PR Week (UK) articles from February 2009

PR Week (UK) archives from February 2009

BBC overhauls comms to counter growing scrutiny.(British Broadcasting Corp.)
February 6, 2009... Corporation reviews strategy to ensure consistent response to media criticism. The BBC has drawn up a new 'long-term communications strategy' in an attempt to deal with unprecedented levels of criticism. The corporation, which endured...

Top 150 open for entries.
February 6, 2009... PRWeek has launched the Top 150 PR Consultancies 2009, the industry's definitive guide to the top PR firms and their revenues. Agencies have until 4 March to get their entries in for the Top 150, which will be published in April. This...

Unilever nears end of PR roster review.(Unilever Group)(Brief article)
February 6, 2009... Unilever is believed to be putting the finishing touches to its lucrative global PR roster, following an eight-month review process. Global PR spend is estimated at dollars 35m, but the roster is not expected to affect exist-ing agency...

Agencies vie for HP brief.
February 6, 2009... Technology giant HP has put a Europe-wide PR brief out to pitch, with as many as 12 agencies believed to be in contention for the account. HP is looking at hiring a new agency to handle PR for its Personal Systems Group (PSG), which...

Top Cadbury PRO departs.
February 6, 2009... Cadbury global corporate comms director Katie Bell has left the company following a restructure of the corporate affairs team. Bell left last week after a year in the role. She is the second senior comms figure to leave the confectionery...

International star.(Leopard Films' contract with Henry's House Ltd.)(Brief article)
February 6, 2009... Leopard Films has drafted in Henry's House to handle consumer and trade publicity. The agency will start by promoting the film An Englishman in New York, a new drama starring John Hurt as Quentin Crisp, at the Berlin International Film Festival...

The Week.
February 6, 2009... Scottish Widows comms director Cameron Walker is leaving the investment company to become director of communications at the National Commercial Bank of Saudi Arabia in Jeddah. Orange has brought in GolinHarris as its retained UK PR agency...

Corporates seek better value.
February 6, 2009... New report - Companies see comms as vital but are striving to pay lower agency fees in a recession. Most PR agencies have been asked to reduce their fees in recent months, according to new research. The survey by corp comms and PR...

Some opinion formers have yet to be convinced.(Brief article)
February 6, 2009... The Outsiders' view Outside the industry, PR and public affairs seen as less important in tough times. While those within in the industry may be convinced that comms is becoming more integral to business operations, a survey by Populus...

Collins to leave C&W.
February 6, 2009... Cohn & Wolfe's long-time healthcare MD is leaving in April without a job to go to. Jacinta Collins has been at the agency for ten years. As well as being in charge of the healthcare division, she took on strategic and operational...

Hotel giant reviews support worldwide.
February 6, 2009... The world's largest hotel company, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), is to kick off a global review of its communications support. The firm behind hotel chains Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and Hotel Indigo will review agency support across...

Digital UK 'is good for PR'.
February 6, 2009... Communications minister Lord Carter's Digital Britain report will pave the way for 'PR 2.0', according to a senior agency figure. The report, published last week, calls for high download speeds to be made available to every home by 2012....

World Cup bid lures tennis comms chief.
February 6, 2009... England's 2018 World Cup bid has appointed tennis PR supremo Kris Dent as its director of communications. Dent will take up the role next month, leaving his position as director of corporate comms at the Association of Tennis Professionals...

Frank snares gaming brief.
February 6, 2009... Frank PR has landed a bumper brief with the world's biggest game developer to handle its UK consumer and lifestyle PR. The agency won the Activision account after a three-way shoot-out with Brands2Life and Text 100. Frank already works with...

Press officers field a flurry of snow calls.
February 6, 2009... Press officers at the Highways Agency were told this week to get through the snow 'to your nearest office' to help field five times the usual number of media calls. As the South East of England experienced the heaviest snowfalls in two...

