PR Week (US) back issues from May 2002:
Bush's mental health parity stance forces HMOs' PR balancing act.(American Association of Health Plans wants to avoid mandated increases in coverage, U.S.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 06, 2002 ... WASHINGTON: Leading mental health organizations have been publicly applauding President Bush for his recent endorsements of mental health parity - the belief that HMOs should treat, and pay for, mental illnesses with the same seriousness as they do physical ones. The HMOs, ...
Euro RSCG merges bottom line of all US comms shops.(forms 2 new firms from consolidation of 11 U.S. marketing communications firms)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... NEW YORK: Euro RSCG Worldwide has lifted individual P&L responsibility from its 11 US marketing communications firms, combining them into two, fully integrated operations comprising all disciplines from PR to direct marketing to advertising. The larger of the two, with dollars ...
Qwest looks to an analyst to head up IR in difficult times.(Qwest Communications executive appointment, U.S.)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... DENVER: Embattled telecom giant Qwest Communications has hired a new SVP of IR, following the retirement of Lee Wolfe. Stephanie Georges Comfort joins Qwest from Morgan Stanley, where she was senior telecoms services equity analyst. 'I've been on the buy and sell side ...
Qorvis pleased by Saudi ads despite some negative ink.(national television networks did not refuse to carry ads for the royal family of Saudi Arabia, as rumored, U.S.)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... WASHINGTON: Ads produced by Qorvis Communications for the royal family of Saudi Arabia made national headlines last week when it was reported that up to nine national networks had refused to carry them. The only problem, said Qorvis founder and managing partner Mike Petruzzello, ...
NIRI tackles mistrust with new ethics code.(National Investor Relations Institute, U.S.)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... NEW YORK: The National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) has significantly strengthened its ethics code with a dozen do-or-die practice obligations that are to apply to every IR professional. The new code replaces the existing seven-point code that NIRI said was 'more general ...
Red Cross reorganization results in comms cutback.(communications, U.S.)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... WASHINGTON, DC: The national headquarters of the American Red Cross plans to lay off about 30 employees from its communications and marketing department as part of an internal reorganization. The cutback is part of a larger downsizing, which is expected to impact about 100 of the 2,400 ...
Downturn sparks PR collaborations.(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... BOSTON: The recession has prompted a number of PR freelancers in New England to band together and form impromptu alliances, acting as virtual account teams. 'During the economic boom, companies were looking for cachet when choosing PR teams and agencies,' said Diane Pardes, head ...
Burson launches Hispanic practice.(Burson-Marsteller advertising agency, U.S.)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... MIAMI: Burson-Marsteller has asked some of its Spanish-speaking employees to take on expanded job descriptions, assembling more than a dozen specialists from a variety of fields into a new US Hispanic practice. 'We've always been active in the Latino market, mostly in media and ...
PETA files suit over TV ad claiming cows are 'happy'.(People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals files false-advertising complaint, U.S.)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... LOS ANGELES: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) doesn't think it's fair to call California cows happy, according to a new FTC filing. The animal-rights activists registered a false-advertising complaint with the Federal Trade Commission last week, charging that ...
NEWS IN BRIEF: Weiser Group opens office through merger.(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... WASHINGTON: Chicago-based agency The Weiser Group has opened a DC office through a merger with Cambridge Strategic Partners, a local public policy and telecommunications consulting firm. The new office, which will focus ...
NEWS IN BRIEF: KCSA names managing director.(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... NEW YORK: KCSA has named Ann Higgins managing director of its consumer practice. Higgins joins KCSA from STC Associates, where she was SVP, director of PR. Prior to that, ...
NEWS IN BRIEF: Widmeyer picks up healthcare clients.(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... WASHINGTON: Widmeyer Communications has picked up four new healthcare clients: The National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions, the American Medical ...
NEWS IN BRIEF: Brouillard chosen to handle PR.(and advertising for Dassault Falcon Jet, U.S.)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... NEW YORK: Brouillard Communications has been chosen to handle PR and advertising for Dassault Falcon Jet, a ...
NEWS IN BRIEF: Bailey Gardiner works on program.(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... SAN DIEGO: Bailey Gardiner is working with San Diego's Association of Government (SANDAG) on an integrated marketing program linking public relations, community ...
NEWS IN BRIEF: Niadyne appoints Keating PR.(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... MILLBURN, NJ: Niadyne, a pharmaceutical technology company, has appointed Keating PR to handle strategic media relations. Specifically, ...
