PR Week (UK) articles from August 2008

PR Week (UK) archives from August 2008

British youngsters to get much-needed makeover.
August 1, 2008... Prince's charity plans comms offensive to overhaul negative perceptions of youth. The BBC and YouTube have been asked to play a key role in a PR campaign to give British youth a makeover. Prince Charles' charity The Prince's Trust is...

Cracknell to open agency.(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... David Cracknell, the former Sunday Times political editor who recently quit as chairman of lobbying firm FD-LLM, is setting up his own PR agency. Cracknell told PRWeek the new shop would be called Big Tent Communications. He has already...

The Week.
August 1, 2008... - Press Gazette is moving from a weekly to a monthly publication, possibly as early as September, sources close to the Wilmington-owned magazine have revealed. - The Television Consultancy, a broadcast and digital PR specialist, has been...

Standard Chartered looks to CSR future.
August 1, 2008... Standard Chartered, one of the top 25 companies on the FTSE 100, has dished out a wide-ranging international CSR brief as it looks to stress its ethical credentials. Euro RSCG Biss Lancaster has been called in by the bank, which has a...

Dutch giant hires Aspect.
August 1, 2008... AkzoNobel, the world's largest paints firm, which earlier this year bought ICI, has brought in Aspect for a corporate brief. The Dutch company, which now owns household brands Dulux and Cuprinol, wants to increase its UK presence after its...

Few takers for No. 10 job.(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Downing Street's attempts to find a new chief speechwriter for Gordon Brown have fallen flat with only a handful of applicants for the job, according to well-placed sources. Some weeks ago, PRWeek revealed that Downing Street permanent...

Up in smoke.
August 1, 2008... North Somerset Council was this week poised to hold a crisis meeting to discuss its PR and marketing after the devastating fire on Weston-super-Mare's Grand Pier. Council leaders were to meet tourism agencies and English Heritage as PRWeek went...

Freud lands anti-obesity brief.
August 1, 2008... Government's appointment of Freud sparks questions over links with food brands. The Government has sparked controversy by choosing Freud Communications - whose clients include Nestle, PepsiCo and KFC - to promote a major anti-obesity...

Agency faces tough task getting people to alter diet.
August 1, 2008... DH says campaign is not about 'finger-wagging' but about providing information. Freud Communications will have its work cut out persuading people to change their diets, warn public sector PROs. Geronimo MD Laura Oliphant said the...

Cough sweet changes tack.(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Fisherman's Friend, sweet of choice for the pipe-smoking seafarer, is formulating plans for a PR drive to appeal to a younger generation. Food and drink specialist Richmond Towers Communications has been called in for the PR offensive,...

Oxfam turns to WS to update image.(Weber Shandwick appointed as public relation officer)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Oxfam has appointed Weber Shandwick as its retained PR agency in a move that the charity hopes will help reinvigorate its engagement with the British public. Weber Shandwick is providing strategic consultancy to help Oxfam retain its...

Times man's 'sniffy' book.
August 1, 2008... The editor of The Times displays a 'rather sniffy attitude' to the PR industry in his hotly anticipated new book on global spin, according to one agency boss who has already read the title. James Harding's Alpha Dogs focuses on the US...

Barron lifts lid on shock Google move.(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Newsnight editor Peter Barron has explained the reasons behind his surprise move to Google, where he has been appointed UK head of comms and public affairs this week. Barron will join the search engine giant in September, replacing DJ...

Tenerife bid to shed 'fly and flop' image.
August 1, 2008... The Tenerife Tourism Corporation has taken on PR support to promote the Spanish island as more than just a beach holiday destination. Hume Whitehead will work with the tourism body to relaunch Tenerife, specifically targeting golfers,...

Healthcare: On the Agenda - Alzheimer's hits headlines again.
August 1, 2008... - In a nutshell First it was reported that a US study has found blood pressure drugs can dramatically cut the risk of Alzheimer's. The angiotensin receptor blockers prevent the disease occurring and slow its progression. Then came the news...

Healthcare: Facebook used to find trial volunteers.
August 1, 2008... Pharma firms are asking healthcare PR agencies to be more innovative as the industry faces a dearth of clinical trial recruits. Drug companies are increasingly turning online to Facebook and blogs to promote the benefits of being involved...

Healthcare: The Week in Healthcare.
August 1, 2008... - Pegasus PR team boost Pegasus PR, the Brighton-based agency, has bolstered its senior team with the appointment of Stuart Hehir as creative director. He takes up the newly created position from his role as head of consumer at Chameleon...

