PR Week (UK) articles from October 2003

PR Week (UK) archives from October 2003

Orange consumer account in five-way pitch.(mobile phone companies plans to hire firm soon for its consumer public relations account)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... Mobile phone giant Orange has shortlisted five agencies in a mega-pitch for its consumer PR account. An Orange spokesperson said a hire was planned within a month. A statement from Orange said that incumbent agency Cohn & Wolfe's...

London 2012 drafts in UEFA's Lee to head PR.
October 3, 2003... London 2012, the bid vehicle set up to the bring the Olympic Games to the UK, has appointed Mike Lee from European football governing body UEFA to head its PR. Lee will join in two weeks, initially on a part-time basis, in the newly...

Grey puts APCO up for sale to invest more in GCI Group.(Grey Global Group will divest APCO Worldwide)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... APCO Worldwide has been put up for sale by parent company Grey Global Group. In a statement, Grey said it wanted to 'consolidate' its PR and public affairs investment behind its other PR and public affairs agency, GCI Group. Grey,...

Leeds drops Binns & Co for Holborn.(football club Leeds United has hired Holborn PR for communications brief)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... Cash-strapped Premiership football club Leeds United has hired Holborn PR to handle a revamped communications brief. Speaking to PRWeek, Leeds executive chairman Professor John McKenzie confirmed the club had dropped Binns & Co in favour of...

London boroughs top PRWeek's first Council Rankings.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... Three London boroughs have the largest communications teams in England, according to research conducted for PRWeek's first Council Ran-kings survey, covering all unitary, London and metropolitan borough authorities. This found that...

Mencap appoints City PR expert to run comms unit.(Deborah Hamilton Lewin appointed charity's first director of communications and marketing)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... Disability charity Mencap has appointed City PR expert Deborah Hamilton Lewin as its first director of communications and marketing. She takes up the newly created role in December, reporting to Mencap chief executive Jo Williams, and heads...

Brighter grabs holiday firm's brief.(Cendant VRG UK has appointed Brighter PR to handle communications for its brands)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... Holiday firm Cendant VRG UK has appointed Brighter PR, on fees understood to be around pounds 400,000, to handle communications for its stable of 23 brands, after a six-way pitch process. Brighter MD Steve Dunne leads a five-strong team on...

M Communications takes on Alstom rebuilding task.(hired to help engineering group rebuild its reputation with investors)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... Alstom, the debt-stricken French engineering group that is facing a class-action lawsuit in the US, has drafted in M Communications to help rebuild its torn reputation with investors. The agency, founded by Nick Miles and Hugh Morrison,...

Four hires former BSMG man to run consumer PR arm.(Steve Gebbett has joined Four Communications as its consumer public relations head)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... Former Hill & Knowlton senior consultant Steve Gebbett has joined Four Communications as its consumer head. The move sees Gebbett reunited with Four co-founder Nan Williams, who is a former head of BSMG Worldwide UK, the agency that Gebbett...

STOP PRESS: Communique PR appointed.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... EVENT: The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has appointed Communique PR to promote next year's The Sunday Times Motor Show Live. Communique's London office will handle the work in advance of and during the show, which was formerly...

STOP PRESS: Nike appoints Stanford.(appointed Emma Stanford as corporate responsibility manager for the UK and Ireland)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... CSR: Sportswear giant Nike is to step up its UK corporate social responsibility work, having appointed Emma Stanford as corporate responsibility manager for the UK and Ireland. Stanford, who joined last month, was formerly head of community...

STOP PRESS: Girlguiding UK hires Cairns.(Cairns & Associates to promote organization's first recruitment week)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... CHARITY: Girlguiding UK, the largest voluntary organisation for girls and young women in Britain, has hired Cairns & Associates to promote its first recruitment week, from 10 to 16 November. Although the campaign will be promoted nationwide,...

STOP PRESS: Lighthouse to launch campaign.(Lighthouse PR to launch campaign to promote EDS PLM Solutions)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... TECH: Lighthouse PR is to launch a campaign to promote EDS PLM Solutions, the division of IT services giant EDS that produces 'product lifestyle management' software. The agency will target the business, tech and IT press, reporting to EDS PLM...

STOP PRESS: PiranhaKid scoops awards.(at the Grocery Advertising and Marketing Industry Awards)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... FMCG AWARDS: PiranhaKid scooped three awards at this week's Grocery Advertising and Marketing Industry Awards. The agency landed the PR Agency of the Year award, in addition to two awards for its 'You've Changed' campaign to launch the Heineken...