Race is on for Fresh gongs.(National Health Service)(Brazen Communications)(Fido PR)(Brief article)
February 6, 2009... NHS Lothian and Manchester-based agencies Fido PR and Brazen are in pole position to pick up new awards for communications excellence in the regions. The Fresh PR awards aim to highlight excellence in the communications industry outside of...

Healthcare: HSD MD exits after dispute with Gyro.(HSDCommunicate)(Lesley Scott)
February 6, 2009... HSDCommunicate MD Lesley Scott has left the agency she founded, citing 'disagreements' with parent firm Gyro International. Scott has walked out after 11 years at the helm and has not got a job to go to. She said of her departure: 'I...

Healthcare: The Week in Healthcare.(MS and L has promoted Judith Cranford )(InVentiv Health's investment in Haas and Health Partner Public Relations and SanCom Creative Communication Solutions)(Athena Medical PR has appointed Sarah Avent )(Brief article)
February 6, 2009... DeFacto wins pharma brief - MS&L has promoted head of healthcare Judith Cranford to MD of health and advocacy. Clare Lucker has been brought on board to take over Cranford's previous role. She joins from healthcare shop Axon...

Healthcare: On the Agenda - NICE U-turn on bone cancer drug.
February 6, 2009... IN A NUTSHELL The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) made a U-turn last Friday on recommendations restricting the use of a bone marrow cancer drug. Revlimid, a treatment for multiple myeloma sufferers, will now be...

Public Affairs: Industry expects crackdown.
February 6, 2009... Transparency - Jack Straw adds weight to growing demand for greater regulation. Government sources have confirmed measures to improve transparency in lobbying are on the cards, following renewed pressure in Westminster. A senior...

Public Affairs: Lobbying target - Justine Greening, shadow minister for communities.
February 6, 2009... The glamorous Tory MP is on message and on the brink of promotion to the shadow cabinet. TEN-SECOND BIOGRAPHY A former accountant, Greening was elected in May 2005. As the first Conservative to win a seat that evening, her victory was...

Public Affairs: The Week in Lobbying.
February 6, 2009... - Weber Shandwick has promoted Jon McLeod from chairman of its UK public affairs practice to chairman of its UK corporate communications and public affairs practice. Michael Prescott will continue as MD of the UK corporate communications and...

City & Corporate: In the news ... Woolworths.(Brief article)
February 6, 2009... - Bring us up to speed The famous Woolworths brand has been rescued at the death after all Although too late for the vast majority of its 30,000 staff, the brand has been bought by Shop Direct Group to continue as an online only business....

City & Corporate: Raising capital is top of PR agenda.
February 6, 2009... Equity markets - Firms such as SSL International are turning to comms agencies to assist in raising funds. Despite the ever-tightening grip of recession, cash-strapped companies are raising money in the equity markets and providing much...

City & Corporate: The Week in City & Corporate.(Cardew Group)(briefs)
February 6, 2009... Former Scottish & Newcastle director to join the Cardew Group - Cardew Group has brought in Robert Ballantyne from brewer Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) as a director in its client facing team. Ballantyne was most recently head of corporate...

City & Corporate: Tulchan wins L&G account.
February 6, 2009... Tulchan Communications has beaten off a host of City rivals to secure the retained comms contract for Legal & General. The agency won the account after a competitive pitch process. Citigate Dewe Rogerson was the incumbent. Andrew...

City & Corporate: Brown needs your help, not Obama.(Gordon Brown)
February 6, 2009... On the day of the inauguration of President Obama in the United States, an organisation here called Business of New Europe published a booklet of comments and articles from an impressive cross-section of leading businessmen. These included...

Voluntary Sector: Brunswick man joins WWF.(appointment of Benjamin Ward )(Brief article)
February 6, 2009... WWF-UK poaches Brunswick Arts director Benjamin Ward to become head of press. WWF-UK has raided Brunswick Arts to fill its top media role ahead of the charity's Earth Hour global climate change campaign. Benjamin Ward will join the...

Voluntary Sector: Taking action ... Free Tibet vs Chinese Prime Minister.
February 6, 2009... Protesters: Free Tibet, and other pro-Tibet supporters Target: Chinese Prime Minister Location: London Date: 31 January-2 February Free Tibet arranged a series of protests during the Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's UK visit....