Public Affairs: Mayor called on to revise APPC stance.
August 1, 2008... London mayor Boris Johnson has been urged to overhaul his predecessor Ken Livingstone's approach to using public affairs agencies. Livingstone last year pledged that City Hall would only use agencies that do not demonstrate 'adherence to...

Public Affairs: Top lobbyist for Ketchum.
August 1, 2008... Ketchum has snared the top lobbyist at the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) to join its expanding public affairs team. Allison Bartlett will step down as head of government affairs at the ABPI after six years. She...

Public Affairs: The Week in Lobbying.
August 1, 2008... - Burson Marsteller has snared one of the Conservative Party's top media handlers. Edward Staite has joined the agency's lobbying practice after seven years with the Tories. Staite's most recent role at Conservative Party HQ was head of...

Public Affairs: Lobbying Target - Chris Grayling, shadow work and pensions secretary.
August 1, 2008... As most politicians head off on holiday, former PR man Grayling is staying in Westminster to handle the Tory summer media offensive. This week, Grayling was trailing plans to tackle inequality in 'Britain's divided cities'. - Ten second...

City & Corporate: Customers failed by energy firms.
August 1, 2008... Energy companies are failing to communicate incentives and should do more to make customers feel comfortable with price rises, according to some leading PR experts. Widespread fears of spiralling energy costs were confirmed on Friday when...

City & Corporate: The Week in City & Corporate.
August 1, 2008... - Octopus to build Dun & Bradstreet's UK profile, Bank of Scotland completes Iris deal. Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) has brought in Octopus on a corporate brief. The credit report firm wants to build its profile in the UK, which is relatively...

City & Corporate: In the News... Ryanair.
August 1, 2008... - Bring us up to speed The company that boasts the most aggressive PR in the sky, Irish airline Ryanair, announced this week that it had suffered a 85 per cent fall in first-quarter net profits thanks to rising fuel prices. The company...

City & Corporate: Brazilian focus for GA.(Comunicacao S/A)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Gavin Anderson has inked its first affiliation agreement with a company from Brazil. Comunicacao S/A, in Sao Paulo, is one of the world's fastest growing economic centres and advises on media relations and crisis management. 'Brazil...

City & Corporate: Changes ahead for modern CEOs.
August 1, 2008... Charles Handy, the management guru, once said that in business, leadership is about creating a vision that gives a point to the work of others - which seemed a pretty shrewd analysis of what it is and why it is so rare. Then the other day...

Voluntary Sector: The Week in Charities.
August 1, 2008... - The Children's Society head of media Richard Johnson is standing down after four years. He will join the world governing body for equestrian sport Federation equestre Internationale as director of comms in September, based in Lausanne. -...

Voluntary Sector: 'Expose backers of Burma'.
August 1, 2008... Insurance employees urged to denounce companies with links to military regime. The Burma Campaign UK has begun a PR offensive to encourage insurance industry employees to blow the whistle on companies with links to Burma. The...

Voluntary Sector: Taking action... Anti-knife crime campaigners vs Facebook/Slide.(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Protesters: Anti-knife crime campaigners Target: Facebook/Slide Date: Sunday, 27 July The uncle of murdered Harry Potter actor Rob Knox condemned an application on Facebook that allowed members to virtually stab each other. He told...

Technology: 'Google style' engine asks Rainier for help.(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Search index technology company Sinequa has hired Rainier PR to increase awareness of its simple approach to accessing information. Traditionally, the only way for large global companies to retrieve vast amounts of in-house data was to use...

Technology: E4 brings in Hot Cherry.(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... E4.com has signed up digital specialist Hot Cherry to promote its involvement in this year's Golden Joystick Awards. The online entertainment zone is sponsoring a new category that gives entrants the chance to win pounds 5,000 and a golden...

Technology: Best of the tech blogs.
August 1, 2008... - Blogger = journalist Posted by Simon Collister www.simoncollister.typepad.com/simonsays 28 July As an addendum to PRWeek's news last week that John McCain is reaching out to right-wing UK bloggers, Staniforth and LabourHome...

Technology: The Week in Technology.
August 1, 2008... Social media classes at Edelman Chameleon PR's consumer division, headed up by Hannah Middleton, has won the brief to support the launch of MPORA.TV, 'Europe's biggest online action sports channel'. Chameleon PR will be supporting the...

Public Sector: Campaign breakdown - My Money.(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Agency: Blue Rubicon Client: Department for Children, Schools and Families Timescale: 2008-2011 Budget: To be confirmed My Money is a pounds 10m government programme to improve financial education in schools. Commissioned by the...

