PR Week (US) back issues from September 2008:
Coalition aids FCC in consumer outreach for digital TV transition.
Sep 01, 2008 ... WASHINGTON: A broad coalition of nonprofits, media organizations, and corporations, in conjunction with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), are increasing consumer outreach for the national broadcasting switch to digital TV next year. The campaigns largely focus on groups deemed ...
Welch's taps Tonic as North America AOR.
Sep 01, 2008 ... CONCORD, MA: Welch Foods (Welch's) recently chose Tonic PR as its AOR for North America. The New York office of UK-based Tonic, which is already Welch's AOR in the UK, will lead the effort. The one-year contract was awarded after a competitive review in which five to seven ...
AMO scores IMF contract.(International Monetary Fund)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) selected global financial communications network AMO for outreach in Africa, Europe, and Latin America. Last week, PRWeek reported that the IMF chose Hill & Knowlton for Middle East and Asia outreach. AMO's Madrid-based firm ...
Xbox, ASA team up on anti-smoking campaign.
Sep 01, 2008 ... LOS ANGELES: Microsoft's Xbox is increasing its outreach to high school students through an action sports and cause-marketing effort. The Xbox 360 Anti-Gravity Tour in support of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids will visit high schools across the country, starting September 22 ....
Transitions awareness push gets a boost from golf tours.
Sep 01, 2008 ... PINELLAS PARK, FL: Transitions Optical launched a new consumer education campaign to tie in good eyesight and good golf. The eyewear company also just signed a four-year marketing deal to be the official eyewear brand for the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour, the Champions Tour, ...
Karen Clark & Co select BackBay Communications.
Sep 01, 2008 ... BOSTON: Karen Clark & Company, a provider of catastrophe risk ...
Huntsworth reports increase in PR revenue.(Financial report)
Sep 01, 2008 ... LONDON: Huntsworth reported a 3.4% increase in PR revenue for the first half of 2008 on a like-by-like basis, which excludes effects of currency movements, compared with the year-ago period. For the six months ending June 30, 2008, PR revenue, which represents 75% of the group's revenue, ...
Red Cross hires The Bravo Group.(International Committee of the Red Cross)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... CHICAGO: The Red Cross hired The Bravo Group for an awareness campaign reaching Chicago's Hispanic community. 'Mismas Necesidades Misma Cruz' ('Same Necessities, Same 'Red' Cross') will run from August 2008 to January ...
City Harvest hires Rubenstein PR.
Sep 01, 2008 ... NEW YORK: City Harvest, a nonprofit that delivers food to hungry New Yorkers, hired Rubenstein PR. The agency will handle PR for City Harvest's ...
Treskoi sign new clients.
Sep 01, 2008 ... MIAMI: Treskoi PR signed several national clients, including text messaging service Text-to-Party, physician administrative ...
Diccicco Battista Communications announces new clients.
Sep 01, 2008 ... HORSHAM, PA: Diccicco Battista Communications just announced four new client wins for its ...
Havas Group reports increase in profits.(Financial report)
Sep 01, 2008 ... PARIS: In interim results released August 28, Havas Group reported net income of approximately dollars 72 million, an increase of 40% compared to dollars 51.4 million at the same time last year. The holding company, ...
ATA selects M. Silver Associates.(Aruba Tourism Authority)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... NEW YORK: The Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) selected M. Silver Associates as its North American AOR. It will work on PR strategy in order to differentiate Aruba from tourism destinations it competes with for ...
McDonald's ups outreach on Hispanic scholarships.
Sep 01, 2008 ... OAK BROOK, IL: McDonald's increased communications efforts for its second year of helping Hispanic high school students prepare for college. It is promoting its 'Steps for Success College Workshops' and the company's scholarship program, funded by Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). ...
WPP sees 9% growth in PR.