NEWS IN BRIEF: Medialink announces Q1 results.(financial results, first quarter 2002, U.S.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 06, 2002 ... NEW YORK: Medialink has announced its Q1 results, recording dollars 11.1 million in revenue and an earnings-per-share (EPS) loss of dollars .12. Net loss for the same quarter last year was dollars .17 per share, and ...
NEWS IN BRIEF: Omnicom results show income climb.(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... NEW YORK: Omnicom Group's Q1 results show that net income climbed to dollars 128.6 million from dollars 95.3 million during the same quarter in 2001. It had a 31% jump in diluted earnings per share in the first quarter of 2002, as diluted EPS during the period rose to dollars .68 compared ...
CuresNow works with GCPN to bring its pro-cloning crusade to TV.(Goddard Clausen Porter Novelli)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... LOS ANGELES: The debate over human cloning is coming to the small screen, with a new series of ads featuring Harry and Louise, the down-home couple that helped the insurance industry scuttle Clinton's healthcare plans in 1994. CuresNow, a Hollywood-based group in favor of ...
H&K goes within to fill top DC post.(Alisa Fogelman-Beyer)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... WASHINGTON: Alisa Fogelman-Beyer will soon fill the long-vacant general manager's seat at Hill & Knowlton's DC office. The last person to formally hold the position, Victoria 'Torie' Clarke, left early last year to become head of public affairs for the Department of Defense. In ...
Burson drops dollars 2m Gatorade account to up Coke efforts.(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... CHICAGO: WPP's Burson-Marsteller has walked away from a dollars 2 million account with Gatorade amid speculation that the agency would have been booted in the near future as Gatorade parent PepsiCo consolidates its marketing spend with Omnicom-owned agencies. Fleishman-Hillard ...
Ongoing analyst scandal forces PR rethink at Merrill.(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... NEW YORK: Merrill Lynch has quickly and deliberately shifted its PR strategy regarding the analyst scandal that has besieged the firm for nearly a month. A source close to the situation has admitted that PR blunders were made early in the imbroglio, and that those involved have been ...
AARP lends hand in fight to combat rising drug costs.(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... WASHINGTON: The AARP has joined the fight against rising prescription drug costs for seniors, and has embarked upon an extensive communications push to get its message across. The organization is addressing what it calls its 'number-one priority' in three steps, according to ...
Piracy bill prompts techies to speak out.(bill to prevent sale of digital services)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... WASHINGTON: Advocates for the technology industry are battling Hollywood in an effort to shift the piracy debate away from government regulation. Congress is considering legislation proposed by Sen. Fritz Hollings (D-SC) that would prohibit electronics and software companies ...
MultiVu selected as name for new PR Newswire arm.(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... NEW YORK: PR Newswire has revealed the name of its newly formed broadcast company, which opened last week (PRWeek, April 29). MultiVu, named by the company's president Tim Bahr, offers multimedia production and global distribution services through PR Newswire's corporate reach ...
Newsweek adds consumer focus, debuts Tip Sheet.(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... NEW YORK: Newsweek, one of the magazine industry's most venerable titles, will unveil a new stage for the latest products and services when it debuts Tip Sheet, a three- to five-page section, in the May 13 issue. Tip Sheet - 'a newsletter for smart consumers,' according to ...
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: US scandal prompts UK church's PR drive.(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... LONDON: The Catholic Church of England and Wales is set to institute its first set of PR guidelines to tackle child sex-abuse scandals. The guides are due to be in place within weeks, and come as the church battles to improve its global image following the recent US pedophilia ...
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Ex-Royal Family media adviser to lead ABC comms.(Geoffrey Crawford)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... SYDNEY: Geoffrey Crawford, the Queen's former press secretary, has been named director of corporate affairs at leading Australian TV network ABC. Crawford replaces Victoria Buchan, a reportedly close ally of Jonathan Shier, ABC's recently departed managing director. ...
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Coca-Cola GB set to start search for new director of PR.(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... LONDON: Beverage giant Coca-Cola GB has begun its search for a new communications director to replace Andrew Coker, a two-year incumbent who left the firm for personal reasons. Coca-Cola UK and Ireland president Tom Long asked the firm's group communications director (Western ...