STOP PRESS: RDA Communications launches campaign.(public relations campaign to promote a football friendly between world champions Brazil and Jamaica)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... SPORT: RDA Communications has launched a PR campaign to promote a football friendly between world champions Brazil and Jamaica, to be staged in Leicester on 12 October. RDA managing director Richard Dennis said the organisers were aiming for an...

STOP PRESS: Absolute PR & Marketing hired.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... PUBLIC SECTOR: Absolute PR & Marketing has been hired to promote social housing services firm Connaught CPS. The Exeter-based agency, which has worked for Connaught's Workspace division since March, will target the social housing sector press...

STOP PRESS: Chandiramani joins PRWeek.(Ravi Chandiramani appointed news editor)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... PRWEEK APPOINTMENT: Ravi Chandiramani joins PRWeek as news editor this week. He was formerly new media editor at sister title Marketing.

CSR academy group meets up for first time.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... A Government-backed group involving some of the country's leading community affairs and communications figures has met for the first time to discuss the viability of a national CSR academy. CSR heavyweights on the Department of Trade and...

WS ponders legal action against its ex-Brussels head.(Weber Shandwick considering legal action against Paul Adamson, former chairman of its Brussels office)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... Weber Shandwick is considering legal action against Paul Adamson, the former chairman of its Brussels office, who left the agency this week. Adamson declined to comment as PRWeek went to press, but a spokesman for his former office, Weber...

Pfizer arthritis drug gains highest awareness score.
October 3, 2003... Pfizer's Celebrex has gained the highest awareness rating among GPs of the five anti-arthritis drugs tracked in PRWeek's Pharma Focus. Merck Sharp & Dohme's Vioxx and Boeringher Ingelheim's Mobic also achieved high awareness levels among...

Report urges firms to be open on their top salaries.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... UK companies need to improve their financial PR and communications activity significantly if they are to comply with new corporate governance guidelines, according to a report by Deloitte & Touche. The report, Board Structure, Disclosure...

Rowland to step up drive for London's Oyster card.(Rowland Communications; transportation smart-card campaign)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... Rowland Communications is to launch the next phase in its campaign to promote the phased rollout of the Oyster smartcard - the new ticketing system to be used across London's transport network. The campaign reaches a crucial stage at the...

FD takes on brief to push Jamaica as holiday resort.(Financial Dynamics)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... Financial Dynamics has been hired to promote Jamaica as a tourist destination to the UK and European public. The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) appointed the financial PR specialist, which has a travel and transport practice, after a four-way...

CAF survey finds optimism is high in the PR industry.(Communication Agencies Federation)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... The first state-of-the-sector survey by the Communication Agencies Federation (CAF) has found optimism high among PROs. Agency chiefs were among 170 CEOs from the PR, advertising and marketing sectors questioned for the Agency Barometer....

Red Cross in need of a comms head amid PR changes.(British Red Cross is looking for a new director of communications following the departure of William Beaver )(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... The British Red Cross is on the hunt for a new director of communications, following the departure of William Beaver after just one year in the post. Beaver has left the British Red Cross to continue his work as senior marketing consultant...

Premier promotes two PROs to head personal publicity.(Premier PR has promoted senior account directors Lawrence Atkinson and Melissa Hall-Smith)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... Entertainment specialist Premier PR has promoted senior account directors Lawrence Atkinson and Melissa Hall-Smith to oversee its expansion into personal publicity. Atkinson, who joined the agency in April 2002, becomes head of film, UK,...

F-H hires Roberts for pan-European group.(Fleishman-Hillard appointed Nigel Roberts as vice-president of its new pan-European financial and corporate practice group)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... Fleishman-Hillard has hired senior financial journalist Nigel Roberts as vice-president of its newly created pan-European financial and corporate practice group. Roberts, most recently a senior presenter for business and financial news...

Holiday Autos takes its PR in-house for a fresh push.(car-rental firms to position itself as leading "low-cost" operator)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... Holiday Autos has taken PR in-house to cut costs, as the car-rental firm bids to position itself as the sector's leading 'low-cost' operator. Claire Williams, who has been appointed to the newly created role of PR manager, said the hiring...

