PR Week (UK) articles from September 2004

PR Week (UK) archives from September 2004

Canadians snap up Band & Brown.(Band and Brown Communications)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Canadian marcoms group Cossette this week bought independent tech and consumer PR agency Band & Brown Communications. The group has bought the 85-strong agency through a five-year earn-out involving an undisclosed downpayment to founders...

Swede secures top EU comms position.(European Union)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... BRUSSELS: The European Union's environment chief has been earmarked to take charge of the European institutions' PR as it bids to convince people to toss aside their apathy to Brussels. Margot Wallstrom is to take up the newly created V-P...

Tourism Australia to review Euro PR roster.(public relations)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Tourism Australia is to review its roster of European PR agencies just four months after the launch of a pounds 150m global publicity drive. The review threatens BGB Communications's 17-year hold on the UK and Ireland account, which has...

Call centres set for PR overhaul.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... The controversial Indian call centre market is poised for a PR makeover, with a major call centre firm having drafted in fresh UK comms support. Indian firm ICICI One Source, whose call centres and back-office processing centres work for...

EMC runs rule over B2B PR in wake of buying spree.(EMC Corp.,)(Business to business market)(public relations )(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Data storage and information software company EMC Corporation has begun a review of its UK B2B PR following the company's 2003 acquisition blitz. EMC UK & Ireland country marketing manager Nigel Ghent confirmed the company was merging its...

AA set for agency hire to push car-buying loans.(Automobile Association)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Motoring services giant the Automobile Association (AA) is set to draft in a PR agency to raise its profile as a provider of loans to buy cars. Four agencies have pitched for the 12-month consumer PR project, but a decision has been...

JCB promo brief for Borkowski.(JCB Inc.,)(Borkowski PR)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Borkowski PR has scooped a PR account to promote construction equipment giant JCB's branded consumer products. The account includes the promotion of JCB-branded children's toys such as lunchboxes and truck models, as well as DIY clothes...

Orange picks M&C Saatchi for Premiership link-ups.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Mobile phone network Orange has appointed M&C Saatchi Sponsorship to handle the PR for its new mobile content deals with Premiership football clubs Chelsea and Manchester City. The account, won after a pitch against Karen Earl, will see M&C...

Salt nets Electoral Commission post.(Angela Salt)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... The Electoral Commission has recruited former Millennium Commission PR chief Angela Salt as director of communications, with a brief to promote turnouts and step up efforts to modernise the political process. She joins from Grayling, where...

Ketchum to build Honda's UK brand.(Ketchum Advertising Inc.,)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Ketchum has scooped a consumer PR account at Honda, the first time the car manufacturer has employed a PR agency on a retained basis. The agency's brief is to build the Honda brand within the UK and boost its appeal among younger audiences,...

Consolidated retains Buena Vista account.(Buena Vista Home Entertainment Inc.,)(Consolidated Communications Corp.,)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Consolidated Communications has defeated Porter Novelli in the final stage of a fierce battle to retain its hold on the PR account for Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) - the agency's longest-running account. Cohn & Wolfe also made the...

De Beers in global PR hire.(public relations)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... The Diamond Trading Company, the sales and marketing arm of the De Beers Group and the world's largest source of diamonds, has appointed Hill & Knowlton to handle global corporate PR on fees of at least pounds 1m per year. The WPP agency...

News Brief: Martin succeeded by joint-MDs.(Flora Martin)(managing directors)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... AGENCY APPOINTMENT: Flora Martin, the former MD of Incepta's Scottish outfit Citigate Smarts, will be succeeded by Lesley Alexander and Helen Morrison as joint-MDs. Martin is rumoured to be looking at a career outside PR, but told PRWeek: 'I...

News Brief: Khan to defer PR decisions.(new british boxing hero Amir Khan)(public relations)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... OLYMPIC STAR'S PR: British Olympic boxing sensation Amir Khan will defer decisions on any PR deals for at least three weeks, according to Ron Boddy from British Sport, who is acting as his agent. The 17-year-old amateur from Bolton has been...