Public Sector: Cabinet Office names news head.(Allison Potter-Drake appointed)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... The Cabinet Office has appointed a new head of news from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Allison Potter-Drake joins on 1 September, replacing Michael Winders, who has taken the same post at the Department for Communities and Local...

Public Sector: The Public Sector Week.
August 1, 2008... - Royal Mail hands CSR brief to Open Road, Visit London launches 2012 online media centre. Royal Mail has handed corporate comms agency Open Road a corporate social responsibility (CSR) brief. A Royal Mail spokesman said: 'Royal Mail has...

Public Sector: Experts disagree on impact of recession.(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Senior PR professionals have expressed differing views on the extent to which public sector PR will be hit by predictions of a recession. The Central Office of Information's director of news and PR, Neil Martinson, played down the idea of...

Public Sector: Local councils are in image crunch.
August 1, 2008... Local authority PR is one of the hardest and most thankless jobs in the business. That may sound like a bold statement, but the difficulties for council comms people are wider, more varied and more complex than those in any other sector. ...

Public Sector: Holiday snaps.(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Gordon Brown's image took another battering this week as newspapers seized on his 'holiday snaps'. The Daily Mail reported that 'Gordon and Sarah Brown looked stiff and frumpy', while The Daily Telegraph referred to Tory leader David Cameron's...

Media: Working Lunch ready for revamp.
August 1, 2008... It is all change at the BBC's lunchtime institution Working Lunch, with two new presenters lined up to replace the outgoing Adam Shaw. When Shaw moves to BBC Breakfast in the autumn, affable morning favourite Declan Curry will take the helm,...

Media: Hit or Miss - 'Nasty' Countdown bosses force out long-standing co-presenter Carol Vorderman.(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Down and out Channel 4's long-running game show Countdown hit the headlines after the resignations of host Des O'Connor and - in particular - glamorous co-presenter Carol Vorderman. Newspapers devoured Vorderman's revelation that she was told...

Media: Space barons Media Guardian.(Guardian Newspapers Ltd.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Readers: 525,000 read the Monday supplement. The mediaguardian.co.uk website has a further 950,000 users Frequency: Weekly in The Guardian; uploaded constantly Who are the space barons? Jane Martinson took over from Matt Wells as...

Media: The Editor's Desk - Jeremy Langmead, Esquire.(Interview)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... - Who would you love to have on the cover of Esquire and why? Barack Obama. Politicians are rarely interesting, inspiring, successful and stylish. So far, Obama ticks all the boxes. A great cover story tends to be all these things - not...

Profile: Emma Gilpin-Jacobs - A head for business.(Occupation overview)
August 1, 2008... The FT's global comms director is proving her worth as the paper transforms its image, says Gemma O'Reilly. Emma Gilpin-Jacobs looks very pleased with herself. The Financial Times global communications director is on a high as the financial...

Campaigns: B2B/Online - McAfee regains a leadership image.
August 1, 2008... Campaign: McAfee Virtual Criminology Report Client: McAfee PR teams: The Red Consultancy Timescale: November 2007 - April 2008 Budget: pounds 75,000 In addition to McAfee's direct competitors, banks, government departments, police...

Campaigns: Travel - Giant cruise ship takes to the high seas.
August 1, 2008... Campaign: Launch of new cruise ship Independence of the Seas Client: Royal Caribbean International PR Team: Siren PR, Pimento and in-house Timescale: December 2007 - May 2008 Budget: Not disclosed, but believed to be around pounds 100,000...

Campaigns: Food and drink - Chilean pink fizz is a hit with the girls.(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Campaign: Launching Fresita rose wine to the consumer market Client: Paragon Vintners PR team: Bottle PR Timescale: January - May 2008 Budget: pounds 13,000 Objectives - To generate coverage across consumer and wedding titles,...

Opinion: Mosley ruling is good news for PR.
August 1, 2008... Max Mosley looked like a dead man walking after the News of the World vividly laid bare his bizarre private life. The fact that he was no more than a sick man with enough bounce left in his step to have his private fetishes replayed in a...

Opinion: From the editor - Global business could offset recession.(Editorial)
August 1, 2008... It has taken almost a year to happen, but the wind has finally changed direction. It was in mid-August last year - during similarly balmy weather - that the first hints of problems emerged, with a surprise run on stock markets around the world....

Opinion: PM's fight will be won on the web.
August 1, 2008... This weekend Labourhome.org was the medium chosen by Labour grandee John Prescott to quash the tentative plotters conspiring to oust Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Despite being a niche appeal website, Prescott's comments were reported widely in...

Opinion: From our Readers - Isn't it time to put Africa on the map?
August 1, 2008... I have nothing against the Finnish people, who are makers of great mobile phones and vodka, to name just two qualities. But I do question their country's inclusion in your International Report over any countries from Africa (Features, 25 July)....