JJB Sports issues warning on Burma links to suppliers.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... The Burma Campaign UK has claimed another scalp during its drive to expose British companies dealing with the South East Asian nation. JJB Sports CEO Tom Knight has sent a stern letter to all its suppliers saying he would not order any more...

Study criticises health issues coverage.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... NHS bodies such as Primary Care Trusts need to improve the promotion of issues including smoking, obesity and alcoholism to avoid losing out to 'more dramatic' health news stories in terms of media coverage, according to a report. ...

Wilson departure triggers hunt for EHPR deputy MD.(Leigh-Ann Wilson)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... Consumer PR specialist EHPR is on the hunt for a new deputy MD following the resignation of Leigh-ann Wilson. Wilson, who has quit after four years at the agency and is now on three months' gardening leave, said: 'I had four enjoyable...

PUBLIC SECT0R: Public confusion brings rebrand of dog welfare body.(National Canine Defence League (NCDL) is to change its name to Dogs Trust)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... The National Canine Defence League (NCDL) is to change its name to Dogs Trust because the public no longer understands the word canine. Official announcement of the name change will take place on 9 October to coincide with promotion of the...

PUBLIC SECT0R: Salford raids private outfit to fill council's top PR post.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... Salford City Council has turned to a private sector marketing expert to fill its newly created top PR role. Simon Malcolm, currently head of e-marketing at catalogue publishing firm Otto UK will become the council's first head of marketing...

PUBLIC SECT0R: Rethink uses Bruno row to slam campaign.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... Mental health charity Rethink is utilising media coverage surrounding Frank Bruno's treatment under the Mental Health Act to highlight its criticism of the Government's anti-stigma PR campaign, Mind Out for Mental Health. Rethink head of...

PUBLIC SECT0R: Orkney Council to provide NHS comms.(communications)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... Communications for the Orkney NHS Trust is to be provided by the islands' council after a financial crisis at the health body. The move is understood to be the first of its kind in Scotland and was recommended by a team of financial...

PUBLIC SECT0R: McClamon to be spokesperson.(singer Liz McClamon, Help the Aged)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... Help the Aged has recruited Atomic Kitten singer Liz McClamon as the first spokesperson for its annual Make A Difference Day on 25 October. McClamon's role will be to encourage young people to view the elderly in a more positive light and to...

PUBLIC SECT0R BRIEF: Charities in running for title.(Action Aid, the NSPCC, Oxfam, the RSPB and Samaritans in the running for title of Britain's Most Admired Charity)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... AWARDS: Action Aid, the NSPCC, Oxfam, the RSPB and Samaritans are in the running to take the title of Britain's Most Admired Charity. This is the first time the award, which is being organised by PRWeek sister title Third Sector, has been...

PUBLIC SECT0R BRIEF: Luton Council deny appointment.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... LUTON: Luton Borough Council this week denied its planned appointment of advisers for its political groups (PRWeek, 26 September) contravened local government legislation. The denial comes after local press reports alleged that the council's...

PUBLIC SECT0R BRIEF: Cleaners clear up.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... WESTMINSTER: Westminster City Council has revealed that each weekend its street cleaners clear up 300 pools of vomit and six deposits of human excrement. These facts have been released as part of the council's Three Filth's campaign, part of a...

PUBLIC SECT0R BRIEF: Art charity steps up promotion.(National Art Collections Fund)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... CHARITY: The National Art Collections Fund, the charity that last year pledged pounds 5.6m to enable museums and galleries to buy works of art, has stepped up promotion of its centenary via a link-up with The Independent on Sunday. This weekend...

PUBLIC SECT0R BRIEF: Brent PRO joins MPC.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... BRENT: The London Borough of Brent's housing PRO Yana De Silva has left to join public sector specialist MPC as an account manager. She reports to MD Marina Pirotta.

PUBLIC SECT0R BRIEF: Horses league launches campaign.(International League for the Protection of Horses launches campaign to oppose draft EU Transport of Animals regulation)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... CHARITY: The International League for the Protection of Horses has launched a campaign to oppose the draft EU Transport of Animals regulation, which it claims will lead to the resumption of the controversial live export for slaughter trade....

PUBLIC SECT0R BRIEF: Fifth Estate to stage seminar.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... EVENT: The IPR's voluntary sector group Fifth Estate is staging a seminar looking at ways to promote charities that work for 'less appealing' causes. Those speaking at the event include representatives from Islamic Relief, Mencap and the Prison...