Sep 01, 2008 ... LONDON: The PR and public affairs sector within WPP Group reported a 9% increase in revenue, excluding effects of currency movements, in its half-year results released last week. For the six months, ending June 30, PR and public affairs revenue was about dollars 653.5 million, compared to ...
Watercooler signs with Shift.
Sep 01, 2008 ... SAN FRANCISCO: Watercooler recently named Shift Communications its AOR to help raise its profile in the social networking space. Created in 2007, Watercooler is a platform for sports and TV fans that allows users to access the application from social networking sites, including ...
Launch Pad: Oral-B looks to make brushing teeth cool with its new Pulsonic.
Sep 01, 2008 ... <Pre> Organization: Oral-B Campaign: Pulsonic launch PR Team: Publicis PR Launch: September 8 Budget: Undisclosed </Pre> Idea: To position the product as more of a consumer choice than a health choice, the PR team hired spokesman Michael Maloney of Extreme Makeover and will ...
New potato effort touts its nutritional benefits.
Sep 01, 2008 ... DENVER: After several years of negative potato publicity thanks to low-carb diet enthusiasts, the US Potato Board (USPB) is using PR in a new campaign to both explain how the tuber best fits into a health- conscious lifestyle and reach out to mothers, a key demographic. The ...
Media aid launch of MtvU school guides.
Sep 01, 2008 ... NEW YORK: MtvU is positioning its newly launched Campus Daily Guides as one-stop resources for returning college students. The online-only guides were unveiled August 26 at 25 colleges nationwide. The in-house PR team plans to work with college newspapers and local media outlets ...
Livingston, SMG cancel their merger.(Social Media Group)(Livingston Communications Inc.)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... WASHINGTON: Social Media Group (SMG) and Livingston Communications called their planned merger off last week. PRWeek reported in July that SMG planned to acquire DC-based Livingston, and that the deal would close in August. Maggie Fox, CMO of Ontario-based SMG, ...
PR Play of the Week: Denver's pre-DNC moves rocky at best.
Sep 01, 2008 ... Denver has prepared for its big moment in the spotlight for months. The Mile High City's goal was to be nothing less than spic-and-span when it hosted the Democratic National Convention. After all, with all those delegates and international journalists walking around, how embarrassing ...
Creating your online drug.(Cedra Clinical Research LLC.)(getyourdrugon.com)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Cedra Clinical Research, an Austin, TX-based overnight clinical research company, launched getyourdrugon.com earlier this summer. On the site, users can invent drugs to prescribe and send to friends. Cedra is preparing a fall campaign, kicking off September 24, ...
County in PA launches viral videos effort.
Sep 01, 2008 ... BENSALEM, PA: The Bucks County, PA, Conference and Visitors Bureau, working with AOR Oxford Communications, recently launched a series of viral videos with a presidential tie-in to promote the county's tourist offerings. Using a spoof of George Washington, the four episodes, and ...
A new name for NASDAQ news service.
Sep 01, 2008 ... NEW YORK: NASDAQ renamed its news distribution service as GlobeNewswire with an awareness effort that began at the opening bell August 22. Its former name was PrimeNewswire. The company says the transition reflects the international scope of the newswire, and NASDAQ's global ...
Amway Global embarks on brand awareness push.
Sep 01, 2008 ... ADA, MI: Amway Global has embarked on a corporate rebranding effort to raise awareness of the overall brand in the health and wellness category and phase out the Quixtar name and brand. A manufacturer of products, such as beauty brand Artistry and vitamin supplement Nutrilite, as well as a ...
TracFone promotes its wireless brand.
Sep 01, 2008 ... NASHVILLE, TN: TracFone Wireless, with its AOR Interlex, plans to roll out its government-supported SafeLink Wireless program with a national awareness campaign starting this month in Georgia, Florida, and New York. It also introduced the brand, which is available to qualifying, low-income ...