Voluntary Sector: The Week in Charities.
February 6, 2009... The Scout Association has appointed Gail Scott-Spicer as director of marketing and comms. Scott-Spicer joins from Rainer Crime Concern, where she was director of marketing and comms for more than two years. YoungMinds, the mental health...

Technology: Brands2Life wins IFS brief.
February 6, 2009... Brands2Life has won a global account with enterprise software applications company IFS, following a four-way pitch. The six-figure account will see the agency raise awareness of the brand through global business media and industry trade...

Technology: Online PR catches up with traditional.
February 6, 2009... Online social media are now as important as traditional media for influencing those making tech purchases, a new survey has found. Hill & Knowlton's Tech Decision-makers Study indicates online media are key to influencing decision-makers...

Technology: Best of the tech blogs.
February 6, 2009... Death threat scare Posted by Lyndon Johnson www.berkeleypr.co.uk/blog/ A catch-all term Posted by David Cushman fasterfuture.blogspot.com European M&A Posted by Brendon Craigie interactive.hotwirepr.com --------------------...

Technology: The Week in Technology.
February 6, 2009... Lewis opens office in Lisbon, Portugal. Lewis PR, the b2b tech specialist, has opened an office in Portugal. The Lisbon office will be headed by Fernando Batista, previously at enterprise software and service firm Sybase. The agency now...

Public Sector: Campaign breakdown - BiG: Make it Your Business.
February 6, 2009... Agency: Trimedia Client: Sheffield City Council - BiG: Make it Your Business Timescale: November 2008 onwards Budget: Undisclosed The Local Business Heroes campaign has recently been launched to stimulate entrepreneurship in...

Public Sector: Domestic Violence - Abused women need more support.(Equality and Human Rights Commission)
February 6, 2009... Equality body demands councils provide better comms to reach out to abuse victims. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) says too many councils are failing to provide 'essential lifelines' to abused women. A report published...

Public Sector: The Public Sector week.(Manchester Metropolitan University's qualification for government public relations officers)(Care Quality Commission has appointed Jill Finney)(Newcastle City Council )
February 6, 2009... MMU to offer course for local government communicators; Twitter success for Newcastle. Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), with The CIPR Public Services Group, is launching a qualification for local government communicators 'Second...

Public Sector: CIPR group chair quits.(Chartered Institute of Public Relations' Mike Browne )(Brief article)
February 6, 2009... Haringey head of comms Mike Browne will stand down today as chair of the CIPR local public services group in order to concentrate on rebuilding Haringey Council's image. Camden Council comms manager Ashley Wilcox is expected to replace...

Public Sector: Give opponents a chance to respond.(Viewpoint essay)
February 6, 2009... I have been noticing recently just how many PR operations are missing a massive trick in increasing the number of proactive stories in the press. There have been several occasions over the past couple of weeks where a story has been put...

Media: Lifestyle focus for The Saturday Times.
February 6, 2009... Price hikes, a new editor and a revamp - it has been a busy 12 months for The Saturday Times. And it is about to get busier, if the extra sections in the updated paper are anything to go by. The six-section title was relaunched at the end...

Media: Hit or Miss - David Cameron and Carol Vorderman launch maths task force in the snow.
February 6, 2009... Snow joke: With the UK covered in snow this week, possibly the strangest footage was of David Cameron and Carol Vorderman chucking snowballs at each other. The Conservative leader and the former Countdown presenter were launching a task...

Media: Web Barons - Rivmixx.
February 6, 2009... What is it? Music networking website Staff: Ten Contact: Editor Carl Loben - carl@rivmixx.com Rivmixx was created by long-standing label Type, musician Danny Mac (MD) and DJ and producer Steve Travell (creative director). It went live...

Media: The Editor's Desk - Johanna Gornitzki, Moneywise.(Interview)
February 6, 2009... - Why should people read Moneywise? We are here to help people with their finances, making complex topics more accessible. We provide content for the entire income spectrum and don't assume our readers have special knowledge. -...