PUBLIC SECT0R BRIEF: Tobacco Association distributes photos.(Tobacco Manufacturers' Association distributes photos of illegal cigarette sellers)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... TRADE BODY: The Tobacco Manufacturers' Association is distributing photographs to the media, taken outside parliament, of illegal cigarette sellers, part of a campaign to highlight the issue.

INTERNATIONAL: CEZ pitch part of rebranding move.(Czech utility is staging a public relations pitch )(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... PRAGUE: Czech power utility CEZ is staging a PR pitch as part of an ongoing revamp of marcoms strategy at the electricity generation and distribution giant. The company's PR is currently handled by EMC, which has worked for CEZ since...

INTERNATIONAL: Nike reins in California PR following pounds 1m settlement.(to curtail some corporate public relations efforts after settlement with consumer activist Mark Kasky)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... BEAVERTON, OR: Sportswear giant Nike intends to curtail some of its corporate PR efforts after it reached an out-of-court settlement with a consumer activist. Mark Kasky had sued the firm under a Californian law on unfair competition and...

INTERNATIONAL: Letter From America - 'Courage is telling a CEO what he doesn't want to hear'.
October 3, 2003... The New York Stock Ex-change needs reputational help following Dick Grasso's embarrassing exit, writes US commentator Paul Holmes Sometimes, when I'm explaining to someone outside the profession what good PR looks like, I'll get the...

INTERNATIONAL: Hong Kong body to expand inward investment remit.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... HONG KONG: Hong Kong's inward investment body InvestHK is nearing the end of a PR pitch process. Agencies known to be competing for the contract include incumbent APCO Asia - whose contract ends at the end of October - Burson-Marsteller,...

INTERNATIONAL: Microsoft picks Q4 for its Ireland PR and lobbying.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... DUBLIN: US-based software giant Microsoft is to launch a fresh wave of PR and lobbying work across Ireland, having dropped Financial Dynamics in favour of start-up Q4. Q4's brief is to boost Microsoft's profile in the Irish national and...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEF: McDonald's teams with trainer.(teams up with Oprah Winfrey's personal trainer in effort to demonstrate commitment to healthy foods and physical fitness)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... OAKBROOK, IL: Fast-food giant McDonald's has teamed up with TV star Oprah Winfrey's personal trainer in a bid to demonstrate a commitment to healthy foods and physical fitness. Bob Greene is promoting the burger giant's new salad-based 'Go...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEF: Text 100 and Applied Communications merge.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... AMSTERDAM: Text 100 and Applied Communications are to merge their offices in Amsterdam. The decision follows the purchase of Applied Communications' PR division by Text's parent, London-based Next Fifteen Communications Group, last month...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEF: US Aluminum hires Hill & Knowlton.(US Aluminum Association hires firm for marketing communications campaign)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... WASHINGTON: The US Aluminum Association has hired Hill & Knowlton to handle an upcoming marcoms campaign. Management consultancy McKinsey & Co is advising on strategy.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEF: ABC Public Relations A/S affiliate.(has become an affiliate of Hill & Knowlton)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... COPENHAGEN: Danish PR firm ABC Public Relations A/S has become an affiliate of Hill & Knowlton. The Copenhagen-based agency is run by MD Jens Kofoed and has 12 staff.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEF: S&H hired.(Savage & Horrigan appointed to handle financial and investor relations for Australian company Miller's Retail)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... SYDNEY: Savage & Horrigan (S&H) has been hired to handle financial and investor relations for Australian company Miller's Retail, which owns 970 stores across Australasia. S&H partner Chris Savage and associate Stuart Carson lead the account...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEF: Avis hires MWW.(to promote a US public relations campaign)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... PARSIPPANY, NJ: Car rental firm Avis has hired MWW to promote a US PR campaign centred on the 40th anniversary of the company's 'We Try Harder' slogan. Avis hired Cairns & Associates, briefed to raise awareness of the slogan, as its trade and...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEF: Edelman appointments.(announces three senior appointments in the Asia-Pacific region.)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... HONG KONG: Edelman last week announced three senior appointments in the Asia-Pacific region. Mark Juhn has become chairman of Edelman Korea; Dato' Salleh Majid has become chairman of Edelman Malaysia; and Johnathan Miller has become director of...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEF: PepsiAmericas names vice-president.(named Kathryn Koessel as vice-president investor relations)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... MINNEAPOLIS, MN: PepsiAmericas, a major Pepsi bottler, has named Kathryn Koessel as vice-president investor relations. Koessel formerly held various roles at Deutsche Bank and handled investor relations for the launch of online book retailer...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEF: Contract for Gavin Anderson Iberia.(public relations contract for CSR event Segunda Feria Internacional de Accion Social)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... MADRID: Gavin Anderson Iberia has scooped a PR contract for the Segunda Feria Internacional de Accion Social, a CSR event slated for next May in Valencia, Spain. The agency promoted last year's forum, attended by 250 not-for-profit...