BET's '106 & Park' engages fans online.(BET Networks)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... NEW YORK: When BET's video countdown show 106 & Park celebrated its 2,000th episode August 20, the network also launched an online social community, 106 & Park Connect. The new site is part of BET's overall strategy to expand into online initiatives, said Bernadette Simpao, the manager of ...
News Analysis: College leaders ignite drinking-age debate.
Sep 01, 2008 ... The Amethyst Initiative is calling on the public and politicians to rethink the US' drinking laws. A group of college presidents and chancellors concerned about underage drinking, which they are grudgingly all-too familiar with, recently reignited public debate about the ...
Newsmaker: Parnell brings life's lessons to GW's PR program.
Sep 01, 2008 ... As the son of two high school teachers - his mom taught English, his dad history - and, as of June 2008, the director of George Washington University's masters program in strategic PR, Larry Parnell likes to say, 'Those who can, do; those who care, teach.' Certainly, Parnell ...
Companies: Corporate Profile - Fandango spotlights its movie expertise.(Company overview)
Sep 01, 2008 ... The site has evolved from its ticket-selling roots into a monitor of the filmgoing pulse. The most anticipated movie of the fall is Twilight, based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer. But this information isn't according to a movie studio, which would be a bit biased; or from ...
Companies: The Agency Business - Experts are ready to tackle coming bankruptcies.
Sep 01, 2008 ... Though economic woes in the US have led such well-known companies as Bennigan's, Mrs. Fields, and Mervyns to file for bankruptcy, financial PR experts say that they are not currently dealing with more bankruptcy-related clients than usual. Brunswick Group director Jennifer ...
Editorial: Obama VP announcement turns promise into problem.(Editorial)
Sep 01, 2008 ... As pundit speculation regarding the VP choice mounted, the Obama campaign had promised Web-savvy supporters - who helped the Illinois senator build an extensive Internet base - that they would be 'the first to know' via text message when he made a decision on a running mate. ...
Op-Ed: Speaking conferences bring benefits.(Conference news)
Sep 01, 2008 ... The slowdown in the US economy has communications executives scrambling to stretch budgets without sacrificing results. In times like these, a speaker's bureau program might seem like a 'nice-to-have' component of a communications plan. But a targeted speaking program can provide huge ...
Opinion: Brand hijacking is both obstacle and opportunity for companies.
Sep 01, 2008 ... Don Draper from AMC's Mad Men is a character who parses his words. A fan of the show decided he would make a great Twitter friend. Additional fake Mad Men accounts cropped up. More fans of the show signed up to hear the (fictional) Draper wax cool intelligence on Twitter until his profile ...
Opinion: Theory vs. practice? The correct answer is both for PR education.
Sep 01, 2008 ... As I write this, thousands of faculty members in schools of communication, journalism, and related disciplines all across the country are beginning a new academic year. While estimates vary, it is safe to say that more than 50,000 - perhaps as many as 75,000 - students of communication, ...
Factfile: Retailers realize need to take longer look at young bloggers.
Sep 01, 2008 ... In the news A recent piece in a special fall fashion issue of The New York Times Magazine notes that the face of fashion is getting younger. The story follows 12- and 15-year-old females who blog about their fashion favorites, icons, and even post photos of themselves playing a ...
Media: Analysis - New funding model aims to bolster media.
Sep 01, 2008 ... Web journalist and freelance writer David Cohn asserts that the system many publications, especially newspapers, use to fund their operations is broken. The 26-year-old views his newsgathering creation, Spot Us, which he plans to expand to a dynamic Web site in October, as part of the ...
Media: Journalist Q&A - Laura Flanders, Free Speech TV.
Sep 01, 2008 ... <Pre> Name: Laura Flanders Title: Host of GritTV and RadioNation Outlets: Free Speech TV and weekly radio program for The Nation Preferred contact method: laura@lauraflanders.com Web sites: airamerica.com; grittv.org </Pre> PRWeek: What led you to host news programs? ...
Media: Research - Ads more effective on local media.