News Brief: Mitchells & Butlers appoints.(Splendid Communications)(public relations)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... CONSUMER PR: Mitchells & Butlers has appointed Harrison Cowley and Splendid Communications to handle PR for its O'Neill's and All Bar One brands, respectively. Hasliman Taylor had previously held the O'Neill's account for three years.

News Brief: Holborn talks with Hansard.(Holborn Business Partnership)(Hansard Online)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... FINANCIAL PR: Financial PR shop Holborn PR is in merger talks with rival Hansard. Holborn declined to comment, but a source close to the firm said a deal was not yet agreed.

News Brief: Pender-Cudlip launches agency.(Peter Pender-Cudlip)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... FINANCIAL PR: Former Citigate Dewe Rogerson director Peter Pender-Cudlip has launched a business intelligence agency with fellow ex-Kroll directors Patrick Grayson and Andrew Wordsworth. Grayson Pender Wordsworth will use external PR advice on...

News Brief: Golin/Harris launches Change.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... CSR: PR agency Golin/Harris has launched a corporate social responsibility practice called Change. It will be based out of the firm's office in Washington DC. Rob Anderson, a G/H executive V-P, leads the entity as a director. G/H London...

News Brief: Barrett creator of Perrier Awards.(Correction Notice)
September 3, 2004... CLARIFICATION: Infoplan PR chief executive Daphne Barrett created the Perrier Awards in 1981 for the Edinburgh Festival, and not Nica Burns as stated (Feature, 20 August). Burns is director of the awards.

Guernsey tourist brief up for grabs.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Visit Guernsey's UK PR account is up for grabs, threatening the three-year relationship between the tourism office of the Channel Island and McCluskey International. Visit Guernsey trade and media relations manager Jason Moriarty said a...

Siebel Systems hires Bite in US.(Siebel Systems Inc.,)(Bite Communications)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... SAN MATEO, CA: Enterprise software firm Siebel Systems has selected Bite Communications as its agency of record across the US. Bite beat Edelman and Blanc & Otus in a final three-way shootout. The agency reports to senior director of PR...

Olympic betting elevates Hilton Group's reputation.
September 3, 2004... A surge in the popularity of betting, partly propelled by the final stages of the Olympic Games, helped to propel Hilton Group into second place in this week's Reputation Monitor. The group, whose Ladbrokes brand took more than pounds 3m in...

Konami hires Threepipe.(Konami (America) Inc.,)(Threepipe Communications)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Computer game firm Konami has hired Threepipe Communications to promote the launch of the company's football video game Pro Evolution Soccer 4 (PES4). The agency is aiming to secure celebrity endorsement for all of Konami's sports titles...

Noble quits H&K to take Freud job.(Fiona Noble)(Hill & Knowlton Inc.,)(Freud Communications)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Hill & Knowlton has been hit by the resignation of consumer health and lifestyle division MD Fiona Noble, who is poised to join Freud Communications. H&K UK chief executive Marie-Louise Windeler confirmed that Noble, who was unavailable...

Lycos hands B2B work to FH's 77.(Lycos Inc.,)(Business to business market)(Fishburn Hedges)(Seventy Seven)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Internet portal Lycos is set to boost PR activity for its premium products after hiring Fishburn Hedges consumer PR section Seventy Seven to its consumer and B2B account. Seventy Seven won a four-way pitch that included five-year incumbent...

GCI nets Cohan to head up NY office.(Jennifer Cohan)(GCI Group)(New York)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... NEW YORK: GCI has named former Cohn & Wolfe deputy managing director Jennifer Cohan as its New York president. Cohan was formerly deputy to C&W managing director Jonathan Shore in London and spent more than ten years at the WPP-owned agency...

Exposure replaces Cow on XXXX consumer brief.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Brewing giant Interbrew has appointed Exposure to handle UK consumer PR for Castlemaine XXXX - the Australian lager that has enjoyed an eye-catching turnaround in fortunes since being acquired from Carlsberg-Tetley last year. Exposure is...