Profile: David Ferrabee - Redundancy specialist.
February 6, 2009... Internal comms ace Ferrabee knows so much about the art of breaking bad news that he does it for a living, finds Gemma O'Reilly. David Ferrabee is busy recounting a story. The story is a familiar one given the global economic meltdown, and...

Campaigns: Event - Record-breaking pants in public.
February 6, 2009... Campaign: Launching the UK version of the Guinness Book of World Records 2009 Edition Client: Guinness World Records PR team: In-house Timescale: June-December 2008 Budget: pounds 25,000 This year the book came with 3-D...

Campaigns: Not for profit - Wallace and Gromit help Bristol's young.(Brief article)
February 6, 2009... Campaign: Bristol's Big Give Client: Wallace and Gromit's Grand Appeal PR team: Spirit Public Relations Timescale: October-December 2008 Budget: c. pounds 5,000 Objectives - To raise awareness of the campaign in Bristol and...

Campaigns: CSR - Football comes first for school children.
February 6, 2009... Campaign: First for Football Client: FirstGroup PR team: Paul Ridley Timescale: September 2008-ongoing Budget: Undisclosed but believed to be in the region of pounds 100,000 Objectives - To drive participation in the First for...

Opinion: Green shoots can be PR-led chimera.(Viewpoint essay)
February 6, 2009... Suggestions that green shoots of recovery lie anything less than six feet under the economic freeze have been deemed as politically risible. However, outside the political arena, PROs with an eye on corporate seem to be less coy about their...

Opinion: From the Editor - A positive sign but there is a long way to go.(Editorial)
February 6, 2009... This week a survey from PR recruitment specialists VMA valiantly brings us some positive news about the industry. It paints a picture of corporate comms directors who appear sanguine about their roles and their teams. Quotes from senior...

Opinion: From our Readers - The media's woes are not down to PR.
February 6, 2009... It is sad to see PR described as 'a cancer eating away at the heart of modern journalism' (News, 23 January). Leaving aside the question of whether modern journalism can be said to possess a heart, did anyone actually say that? The growth...

Opinion: From our Readers - 'Sorry' is the hardest word for bankers.(Letter to the editor)
February 6, 2009... Bankers don't do 'sorry'. It was so predictable... how long it would take the bankers to lay into the media and anyone else who does not fall in line with their messaging (News, 23 January). This includes, staggeringly, the taxpayer. ...

Opinion: From our Readers - Priorities for greater lobbying transparency.
February 6, 2009... You recently reported that the Association of Professional Political Consultants is to meet other representative bodies on 9 February (News, 16 January). There are three priorities as we see it: All agencies need to publish in full their...

Opinion: From our Readers - The world needs to be patient with Obama.(Letter to the editor)
February 6, 2009... 'Deficit' is a common word these days, but reputation deficit is a term rarely used. It is the shortfall between communities' expectations of organisations or individuals versus what they are ultimately able to deliver. Barack Obama too is...

Opinion: Tories have their pick of celebrities.
February 6, 2009... David Cameron's affection for a Winter Wonderland photo shoot reared its head again this week when he stood wistfully dreaming of his favourite wild husky Troika next to that even rarer breed, Carol Vorderman. It was playful. Vorderman...

Careers: The art of self-promotion (and how it could benefit your company).
February 6, 2009... Even the best PROs can be unwilling to promote themselves. Suzy Bashford questions some of the industry's best-known faces about whether it pays to raise your own profile. Why is it that if there is ever a story in the media about a ditzy...

Journalism and PR: The two faces of a freelancer.
February 6, 2009... Freelance journalists are increasingly offering their specialist services to PR agencies. Steve Hemsley finds out how both sides can avoid a conflict of interest. In an economic downturn freelance journalists need to plug gaps in their...