Sep 01, 2008 ... <Pre> Conducted BY: Jupiter Research, for the Online Publishers Association Sample: 2,069 local online content consumers (Spring 2008) Goal: To determine which media more effectively reach consumers KEY FINDINGS 79% of respondents are satisfied with ...
Media Roundup: Broadband stories play to wider audience.
Sep 01, 2008 ... Less than a decade ago, high-speed Internet access for homes and businesses was a tech revolution, and coverage was seemingly everywhere However, despite many in the technology consistently writing about the latest iPhone or the promise of 3G and 4G wireless networks, wired broadband ...
Media: Critical Hit - Agency finds right pitch for 'Times'.
Sep 01, 2008 ... <Pre> Name: Ed James, president, PR division, Cornerstone Promotion (New York) Placement: 'It's American Brandstand: Marketers Underwrite Performers,' The New York Times, July 7 Pitch timeline: Four months </Pre> Ed James: Cornerstone is a marketing company based in New York. While ...
Media: Ups and Downs.
Sep 01, 2008 ... CNN's iReport, a citizen journalism platform where consumers submit video stories, sees submissions rise 176% in the past year The Source rebounds from a 2007 bankruptcy with plans to relaunch with a 20th anniversary issue featuring four separate covers Google sets up ...
Media: Inside Information - Companies find attentive viewers in the back of a cab.
Sep 01, 2008 ... In November 2007, Matthew Isaacs, principal at hospitality and event company The Bloc Group, found himself being recognized by passersby on the crowded streets of New York. The reason: After hosting an event for singer John Legend, Isaacs' company was featured on Taxi TV, an ABC offering ...
Cover Story: The media's candidate.
Sep 01, 2008 ... In less than two years, The Politico has emerged as a serious player in the political journalism arena. Now, as the presidential election draws closer, it stands to have an even greater impact. In summer 2006, when The Politico was still just a thought, Jim VandeHei, John F ....
Regional Focus: Florida - Beyond the usual business.
Sep 01, 2008 ... The Sunshine State is brimming with plenty of opportunities for PR pros in a number of different industries. Beth Krietsch reports. While many may think that PR opportunities in Florida are limited to travel and tourism clients, the state is actually vibrant in many other areas, ...
PR Technique: As radio evolves, pitches must follow suit.
Sep 01, 2008 ... Changes stemming from consolidation and the Web mean opportunities for PR pros. Tanya Lewis reports. Several recent industry events have impacted radio. While consolidation - such as the recent merger of XM and Sirius - tends to shrink staff, the number of programming options is ...
Campaigns: California Tortilla sees sales pop.(Brotman Winter Fried Communications)
Sep 01, 2008 ... <Pre> California tortilla PR Team: California Tortilla (Rockville, MD) and Brotman Winter Fried Communications (Falls Church, VA) Campaign: 14th Annual Pop-Tart Day Duration: May 7-28, 2008 Budget: about dollars 8,600 </Pre> 'If (people) get something off the wall like a ...
Campaigns: Sunglass Hut shines light on its new fashion efforts.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... <Pre> Sunglass Hut PR Team: Sunglass Hut and Ogilvy PR Worldwide (both New York) Campaign: A Whole New Look: Store Relaunch Duration: January-May 2008 Budget: dollars 500,000 </Pre> In January, the team tasked Ogilvy PR, its AOR, to help unveil the new design and approach. ...
Campaigns: House of Ruth fights back against domestic violence.
Sep 01, 2008 ... <Pre> House of Ruth Maryland PR Team: House of Ruth Maryland and Vitamin (both Baltimore) Campaign: A Line in the Sand Duration: January 2008-ongoing Budget: dollars 30,000 </Pre> House of Ruth Maryland created a new photo exhibit titled 'A Line in the Sand,' showing compelling ...
PR Toolbox: Pitching radio, executives as thought leaders, and more.