Opinion: From our Readers - Councils can have own paper AND press office.
August 1, 2008... I was disappointed to read that some councils believe they have to choose between their council newspaper and a properly resourced press office (News, 25 July). Hammersmith & Fulham's decision to employ fewer press officers and more...

Opinion: From our Readers - Graduates are valuable resources in any work.
August 1, 2008... An increase in graduate recruitment levels (News, 25 July) certainly chimes with JFL's experience. There is definitely a move by larger consultancies to shore up talent through investment in formal graduate schemes. This long-term approach...

Cut Out and Keep Guide: Ten things you need to know about images.
August 1, 2008... Do you know tiffs from jpegs? How many dpi does a magazine need? If you don't know and have ever got an earful from a picture editor, Mary Cowlett has the answers. Every journalist has a gripe about dealing with PR people. Mention...

Agency management: So, who needs a planning director?
August 1, 2008... A new job title is becoming more common in agencies - the planning director. With large salaries on offer, what exactly do these people do? Mary Cowlett investigates. A quick flick through the recent news and appointments pages of PRWeek...

Awards: PRWeek Awards 2008 finalists.(Awards list)
August 1, 2008... As awards time draws near again, we reveal the shortlist for the PRWeek Awards, on 21 October. BROADCAST INNOVATION Fishburn Hedges for Shell International Shell International: Influencing the Influencers Save the Children For...

Flack: Gift of gab..(Blue Rubicon helps Channel 4 Television Co. in marketing)(Ed Staite resigns from Tories)(MC2 helps Velvet Hotel in advertising)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Tory media handler Ed Staite has left the Tories for a tidy lobbying post at Burson-Marsteller. Flack asked former boss and self-confessed hater of spin (hell, it's the party line) Boris Johnson what he thought of Staite. 'Ed Staite is a...

Flack.(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... 1. Promoting a 4x4? Want coverage? How about massive pictures of Zara Phillips? Trimedia UK controversially used Phillips in a Land Rover exhibition. Royals aren't supposed to represent commercial outfits but Phillips was described as a...

Flack: On expenses - The Botanist, London, SW1.(Interview)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Reviewer: Sam Holl, senior account manager, Geronimo Communications - What's it good for? Situated in uber-trendy Sloane Square, The Botanist offers a stylish and upmarket dining experience, but without the intrusive waiting staff and...

Pitches to new COI roster could be 'a waste of time'.
August 8, 2008... Agencies asked to apply for stage two of tender before stage one winners are decided. Angry PR consultancies are being forced to commit days of work developing applications for the Central Office of Information's new framework roster - yet...

Tesco acts on media scorn.
August 8, 2008... Tesco is undertaking a campaign to revitalise its reputation as a leading employer and great place to work. Britain's biggest private sector employer is concerned about the effects of negative press coverage on staff such as in April, when...

The Week.
August 8, 2008... - FD increased its revenue by 48 per cent to pounds 31.8m in the first half of 2008, resulting in earnings of pounds 8.2m before interest, tax and amortisation expenses. The City agency's revenue increase was released as part of owner FTI's Q2...

Another Thykier to take helm at Freud.
August 8, 2008... Nick Wiszowaty, one of Freud Communications' highest-ranked staff members and a key business figure in the firm, is to stand down after 21 years. Some of his responsibilities will be taken over by Caspar Thykier, brother of former Freud...

Twitter alert to FTSE firms.
August 8, 2008... Seven out of ten FTSE 100 companies are at risk of being 'brand-jacked' because they have left their ID unclaimed on blogging platform Twitter. UK PROs have been warned to reserve these names after reports in the US last weekend revealed...

Editor takes comms role.
August 8, 2008... The Audit Commission has poached a Guardian supplement editor as its new MD of comms and public reporting. David Walker will join the Commission in October. He is currently editor of Public, The Guardian's monthly magazine for public sector...

Festive extravaganza.
August 8, 2008... Madison Square Garden Entertainment has appointed Manchester-based agency Bird Consultancy to handle PR support for the company's Radio City Christmas Spectacular show. The agency has been hired for the second consecutive year to flag up the...

Security alert affects PR staff.
August 8, 2008... Olympic Games - PROs in Beijing are being warned over security issues ahead of the opening ceremony. More than 360 global PR professionals arriving in Beijing are being warned that their rooms could be bugged and their emails monitored by...