Flack: Snow, Lobbying, News of the World quiz, and young speakers!
February 6, 2009... Possibly the Scroogiest response to this week's mighty snowfall came from MD of professional services PR firm Spada, Gavin Ingham Brooke. Instead of congratulating his plucky staff for making it in on Monday, he told them he would hear their...

Flack.
February 6, 2009... 1. Creative media agency Curb spurned Monday's snowman building for a 'snow tagging' campaign for sports channel Extreme. More than 2,000 logos were placed in 350 locations (1a). For traditional snowmen lovers, here is what happened to staff at...

Flack: (Saving) on expenses - No3 York Place, Leeds.(Restaurant review)(Brief article)
February 6, 2009... Reviewer: Verity Hudson, account manager, Approach PR - What is it good for? No3 York Place brassiere is perfect for a light snack from the Menu du Jour or full a la carte French cuisine. I immediately felt at ease with soul music, a...

Microsoft brings in Brit to shake up comms operation.
February 13, 2009... Nissan's Simon Sproule takes global computer firm's top communications role. Microsoft has appointed a British PR professional to its top communications role, based in the firm's global headquarters in Washington DC. Simon Sproule...

Big Ben gets a makeover.(Brief article)
February 13, 2009... The House of Commons is planning a PR offensive to promote Big Ben's 150th birthday later this year. Arts and culture specialist Colman Getty has been handed a 12-month contract and is helping with preparations for a six-week campaign. The...

PR revenues slump at Omnicom Group.
February 13, 2009... PR revenues at Omnicom Group declined more than those in its advertising business in 2008 - and slumped by more than ten per cent year- on-year in the fourth quarter. The company, which owns Fleishman-Hillard, Ketchum, Porter-Novelli and...

Three go at Blanc & Otus.(Blanc & Otus closes its UK office)(Brief article)
February 13, 2009... WPP tech agency Blanc & Otus is closing its UK office, with three staff affected. The agency - owned by parent network Hill & Knowlton - told staff it would close its doors late last week. Two staff members were made redundant and the...

Tesco grants schools brief.
February 13, 2009... Supermarket giant Tesco has briefed Resonate to promote its new voucher scheme for schools. Resonate will launch and run the PR campaign for Tesco's new CSR initiative 'Tesco for Schools & Clubs'. The scheme kicks off on 2 March. The...

The Week.
February 13, 2009... - STOP PRESS: Gordon Brown has pledged to 'seriously' consider plans for a mandatory register of lobbyists. Brown was responding to Labour MP Gordon Prentice at PMQs on Wednesday. - eBay has shortlisted several multinational agencies as...

Back on the block.
February 13, 2009... Punk band The Blockheads have taken on Noble PR to handle media for the launch of their upcoming album Staring Down The Barrel. The album is said to sound similar to their early hits, recorded with the late Ian Dury. Noble will also handle...

Bankers' apologies are 'pathetic'.(banking industry apologizes for financial crises)
February 13, 2009... Select committee reaction Communications strategy slammed by media despite high-level advice. The apologies from former bankers for the financial crisis were this week derided as 'insincere' and 'over-rehearsed' as the media pounced on...

City journalist saw 'flashes of arrogance' in speeches.(journalist Alex Brummer evaluates the public relations of bankers)(Brief article)
February 13, 2009... Objective view - Daily Mail journalist Alex Brummer critical of comms preparations of bankers. A top City journalist has told PRWeek that all the comms advice received by the ousted bankers appearing in front of the Treasury select...

Editors lined up for event.(Conference news)
February 13, 2009... Channel Four's head of news Dorothy Byrne and the editor of thelondonpaper Stefano Hatfield are among key speakers at PRWeek's upcoming 'PR and the Media' conference. Byrne and Hatfield will discuss the changing patterns of media...

Shine scoops digital brief for Paramount.(Paramount Pictures UK deals with Shine Communications)(Brief article)
February 13, 2009... The film studio behind cinema hits such as Revolutionary Road and Tropic Thunder has handed a pounds 250,000 digital brief to Shine Communications. Paramount Pictures UK has called in the agency to handle digital PR for its home...

