)(Brief article)
November 10, 2008... BOSTON: Proctor & Gamble's Gillette brand is partnering with EA Sports as part of a global marketing effort to promote the brand to male gamers from ages 18 to 34. Gillette is helping to host the Gillette-EA Sports Champions of Gaming...

Omnicom launches new firm.
November 10, 2008... NEW YORK: Omnicom Group launched a new agency based in New York that will focus on incorporating mobile communications into marketing plans and media strategy. The new firm, Mobile Behavior, will be managed by Fleishman-Hillard, but will...

Tecate touts its brand, boxing.
November 10, 2008... LAS VEGAS: Mexican beer company Tecate is upping its PR for the latest boxing match it is sponsoring along with fighter Oscar de la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions. Working with AOR Formulatin, a new Hispanic division of Formula PR, Tecate will...

Launch Pad: McDonald's encourages kids to take a minute and 'Move It'.
November 10, 2008... Company: McDonald's Campaign: One Minute to Move It PR Team: McDonald's and GolinHarris Launch: November 5 Budget: Undisclosed Idea: The campaign seeks to empower kids to make their own decisions on how best to utilize their time,...

News Analysis: Obama trumps McCain's outdated comms.
November 10, 2008... Experts credit Obama's social media tactics and consistent messaging as factors in his solid win. Barack Obama's solid victory as the next president of the US will likely be remembered as a landmark event in time. Yet, in addition to its...

Newsmaker: AMC's Apostolou gives 'Mad Men' crossover appeal.
November 10, 2008... Theano Apostolou believes she has the best job in entertainment right now. As VP of publicity, talent relations, and promotional events for AMC, including Emmy-winning Mad Men, many might agree. Apostolou got into PR as a 'happy accident,'...

Opinion: Election results solidify the multicultural market impact.(Brief article)
November 10, 2008... This year's election was historical for many reasons, most notably for the state of race relations in the US and for the impact that minorities had on November 4. When analyzing the results of the record number of votes cast this year, it...

Op-Ed: Metrics can protect your Web legacy.(Column)
November 10, 2008... In addition to PRWeek, I am also editorial director of DMNews, which focuses on direct marketing. During the last few months, I have fielded a number of odd requests. A few of the companies we cover have been undertaking search engine...

Op-Ed: The new president needs to connect.
November 10, 2008... How is it possible that - despite a series of high-profile statements and addresses by President Bush - financial markets continue to gyrate wildly, consumer confidence has gotten worse rather than better, and skepticism about the federal...

Opinion: Industry needs to make a better connection between digital, PR.
November 10, 2008... By now, few in the PR industry still need to be convinced of the power of digital marketing. Case studies from top companies and articles in PRWeek and other marketing trade publications have affirmed the crucial role digital can play in the...

Opinion: Disappearing act leads to a sour relationship with client and team.
November 10, 2008... You've just received an RFP for an exciting piece of new business. Industry and experience-wise, it's right up your alley, though you'll have to pull in key pitch team members from around your agency's office network to be competitive. You...

Factfile: Logo change provides unique opportunity to focus message.
November 10, 2008... In the news Several well-known brands have recently introduced new logos, including Starbucks and, more recently, Pepsi-Cola. The company unveiled its new 'smile' logo last month as part of a long-term effort to revamp brands like Pepsi...

Media: Analysis - Budget cuts push outlets to online efforts.
November 10, 2008... A 10% cut in the workforce at Rodale, publisher of Men's Health, Prevention, and Runner's World. A reported 600 job cuts at Time Inc., owner of Time, Sports Illustrated, and Fortune. Reductions in the frequency of Conde Nast titles Portfolio...

Media: Journalist Q&A - Eva Chen, Teen Vogue.
November 10, 2008... Name: Eva Chen Title: Beauty and health director Outlet: Teen Vogue Preferred contact method: eva_chen@condenast.com Web site: www.TeenVogue.com PRWeek: What are your current responsibilities at Teen Vogue? Eva Chen: Basically,...

Media: Research: Financial firms avoid digital mktg.(Survey)(Brief article)
November 10, 2008... Conducted by: MarketBridge and SourceMedia Sample: 237 financial services employees (Q3) Goal: To determine the use of digital marketing in finance KEY FINDINGS 90% say marketing is the key influencer over their digital strategy 35%...

Media Roundup: Pharma coverage struggles for positivity.
November 10, 2008... The public's obsession with health is big business for the pharmaceutical industry, and it's also driving media scrutiny over the sector. 'There is permanent, unyielding interest in healthcare and pharmaceutical stories,' notes Jim...

Media: Critical Hit - 'USA Today' revs up Ultra Motor sales.(Interview)(Brief article)
November 10, 2008... - Who is your client? What are its media goals? Danielle Ferris: Ultra Motor provides urban transportation solutions for the global market. (Its) media goals, in this case, were to build broad awareness for the US launch of (its) A2B...

Media: Ups and Downs.(Website overview)
November 10, 2008... The Washington Post announces that it will launch a new Web site and blog to cover the federal government and its transition to a new administration CNN reportedly tells various newspaper editors about its plans for a new wire service that...

Media: Inside Information - Facebook is a challenging tool for health campaigns.
November 10, 2008... Facebook is free, and it reaches millions of consumers, often broken down by group. Thus, it can give a healthcare PR campaign access to a targeted, niche audience. However, industry pros face a challenge using Facebook, in that it raises...

Market Focus: Leading by example.
November 10, 2008... In today's business world, a company's success depends on the ability of its senior executives to communicate with various audiences Nicole Zerillo reports. As is often the case in business, the ability of a company's senior leadership...