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Le Pen works media in pre-election blitz.(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... PARIS: Far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen's campaign strategist Martial Bilt waged a media relations war as the second round of the French presidential elections loomed. A major PR blitz was planned over the days leading up to the May 5 vote, when Le Pen challenged current ...
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: LaForce to handle PR for Sears' fall launch of new Covington label.(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... CHICAGO: Sears is taking on New York-based LaForce & Stevens to handle what's likely to be a major national PR campaign to highlight the launch of its new Covington clothing line. Sears announced the new label two weeks ago, but merchandise bearing the Covington name won't be in ...
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Ketchum driving Declaration's road tour through USA.(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... ATLANTA: Famed TV producer Norman Lear had no intention of buying the Declaration of Independence in 2000. He just went to the Sotheby's auction in Los Angeles to take a peek. But he was moved to tears, and emerged as the top bidder. Lear and Home Depot have now tapped Ketchum ...
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: CRT asked to help nonprofits raising funds for phones.(Carter Ryley Thomas)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... RICHMOND, VA: The Wireless Foundation, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization, has selected Carter Ryley Thomas to initiate a grassroots program that will help other nonprofits raise money by collecting discarded or outdated cellular telephones. David Diggs, VP and ...
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: PHA defends itself against PR overspending charges.(Philadelphia Housing Authority)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... PHILADELPHIA: The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) has been charged with overspending and misappropriating more than dollars 1 million dollars over the past two years to seven PR consultants. The charges were made in the lead story in last Sunday's Philadelphia Inquirer, ...
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: CA minorities say they prefer media with ethnic slant.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 06, 2002 ... LOS ANGELES: A full 84% of Hispanics, African Americans, and Asian Americans in California - that's 14.2 million residents - tune in to ethnic TV, radio, and print outlets on a regular basis, according to a new study. Minorities also said they preferred ethnic media outlets for ...
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Small films look for big role in Tribeca PR.(Tribeca Film Festival)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... NEW YORK: As host of several highly-anticipated debuts - including the East Coast premiere of Star Wars: Episode II - and benefitting from the support of power players like Robert DeNiro, Martin Scorsese, and American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault, the first-ever Tribeca Film Festival will ...
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: New security firm names CPRi as its agency of record.(General Defense Systems)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... TETERBORO, NJ: The Homeland Security gold rush continues, with General Defense Systems (GDS) naming CPRi Communications its agency of record. GDS is a barely year-old company that focuses on using wireless and broadband technologies to increase security at airports and shipping ...
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Golin takeover of Nixon yields new anti-tobacco jobs.(Golin/Harris International, Nixon Group)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... MIAMI: Golin/Harris International's March takeover of the Nixon Group is already producing dividends. Golin's Miami office, the former Nixon Group, has won new assignments from three state anti-smoking programs, with total fees of dollars 400,000. When Golin acquired it, the ...
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: US public diplomacy head hits back at Beers' critics.(Harold Pachios, chairman of the US Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, approves of actions taken by undersecretary Charlotte Beers)(Brief Article)(Interview)
May 06, 2002 ... WASHINGTON: In an exclusive interview with PRWeek, Harold Pachios, chairman of the US Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, praised the work of undersecretary Charlotte Beers. But he also warned that public diplomacy does not have the power to stop a repeat of the September 11 attacks. ...
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: New partnership looks to promote clients on screen.(Rogers and Cowan teams with Weber Shandwick Worldwide's for travel promotion)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... LOS ANGELES: Rogers & Cowan (R&C) has teamed with parent company Weber Shandwick Worldwide's destination travel division for a new venture aimed at promoting clients through entertainment outlets. Dubbed 'Destination: Entertainment Marketing,' the operation seeks to leverage ...
EDITORIAL: Learning to avoid an Andersen-like crisis.(Andersen Worldwide and Arthur Andersen L.L.P. try to distinguish themselves)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... Andersen is mortally wounded. Once the criminal indictment and investor lawsuits do their damage, there will likely be nothing left as member firms establish new alliances and clients flee. In spite of that, Andersen has spent the past two weeks attempting to educate journalists ...
COMMENT: Thought Leader - Out with the old, in with the new: the press release gets a 21st century facelift.(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... 'I know not whether any man in the world has had more influence on its inhabitants or affairs.' So wrote John Adams about Thomas Paine and his pamphlet Common Sense. With its incredible persuasiveness and clarity of style, Paine's pamphlet might well have been the first press release. Then ...
ANALYSIS: Marketing Overseas - Message strength withers when borders are crossed.