Slice to promote Rip & Burn launch.(Slice PR )(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Slice PR has been appointed by Haymarket Publishing to promote the launch of monthly magazine Rip & Burn, its assault on the music download market. PRWeek publisher Haymarket is to lavish pounds 1.5m on the launch, with Slice set to use...

Public Sector: Phone firms face Westminster ire.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Westminster City Council has launched a fresh wave of activity in its campaign to rid telephone boxes in the centre of London of illegal cards advertising prostitution. This latest, final push in the three-year campaign will name and shame...

Public Sector: DoH flu jab push to target the vulnerable.(Department of Health)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... The Department of Health's (DoH) influenza immunisation campaign this winter will target those considered vulnerable, including diabetics and asthmatics. The campaign will launch in October and run until January. The Forster Company has...

Public Sector: N-E groups to fight drug-driving.(north-east)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Road safety officers, councils and police across the north-east of England are poised to launch an initiative to stem the rising number of drivers caught under the influence of drugs. The Local Authority Road Safety Officer Association,...

Public Sector: Knowsley gives DTW review brief.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Knowsley Borough Council has drafted in DTW to conduct a review of how it communicates its leisure and community services. DTW director Doug Allan said: 'There is a determination at Knowsley to get communications right. This is a massive...

Public Sector: Scots courts set for first PR boss.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... The Scottish judiciary is aiming to improve its image by employing its first communications chief. The Scottish Court Service's public information officer will be tasked with devising a strategy to raise the profile of the judiciary, to...

Public Sector Brief: Leech appointed.(Melanie Leech)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... WHITEHALL: The Cabinet Office has appointed senior civil servant Melanie Leech as interim director of communications following the departure of Leonie Austin in May (PRWeek, 28 May). It is hoped a permanent director at the Cabinet Office will...

Public Sector Brief: LGIU launches pamphlet.(Local Government Information Unit)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... LGIU: Local democracy think-tank the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) has launched a pamphlet, Barred From Politics, as part of its campaign to revamp the legislation that prevents many council employees from political activities. It...

Public Sector Brief: Greenwich to hold ARF.(Anti-Racist Festival)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... GREENWICH: The London Borough of Greenwich will celebrate diversity and promote racial harmony when it holds an Anti-Racist Festival (ARF) on 18 September on Plumstead Common. The ARF will include live music, including R'n'B act VS, DJs,...

Public Sector Brief: 'Truckers Beware'.(Cambridgeshire Police's new initiative )(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... CAMPAIGN: Cambridgeshire Police has devised a new way of communicating with truck drivers who are being targeted by thieves while they sleep in their cabs. A freight company has donated a number of lorries that carry the warning 'Truckers...

Public Sector Brief: Paul Skipp PR hired.(Paul Skipp Public Relations)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... EMPLOYMENT: The Pertemps Employment Alliance has hired Sutton Coldfield-based Paul Skipp Public Relations to help it promote its work through government welfare-to-work initiatives in the Birmingham and Solihull areas. Working to help the...

Public Sector Brief: Wakefield celebrates anniversary.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... WAKEFIELD: Wakefield Metropolitan Council celebrated the first anniversary of Neighbourhood Action last week with a one-off event in the city centre. During the day of family entertainment, sports activities and a radio roadshow, the council...

Voluntary Sector: Scout body to raise cash for charity via football.(Scout Association)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... The Scout Association (TSA) is on the hunt for sponsors for a PR campaign promoting fitness and a healthy lifestyle among children. The organisation is attempting to persuade celebrities and professional footballers to take part in a 'Big...

Voluntary Sector: Cat group in male ownership drive.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Cats Protection is targeting men in its latest campaign to re-home rescued cats. The charity plans to publish a survey on men's relationships with cats during Cats Protection Week, which runs from 11-18 September. It hopes the...

Voluntary Sector: Meningitis Trust in Xmas initiative.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... The Meningitis Trust is to embark on a pre-Christmas push to bolster awareness about meningitis symptoms. Meningitis is often mistaken for influenza during the winter so the charity wants to ensure vulnerable groups, such as children and...