NS launches tech segment to keep up with changes.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... New Scientist magazine is launching a new eight-page technology section from this weekend. The editorial will mainly cover the latest developments in technology. NS senior marketing manager Jill Bottomley said: 'This will offer PR...

MEDIA: Tramp aims at young rich.(upmarket magazine to be launched)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... Tramp, an upmarket magazine aimed at 'young, rich and fashionable' people, is to launch next week. The new title will not be made available in the shops but will instead be mailed to a selected list of 15,000 people in London and New York,...

MEDIA: BBC Mags hires Hayes to edit food title.( Christine Hayes )(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... BBC Magazines has appointed Christine Hayes as editor of its forthcoming food magazine, codenamed Project Olive. Hayes, who is currently editor of IPC's Bride To Be magazine in Australia, will join the magazine on 10 November to launch the...

MEDIA BRIEF: Daily Telegraph appoints editor.(Martin Newland)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Daily Telegraph this week appointed Martin Newland as editor to replace Charles Moore, who is to retire. Newland was formerly deputy editor of the National Post of Canada and prior to that has worked as home news editor...

MEDIA BRIEF: Laptop Magazine launched by Future.(Future Publishing)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... FUTURE PUBLISHING: Laptop Magazine has been launched by Future Publishing in a bid to tap into the mobile computer sector. The monthly title will cover laptops, PDAs, printers and other gadgets and is aimed at users of all levels. Each issue...

MEDIA BRIEF: Raworth deputy editor.(Ben Raworth appointed deputy editor of IPC's Loaded magazine)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... LOADED: Ben Raworth, currently editor of Dennis Publishing's Bizarre magazine, is to be deputy editor of IPC's Loaded. Raworth was previously in the launch team for IFG's Jack, before the publisher was taken over by Dennis. Meanwhile, Dean...

MEDIA BRIEF: Wolfgang Munchau Times commentator.(Wolfgang Munchau has been appointed European commentator of the Financial Times)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... FINANCIAL TIMES: Wolfgang Munchau has been appointed European commentator on the Financial Times. Based in Brussels, Munchau joined the FT in 1995 as Frankfurt correspondent and was part of the launch team for FT Deutschland in 2000 - he was...

MEDIA BRIEF: McLennan to assist Arthur.(Louise McLennan to assist Hector Arthur on Times Online's entertainment section)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... TIMES ONLINE: Louise McLennan, former editor of the Student channel on The Times's website, Times Online, has moved to assist Hector Arthur on the site's entertainment section, which was launched last month. Arthur, the former motoring and...

MEDIA BRIEF: PM to be overhauled.(BBC Radio 4 drivetime news and current affairs show)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... BBC RADIO 4: PM, the BBC Radio 4 drivetime news and current affairs show, is to be overhauled under editor Richard Clark. From the middle of November, Eddie Mair will be sole presenter of the daily, hour-long programme. The current set-up uses...

MEDIA BRIEF: Stretch to join Sun.(Euan Stretch to join The Sun as executive news editor)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... THE SUN: Sunday Mirror news editor Euan Stretch is to join The Sun as executive news editor. In the newly created position, he reports to Paul Field, associate editor, news. The pair previously worked together several times, most recently when...

OPINION: The truth will out and Brown will be vindicated.(Gordon Brown)
October 3, 2003... For the first time in ten years there was no Alastair Campbell at the Labour conference, and no one except Tony Blair missed him. No Campbell has not meant no spin, however. As is normal, the Sunday papers were briefed in Bournemouth prior...

EDITORIAL: Blair has regained ground in PR arena.(Tony Blair)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
October 3, 2003... Whether Tony Blair is suffering from an irrevocable breakdown of trust among the British people or is simply going through a nasty bout of mid-term blues is still up for debate, but the tack taken by his minders in Bournemouth this week, to...