Frank heads down under.
February 13, 2009... Frank PR is leading the consumer PR charge to Australia by opening its first international office in Sydney. The news comes 16 months after the agency was acquired by Australia's Photon Group (PRWeek, 19 October 2007). Splendid...

Healthcare: On the agenda - Put on your dancing shoes.
February 13, 2009... In a nutshell Health secretary Alan Johnson wants to encourage the public to hit the dance floor to counter the obesity epidemic. Johnson was inspired by BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing after watching John Sergeant perform. What does he...

Healthcare: Diabetes drug gets the Virgo treatment.
February 13, 2009... Virgo Health PR has landed a brief to promote a new diabetes drug launching in the UK later this year. Biopharmaceutical firm Bristol-Myers Squibb and drug company AstraZeneca are behind the drug, Onglyza. Healthcare agency Virgo has been...

Healthcare: The Week in Healthcare.
February 13, 2009... Say helps BMJ Group - The BMJ Group has hired Say Communications to publicise the first BMJ Group Awards, which recognise 'Excellence In Healthcare'. Say is charged with promoting the awards, which take place on 2 April in London. The ten...

Public Affairs: PM's adviser backs change.(Political adviser Sir Philip Mawer reports over lobbying arrangements.)
February 13, 2009... Lobbying Sir Philip Mawer supports overhaul of current lobbying arrangements. A key adviser to Gordon Brown has thrown his weight behind calls for a government crackdown on lobbyists. Sir Philip Mawer is Brown's independent adviser on...

Public Affairs: Lobbying target - Mervyn Davies, minister for trade and investment.
February 13, 2009... Davies is the most recent addition to Gordon Brown's 'Government of all the talents' - otherwise known as 'Goats' - Ten-second biography Davies is the former chief executive and chairman of Standard Chartered, the London-based...

Public Affairs: The Week in Lobbying.
February 13, 2009... - Fiona Mason, FD's former public affairs MD, is to resurface at Mandate Communications. As revealed last week on prweek.com (6 February), Mason has been appointed as MD of the agency's public affairs operation, leading a 25-strong team. She...

City & Corporate: In the News ... Baugur.
February 13, 2009... - Bring us up to speed The UK arm of Icelandic investment firm Baugur has collapsed into administration, plunging the UK high street into another potential crisis. Icelandic bank Landsbanki took control of BG Holding, which owns stakes in...

City & Corporate: Bosses dismiss media regulation call.
February 13, 2009... Treasury Select committee Agencies criticise media but say reporting restrictions are not necessary. In the wake of last week's Commons grilling of top City journalists, agency bosses have hit out at 'irresponsible' reporting, but do not...

City & Corporate: The Week in City & Corporate.
February 13, 2009... Aldar Properties chooses M:Comms and Bladonmore, FD wins Sulphco and Intec accounts - M: Communications and Bladonmore have jointly won a six-way pitch to assist Aldar Properties PJSC, Abu Dhabi's largest property developer and real estate...

City: Big agencies vie for Drax.
February 13, 2009... The City's top agencies are going head to head to win a retained brief with the operator of Europe's largest coal-fired power station. Drax Power, operator of Yorkshire's Drax Power Station, is repitching its UK financial comms account....

City: Investors need to shout louder.
February 13, 2009... The head of Legal & General's investment arm, Peter Chambers, told the Treasury select committee earlier this month that he and other fund managers had challenged Royal Bank of Scotland on its strategy in the months before it crashed, but once...

Voluntary Sector: Cancer bodies change tack.
February 13, 2009... Cancer Research UK and Skcin target teens through music and social networking. Cancer charities are radically altering their communications about the dangers of sun damage in an attempt to reach more young people. Music, social...

Voluntary Sector: Taking action ... Worcester Wheels vs Worcester City Council.
February 13, 2009... Target: Worcester City Council Protesters: Worcester Wheels Location: Worcester Date: 29 January-5 February Worcester Wheels, a community transport service for the elderly and disabled, protested after the council proposed cuts to...