Voluntary Sector: Paediatrics college appoints Bonar to media role.(Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health)(Stuart Bonar)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has hired Royal College of Midwives parliamentary and policy officer Stuart Bonar as its head of press and parliamentary affairs. Bonar, who takes up the newly created role in October, is...

Voluntary Sector: Citizens Advice to woo volunteers.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Citizens Advice is poised to launch a PR campaign to highlight its charity status and drive volunteer recruitment. The organisation has found that, although 95 per cent of people have heard of Citizens Advice, only a quarter of the...

Voluntary Sector: Tacheback challenge.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Everyman has launched a PR campaign to encourage men to fulfil their 'secret desire' to grow a moustache. The charity is asking men to take its 'Tacheback challenge' throughout September and raise money for cancer research. Celebrities such as...

Public Affairs: Glenmorangie in WS-led PR push.(Glenmorangie Distillery)(public relations)(Weber Shandwick Scotland)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... EDINBURGH: Independent scotch whisky distiller Glenmorangie has appointed Weber Shandwick Scotland for public affairs and media relations support around its sale. The Macdonald family - heirs of entrepreneur Roderick Macdonald - announced...

Public Affairs: Edelman Brussels rejigs comms after Lester exit.(Charlotte Lester)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... BRUSSELS: Edelman Brussels general manager Charlotte Lester is to leave the agency to relocate to India. Edelman has split her role, promoting directors Teemu Lehtinen and Laura Currie to MD of public affairs and MD of public relations...

Public Affairs: H&K hands London lobby role to GCI's Cartwright.(Hill and Knowlton Inc.,)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Hill & Knowlton has poached the chair of the PRCA's public affairs committee Rod Cartwright from GCI London with a brief to lead a new business drive. Cartwright is to be a director in H&K's public affairs practice, where he will report to...

Public Affairs: PI supports joint comms venture.(Politics International)(Greencoat Communications)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Politics International and PR agency DTW are planning a joint-venture, Westminster-based consultancy called Greencoat Communications. It will comprise seven senior consultants, including DTW's Charlie Vavasour, Lisa Poole and Steve...

Public Affairs: Grayling wins RoadChef brief to tackle regulation.(Highways Agency)(Motorway service stations)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... RoadChef has appointed Grayling Political Strategy on a wide-ranging public affairs brief that covers the Highways Agency's regulation of motorway service stations. The retail service areas are currently limited to 5,000 sq ft. 'We are...

City & Corporate: Open Investment to appoint UK adviser.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... MOSCOW: Russian real-estate investment fund Open Investment Company is poised to appoint a UK financial comms adviser as it pushes forward its ambitious expansion plans. The company has shortlisted two PR agencies to advise it on how to...

City & Corporate: Oil explorer GKP calls in CDR ahead of flotation.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Oil exploration company Gulf Keystone Petroleum has drafted in Citigate Dewe Rogerson to handle a financial comms offensive ahead of its listing on AIM. CDR director Martin Jackson is leading the financial communications push, designed to...

City & Corporate: SAB Miller hires Knight to CSR position.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Brewing giant SAB Miller has centralised its CSR operations in London following the listing of the company on the city's stock exchange two years ago. It has poached Kingfisher head of social responsibility Dr Alan Knight to head corporate...

City & Corporate: HBOS hides fear of Santander deal.(Mortgage market)(Brief Article)(Column)
September 3, 2004... This column needs to start with a reality check. HBOS, the bank formed by the merger of Halifax and Bank of Scotland, has not launched a bid for Abbey National. The only firm offer to buy the company at the time of writing is from Santander,...

Healthcare: EU approval to trigger Yentreve UK PR push.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Eli Lilly & Co and Boehringer Ingelheim are to step up UK PR activity behind Yentreve - the first drug approved to treat stress urinary incontinence among women - following the brand's European marketing authorisation last month. Yentreve...

Healthcare: Pfizer/Altana plan pitch for Roflumilast.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Pfizer and Altana Pharma are planning to boost the PR clout behind Roflumilast, their pre-launch respiratory drug, and are in discussions with various PR agencies over a UK contract to promote the brand. Roflumilast is being co-developed by...