OPINION: Lee is the right choice for Olympic bid.(Mike Lee)(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... If London 2012 chairman Barbara Cassani was looking for someone whose professional qualities mirrored her own to lead the PR fight for the Olympics nearly a decade from now, she appears to have picked the right man for the job. Mike Lee's...

ANALYSIS: Edelman looks to Brain for stability.(hires David Brain from rival Weber Shandwick)
October 3, 2003... Edelman has seen a raft of top-level changes, including the poaching of David Brain from rival firm Weber Shandwick and the departure of its UK CEO after just a year in the job. Ian Hall asks what the future holds for Europe's largest...

ANALYSIS: Managers' poor comms skills damage business.
October 3, 2003... Research released this week suggests that middle managers may be the weak link in the internal comms chain. Adam Hill looks at what is being done to help this key group to perform better Middle managers lack empathy and are unable to...

COUNCIL RANKINGS: Mary Cowlett examines the disparity in how councils are resourced.
October 3, 2003... Are you a local authority PRO whose constant grumble is about staffing levels, and who routinely complains of under-resourcing when compared with the private sector? Or just a tax payer concerned at what you see as a generous allocation of...

COUNCIL RANKINGS: Hartlepool Borough Council, with only four comms staff, was awarded an 'excellent' CPA rating.(Comprehensive Performance Assessment)
October 3, 2003... BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL; 20 STAFF Birmingham City Council, one of the largest social services organisation in Europe, was given a 'weak' Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) rating by the Audit Commission last December. ...

PRWEEK AWARDS 2003: And the nominees are..
October 3, 2003... The first chance to see the list of finalists and sponsors of the 2003 PRWeek Awards The Profile Group Award Campaign of the Year To be announced The Precise Press Award Consultancy of the Year Blue Rubicon Fishburn Hedges...

CAMPAIGNS: Outrageous stunts drive T.G.I. Friday's - Brand Awareness.
October 3, 2003... Client: T.G.I. Friday's PR Team: Companycare Communications Campaign: Outrage Us Timescale: July-September 2003 Budget: Agency retainer plus pounds 10,000 for media kits The restaurant chain had a new summer menu to promote, but the...

CAMPAIGNS: Police trials raise Steria recognition - Technology.
October 3, 2003... Client: Steria PR Team: Brodeur Worldwide Campaign: Facial recognition software Timescale: April-August 2003 Budget: part of a six-figure retainer Earlier this year, a contract with Grampian Police for its pioneering new facial...

CAMPAIGNS: Eczema tour of UK boosts GSK remedy - Consumer Health.(discusses GlaxoSmithKline's campaign to raise the profile of the itch-scratch cycle among eczema sufferers)
October 3, 2003... Client: GlaxoSmithKline PR Team: AGA PR Campaign: Itch Scratch Cycle Tour Timescale: June-September 2003 Budget: Approximately pounds 50,000 Keen to get trial versions into the public's hands, it turned to AGA PR to devise a...

PROFILE: Paul Farmer, Rethink - Bruno blunder fires up the quiet Farmer.(Frank Bruno)
October 3, 2003... Rethink PA director is keen to keep mental health on the media agenda Amid the chorus of disapproval over The Sun's coverage last week of former boxer Frank Bruno's mental health problems, some of the most intelligent debate came from...

DIARY: The Deal's a 'fair reflection' for former spinner.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... The Deal, the 90-minute dramatisation of the Blair-Brown pact broadcast by Channel 4 last Sunday evening, was the talk of the town among the lobbyists and PROs who descended on Bournemouth for this week's Labour Party conference. But what...

DIARY: Poor show from PR as Cherie sends her best.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... There was an unusually subdued feel to the Marriott bar at the Labour conference this week. Following Gordon Brown's barnstorming performance on Monday, there was a noticable lack of the public affairs industry's heaviest hitters in their...

DIARY: Talking shop rides to rescue of sullied industry.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... HMC founder Julia Hobsbawm this week emerged as the latest knight riding to the rescue of the PR industry's sullied reputation. Hobsbawm has set up The Network, a club of senior PROs and industry thinkers, which, she says, has been created...

DIARY: Moustache ado about nothing to Starfish PRO.(Brief Article)
October 3, 2003... A campaign launched this week by start-up advertising shop In Yer Face has caused a stir at Starfish Communications, the PR firm promoting the campaign. IYF launched an 'on-beard' advertising strategy, with its staff carving the number...