How we handle the massive press corps in Beijing.(Brief article)
August 8, 2008... Behind the Scenes - British Olympic Association head of PR and political relations Louisa Huddy in Beijing. 'At this moment I am peering through the smog at the stadium, although the IOC tells us it is only 'haze',' laughs the British...

Action Aid to enlist agency.(Action Aid)(Brief article)
August 8, 2008... Action Aid is on the hunt for an agency to boost the profile of its women's rights work. This comes as the international development charity shifts its focus to make women's rights its top priority. Head of media Jane Moyo said: 'We...

Call for cosseted kids to picnic in the park.(Brief article)
August 8, 2008... 'Reclaim parks for children' is the mantra of The Children's Society's latest PR campaign. Next week, the charity will call on parents, families and their friends to take their children to parks. Its research has found there is ample green...

Ogilvy chief to join Lexis.(Will Oscroft appointed at Lexis Public Relations)(Brief article)
August 8, 2008... Lexis PR has poached a rival agency's director to be its new sports chief. Will Oscroft, director of Ogilvy Action Sports and Entertainment, will join the consumer shop as head of sport on 7 September. Oscroft takes charge of a...

Walkers briefs agency on flavour search.
August 8, 2008... Walkers Snacks has asked experiential outfit Not Actual Size to create a 'voting frenzy' around its competition to find a new crisps flavour. The PepsiCo-owned snack brand has asked the public for ideas for a new crisps flavour. A pounds...

Playmobil drafts in Chocolate for return.
August 8, 2008... Heritage kids' brand Playmobil has appointed Chocolate Communications to reintroduce the traditional toys to families whose attention has turned to more modern games. Chocolate won the account in a competitive pitch against four other...

Journalists' Charity ball unveils VW Golf.
August 8, 2008... Revellers attending the London Press Club Ball, featuring journalists and PROs, will be the first people in the UK to see the new Volkswagen Golf car. The latest model will be unveiled at the Journalists' Charity's fundraising event on 15...

Ptarmigan loses MD through voluntary redundancy.(Tina Elliott appointed as managing director)(Brief article)
August 8, 2008... Leeds-based Ptarmigan MD Tina Elliott has taken voluntary redundancy after only four months in the role. Elliott was brought on board in April to replace former MD Jason Madeley, who had taken a career break to go travelling (PRWeek, 10...

Healthcare: On the Agenda - Flu jab mooted for under-fives.
August 8, 2008... - In a Nutshell The Health Protection Agency recommended on Monday that all children under five should be given the anti-influenza jab. Vaccinating children against flu would prevent the spread of the virus in the whole population and...

Healthcare: Resolute takes on GSK's HIV account.
August 8, 2008... Pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has handed the PR support for its main anti-HIV drug to healthcare shop Resolute Communications following a competitive pitch. Resolute has been brought on board to handle the comms activity for GSK's...

Healthcare: The Week in Healthcare.
August 8, 2008... Admiral hires ex-journalist - Admiral PR and Marketing has created a healthcare division and has recruited a regional health journalist to head it up. Audrey Barton joins as senior account manager from Newcastle title The Journal. -...

Public Affairs: Mayor angers campaigners.
August 8, 2008... London mayor causes stir by relaxing City Hall guidelines on contract tender process. London mayor Boris Johnson has said he will 'open up' City Hall public affairs contracts in a move that has been slammed by campaigners calling for...

Public Affairs: Lobbying Target - Yvette Cooper, chief secretary to the Treasury.
August 8, 2008... As Labour continues to debate its future, Yvette Cooper is the latest MP to be talked up by party members as the answer to their problems. - Ten second biography The wife of children's secretary Ed Balls, Cooper was one of the 101...

Public Affairs: The Week in Lobbying.
August 8, 2008... Quintus Public Affairs has landed a retainer with the British Society of Gastroenterologists, which has more than 3,000 members including physicians, surgeons, pathologists, radiologists, scientists, nurses and dietitians. The agency won a...

City & Corporate: In the News... Centrica.
August 8, 2008... - Bring us up to speed Not content with alarming the country with 35 per cent price hikes, and potentially pushing more people into fuel poverty, Centrica, the owner of British Gas, is also said to be renewing interest in a merger with...

City & Corporate: China fund looks to London firms.
August 8, 2008... The world's fourth largest sovereign wealth fund, with assets of more than pounds 100bn, is trawling for London agency support. The China Investment Corporation (CIC), which only began operations a year ago, is famous for owning large...

City & Corporate: The Week in City & Corporate.
August 8, 2008... New hires at Blythe Weigh Communications and Penrose Financial. Dresdner Kleinwort Equity research analyst Scott Ransley has joined City agency Blythe Weigh Communications as an associate director. Ransley started his analyst career with...