Healthcare: Sante in Irish biotech PR push.(TechLink UK-Ireland)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Healthcare PR specialist Sante Communications has launched a PR push to encourage UK-based entrepreneurs to invest in biotech ventures in Ireland. Irish minister for enterprise, trade and employment Mary Harney and Pfizer Ireland MD David...

Healthcare: GSK tackles US critics of 'high-cost' drugs.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... NORTH CAROLINA: Pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline has launched a media relations push in the US to counter criticism about the high cost of its brand-name drugs. The initiative is being led by a reputation committee, established in April, and...

Healthcare: At a Glance - On The Horizon to bring faster drug information.(National Prescribing Centre (NPC))(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... What's this, then? It's the name of a bulletin issued by the UK National Prescribing Centre (NPC) that goes to NHS doctors, managers and others with an interest in prescribing issues. It updates information on new drugs and indications...

Healthcare: Pfizer holds pitch for pain brands.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... NEW YORK: Pfizer is to consolidate global PR for one of its drug franchises for the second time in less than a year. Four PR agencies - reported to be Burson-Marsteller, Hill & Knowlton and Ogilvy PR Worldwide, in addition to Porter Novelli...

Healthcare: WPP merges divisions to form Ogilvy Healthworld.(Healthcare marketing operation)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... NEW YORK/LONDON: Global marcoms group WPP is to merge Ogilvy PR Worldwide and Ogilvy & Mather's healthcare interests with its healthcare marketing operation Healthworld to create a global powerhouse called Ogilvy Healthworld. Healthworld's...

Healthcare: Ferring to stage Desmotabs pitch.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Ferring Pharmaceuticals is in discussions with PR agencies as it thrashes out its UK 2005 PR strategy for its bedwetting treatment Desmotabs. A Ferring UK spokesman said he had already held preliminary meetings with four agencies, which he...

Healthcare: Awareness Campaign Close-up - Migraine week targets media.(Migrane Action Association)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Organisation: Migraine Action Association Campaign: Migraine Awareness Week 2004 Date: 4-11 September Budget: pounds 25,000 PR team: In-house In its 12th year, Migraine Awareness Week exists to raise awareness of migraine as a...

Media Relations: 2 Minutes with... Lianne Ludlow Celebrity editor, Cosmopolitan.(Brief Article)(Interview)
September 3, 2004... What do you do as celebrity editor? I'm responsible for organising all celebrity content in the magazine, from negotiating cover and main interviews with Hollywood A-listers to emotional exclusives with stars, cheeky interviews with hot...

Media Relations: Beringer Blass starts first trade press plan.(Trew Relations)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Wolf Blass owner Beringer Blass Wine Estates (BBWE) will undertake its first trade media PR drive as it turns to sports sponsorships to enforce its premium position. Sports sponsorships taken by individual BBWE brands are the focus of the...

Media Relations: Transhire begins media campaign.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Car rental broker Transhire is aiming to take on the likes of Holiday Autos and Suncars with a PR drive that focuses on the travel trade media. In its 21st year of offering car rentals in more than 30 countries, Transhire is to team up...

Media Relations: What The Papers Say - Traditional row hits exam scores.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... The British summer would never be complete without a 'furious public row' over the state of the education system (The Guardian, 20 August). Examination results provided plenty of axes to grind. Even calls from the heads of the teaching...

Media Relations: Dmail focuses on internet dangers.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Dmail is to appeal to media interest in the dangers lurking on the internet to launch its digital mail product as a safe alternative to email. Targeting four core audiences - families, teenagers, education and corporates - via the consumer...

Media Relations: Cartridge firm Jet Tec to lift profile.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Jet Tec, Europe's largest manufacturer of compatible inkjet cartridges, is aiming to build its consumer media profile to highlight its applications for the home on the back of product launches. Richard Merrin, director of Spreckley...