May 06, 2002; ... Messages that work in the US may fall flat elsewhere, so they must be tailored to fit local audiences. John N. Frank looks at why US success doesn't always translate abroad. Building a brand is a matter of creating consistent messages and disseminating them wherever the brand ...
ANALYSIS: PAUL HOLMES - The fact that the Pope is CEO doesn't change how the Catholic church should handle crisis.(pedophilia in the Catholic Church)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... 'If homosexuality is something we should all accept, and if priests should be allowed to have sex, and if the Boy Scouts should have gay scoutmasters, then why is everybody upset that homosexual priests have gotten sexually involved with boys under 18?' I took this quote from a ...
ANALYSIS: Corporate Case Study - Coca-Cola swallows its pride and sets out new PR goals.(Clyde Tuggle helps public relations)
May 06, 2002 ... Coca-Cola's PR staff, spread out over 200 countries, only got together for the first time last year. But it's a sign among many that the world is seeing a new Coke. Since 1998, Coca-Cola has been beleaguered by bottler complaints, roughed-up by European regulators, laden by a ...
ANALYSIS: Media Watch - Gates' words fail to impress despite improved court demeanor.(Microsoft Corp's Bill Gates)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... The Microsoft antitrust trial has been underway for nearly four years, and the software giant has already been found guilty of violating the Sherman Anti-trust Act. After an appeals court overturned an order to break up the company, the Justice Department and nine states reached a ...
MEDIA RESTAURANTS: Media Roundup - Restaurants vie for the top table in an overfed media.(Industry Overview)
May 06, 2002; ... With the competition among restaurants hotter than ever, David Ward discovers that local diners, national chains, and five-star establishments alike are seeking unique offerings to whet reporters' appetites As a walk down any US street will attest, Americans love to eat, and ...
MEDIA PROFILE: New Journal section lends a human face to Wall St numbers.(Wall Street Journal Personal Journal)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... Though intentionally different in tone and content from The Wall Street Journal, Paul Cordasco finds that those who anticipate more lenient editorial standards from the Personal Journal will be sadly mistaken Think of The Wall Street Journal's new Personal Journal section as a ...
PROFILE: Neiman Marcus' PR gets Downing's personal touch - Ken Downing's love of fashion carried him into PR at Neiman Marcus, where he puts his fingerprint on all the posh events that show off the store's lavish goods.(Ken Downing of Neiman Marcus)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... Ken Downing is hard to miss. Standing a slim 6'4', his hair in a straight blond bob, and always dressed to the nines, he gets noticed at the poshest parties. 'He dominates a room,' says John McGill, president of Dallas' McGill Associates. 'You look at him and you know he's in ...
POSITIONING: A big hand for the brand - How do positioning and branding support each other?(marketing and management techniques and theory)
May 06, 2002 ... The importance of building a brand and the relationship between brand-building and positioning continues to be a source of discussion and sometimes-passionate debate among marketers of all stripes. The first problem is one of basic definition. What exactly is branding? ...
MARKET FOCUS FOOD & BEVERAGE: Food forethought - A tough economy and tighter news cycle has food companies thinking up new PR angles - from comfort to colors to concerts - to gain media and public interest.(marketing activity after Sept. 11th attacks)
May 06, 2002 ... Food and beverage PR temporarily ground to a halt after September 11, as food makers and their PR firms tried to determine what would be appropriate in such a dark time. By October, however, some food PR programs were moving forward again. Chicago-based Dome ...
PR TECHNIQUE PRODUCT PLACEMENT: Getting a product in front of the cameras. Placing a product on a TV show or in a film involves finding a good fit with the material. But getting an expert's help first is critical.(marketing techniques and theory)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... With the 20th anniversary of Steven Spielberg's alien blockbuster ET hitting theaters this summer, audiences will be treated not only to a bit of childhood nostalgia, but also one of the most famous product-placement scenes of all time: a precocious Henry Thomas (Elliott) luring his new ...
CAMPAIGNS: Volvo's 75th takes on a life of its own - Branding.(Hayberman and Associates contract details)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... <Pre> Client: Volvo Cars, North America (Orange County, CA) PR Team: Hayberman & Associates (Minneapolis) Campaign: Volvo's 75th anniversary celebration Time Frame: March 27, 2002 Budget: dollars 200,000 </Pre> 'Human interest is so much of what we're about,' says Roger Ormisher, ...