Media Relations: Ladbrokes to hire media chief to support growth.(Media relations)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Ladbrokes is on the hunt for its first head of media relations in order to take advantage of increased media interest in sport and rapid company growth. Alex Pagett, group corporate affairs director at Hilton Group, which owns the betting...

Media Relations: CA hunts PR chief for campaigns.(Principal press officer)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... The Consumers' Association (CA) is preparing to hire a principal press officer for campaigns after Miranda Watson's appointment as food campaign team leader. The vacant role sits alongside principal press officer for Which? magazine Nikki...

Media Relations: Contact Book Update.
September 3, 2004... PRESS Ed Crooks has been made UK news editor of the Financial Times, overseeing news on the print daily and FT.com. He replaces Robert Shrimsley, who now writes the paper's Notebook column. Crooks joined the FT as economics editor in 1999....

Media Analysis: Political shows shift media agenda.(Media Coverage)
September 3, 2004... The BBC has announced plans to move its 'godfather' of political interviewers Sir David Frost to a later slot next year. But does TV scheduling necessarily mean a wider reach of audience? Richard Cann reports. With the BBC's decision to...

News Analysis: Can Shell survive reserves affair?
September 3, 2004... Last week, the FSA imposed the largest fine in its history on Shell for market abuse over the oil reserves scandal. A Shell PR veteran traces the firm's reputational demise. In 1997, advertising legend Maurice Saatchi was called in by the...

News Analysis: 'Chavs' stain clothes icons' image.
September 3, 2004... When two Leicester pubs banned certain clothes brands last month, the labels found themselves associated with consumers outside their target market. Sarah Robertson reports on the brands' unique image problem. Luxury clothing brands more...

Profile: Active service in the country - Jill Rawlins, director of communications, The Countryside Agency.(Biography)
September 3, 2004... Jill Rawlins is at a loss to name her favourite tract of England's green and pleasant land. But the Somerset resident hesitates before admitting in a matter-of-fact way that she is a 'towny relocated' who would 'loathe' to work in a job where...

Opinion: McDonald's PR takes an unhealthy turn.
September 3, 2004... I felt a stab of pregnancy paranoia when I was reminded that the film Super Size Me opens next week. But then I relaxed. It's not about fatties as such; rather it is a documentary about what happened to a film maker who spent a month living...

Opinion: Even Bush knows that Howard is a loser.
September 3, 2004... Any leader of the opposition craves meetings with international leaders because it's good PR to be linked with a real winner. We now know that even the US president thinks Michael Howard won't be Britain's next prime minister. That's why George...

Opinion: Leader - Call centres need PR to win over doubters.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Think call centres and what else springs to mind? The interminable delay before getting through to a human being? The fact that the human being is as likely to be in Mumbai as Manchester, and therefore lacks the contextual knowledge to make...

Opinion: My Best Hire - Jonathan Simpson.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Carl Gibson, head of external affairs at British Energy, on 'natural campaigner' Jonathan Simpson. 'Raw, enthusiastic and fun were my immediate impressions when I hired Jonathan Simpson nigh on ten years ago at Westminster Communications....

Thought Leader: Turning around lobbying's reputation.
September 3, 2004... Ten years after the notorious cash for questions scandal, lobbying still has a tarnished image. PRCA public affairs committee chairman Rod Cartwright explains how he intends to change that. When a senior journalist recently made some...

Local Government: Fresh challenge for councils.
September 3, 2004... IPR Local Government group chair Pat Gaudin tells Joe Lepper of council communications' bright future. Local government press officers are no strangers to change. Many have been through various reorganisations and now, once again, central...

Christmas Event Venues: Party Time.
September 3, 2004... Where will it be, what is the theme and who is coming? It's not too early to plan a Christmas party. Simon Ellery reports. Christmas may not be upon us for another four months, but if you're not quick off the mark, the list of the choicest...

Campaign: Sony/BMG merger gets the green light - Financial PR.
September 3, 2004... Campaign: BMG merger with Sony Client: Bertelsmann PR Team: Finsbury Timescale: February-August 2004 Budget: Undisclosed The first two efforts failed to gain clearance from the European Commission and the US Federal Trade...