CAMPAIGNS: Potential of failure fuels Libby victory - Media Relations.(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... <Pre> Client: Jim Libby for Governor (Portland, ME) PR Team: In-house Campaign: Clean Election certification Time Frame: August 2001 - April 15, 2002 Budget: dollars 13,000 </Pre> Fortunately, the state of Maine has what's called the Clean Elections Act. A candidate choosing to ...
CAMPAIGNS: Summit helps put Utah's tech on top - Event PR.(Meservy Wing Snapp marketing campaign review)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... <Pre> Clients: Altiris, Corda, Digital Signature Trust, KeyLabs, NetVision, NxLight, Power Innovations, Satel PR Team: Meservy Wing Snapp (Orem, UT) Campaign: 2002 Winter Games Summit Event Time Frame: January 1-February 28, 2002 Budget: Under dollars 50,000 </Pre> When Salt ...
CAREERS: Pandora's Problem Page.
May 06, 2002 ... Q The agency I work for has been retained by a certain client for five years. My boss was on the team that originally pitched for the business, and he has been the lead on the account ever since. She is really good friends with the corporate VP, and they even go out on social occasions ...
CAREERS: My Big Break.(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... My internship clock was ticking. I was enrolled at one of the country's leading journalism schools, but had no experience under my belt. When I finally applied for an internship, I expressed my desire to work in the creative department. I got a job, but found out that the ...
CAREERS: Where I Work - Justin Kanoya, PR specialist, Upper Deck.
May 06, 2002 ... How long have you been in your job? Two years. Describe the space you work in: A small, cluttered mess that would be a memorabilia collector's dream. I have more autographed photos, baseball cards, and other small collections than one person should have in such a small space. ...
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: Randy Fordice.(Brief Article)(Interview)
May 06, 2002 ... He's Mr. Utility, and probably the only man alive who will admit to loving both ABBA and The Grateful Dead. Meet Randy Fordice, account coordinator at Alliant Energy in Cedar Rapids, IA. Describe the company you work for Alliant Energy is an energy services firm with more than ...
TALES FROM TINSELTOWN: Actors stripped of excuses for not reviewing their film photos.(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... This is the story of the stripper and the light box. Each shall shed light on, and reveal naked truths about, the mysteries of film budgets. I have a friend who's the publicist on a major TV show in production. Let's call her Tracy. No, wait, that's my sister's ...
LAST CALL: Is trophy a stroke of genius or has it been overblown?(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... Oh, the sweet taste of success. Much better than Cheerios, in our experience. When LPGA tour member Cristie Kerr won her first golf tourney last month, an AP photographer snapped this pic of the lucky lady laying some lip on her brand new trophy. But we admit we're ...
LAST CALL: Sklyer pushes on after 'shovegate'.(press secretary Ed Skyler)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... Mayor Michael Bloomberg's press secretary, Ed Skyler, has been accused of beating back the press for his boss - literally. The mini-scandal erupted on the steps of New York's city hall on April 12 when a local news crew claims Skyler assaulted its cameraman. The incident was ...
LAST CALL: Atkins consumes diet critics' wrath after heart attack.(Dr. Robert Atkins)(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... On April 18, Dr. Robert Atkins, creator of the infamous high-protein, low-carb Atkins Diet, went into cardiac arrest. He was released from the hospital less than one week later, and PRWeek is relieved to hear that he didn't suffer another incident when he realized what a PR nightmare he ...
LAST CALL: Fleischer's big news gets little play.(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... A presidential press secretary lives and dies by what he says, but Ari Fleischer has made a point of never saying certain things. When asked about his love life, the 41-year-old native New Yorker has referred interviewers to his golden rule of life in Washington: Never discuss how much you ...
LAST CALL: PR is undervalued on eBay's auction.(Brief Article)
May 06, 2002 ... For the past few weeks, The Wall Street Journal has been staging a charity auction of its signature headcuts - the pixilated portraits that often accompany its articles - on eBay. From April 22-29, the theme was media. Browsers could bid on several advertising titans: both ...
Agencies weather storm, suffer only 7% dip in 2001.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 13, 2002 ... NEW YORK: The dot-com collapse, economic malaise, and September 11 conspired to turn 2001 into what Brodeur CEO Andy Carney called 'the perfect storm,' but with total revenues falling only 7% from the all-time high of 2000, PR agencies toughed out the tempest. Initial estimates, ...