Sep 01, 2008 ... Radio What is important to remember when pitching radio? It is vital to keep location in mind when pitching radio, because stations and local networks are always seeking ways to localize a story, says Curt Gill, operations manager at News Generation. 'One ...
People Moves Cohn & Wolfe.
Sep 01, 2008 ... NEW YORK: Cohn & Wolfe hired Joe Rutledge as EVP and head of the firm's global corporate practice. In this role, Rutledge will oversee strategy for corporate affairs ....
People Moves Harvard University.
Sep 01, 2008 ... CAMBRIDGE, MA: Harvard University appointed Christine Heenan VP of government, community, and public affairs, effective October 1. Heenan, who is founder of the Clarendon Group and a former director of community and government relations at Brown University, will manage ...
People Moves Racepoint Group.
Sep 01, 2008 ... SAN FRANCISCO: Racepoint Group appointed Caroline Kawashima and Tim Hart as SVPs in its San Francisco office. Kawashima joins Racepoint from Autodesk, where she was ...
People Moves Sucampo Pharmaceuticals.
Sep 01, 2008 ... BETHESDA, MD: Biopharma company Sucampo Pharmaceuticals named Kathryn de Santis VP of investor relations and corporate communications, effective August 25. She previously ...
People Moves National Association of Manufacturers.
Sep 01, 2008 ... WASHINGTON: Maureen Davenport, Hill & Knowlton's US tech practice lead, is leaving the firm after nine years. Davenport, who was appointed director of the practice in April, is ...
People Moves Text 100.
Sep 01, 2008 ... SAN FRANCISCO: Christopher Lynn has joined Text 100 as new media manager for North America. He will focus on providing strategic council to clients, ...
People Moves Johnson & Johnson.
Sep 01, 2008 ... NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ: Nancy Walker, VP of global pharmaceutical communications at Johnson & Johnson, announced she would retire September 1. Walker, who has spent nearly 20 years at J&J, led strategic external ...
Careers: Expert Advice - Maryanne Rainone, SVP and MD, Heyman Associates.(Interview)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... I have left my company on less than ideal terms. What should I say to a prospective employer? A: If you've left an unpleasant job, whether you decided to leave or you were fired, remember to focus on your goals during a job interview and speak tactfully about your former ...
A double take.(Canon U.S.A. Inc.)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Maria Sharapova was seeing in 25/25 vision in unveiling her Canon Powershot Diamond Collection on August 20 at the South Street Seaport in New York. More than 25 Sharapova look-alikes joined the tennis star, who was in the city for the ...
Google adjusts Chrome launch efforts after leak.
Sep 08, 2008 ... MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA: Google altered the strategy for the debut of Chrome, its first browser, after its unveiling was mistakenly leaked to journalists several days before the scheduled launch. The open source browser was due to launch late last week, but when the company ...
Siemens taps F-H for global task.(Fleishman-Hillard Inc.)(Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc.)(Brief article)
Sep 08, 2008 ... MALVERN, PA: Siemens Medical Solutions (SMS), the US arm of Siemens Healthcare, named Fleishman-Hillard AOR, based on the firm's international presence. As part of the relationship, Fleishman will provide global work for Siemens Healthcare, SMS' parent organization, which houses ...
McCain camp enlists Eskew as adviser, strategist to Palin.(Tucker Eskew)(John McCain)(Brief article)
Sep 08, 2008 ... WASHINGTON: The presidential campaign of Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has hired Tucker Eskew, a founding partner of communications consulting firm ViaNovo and former aide to President George W. Bush, as a strategist for running mate Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK). Eskew took a leave of ...
Weight Watchers draws attention to food scarcity.
Sep 08, 2008 ... NEW YORK: Weight Watchers International recently kicked off 'Lose for Good,' an effort to draw attention to global food scarcity, and provide added momentum to members' weight loss programs. From September 7 to October 18, Weight Watchers will match every pound of weight lost ...
Wicked Fashions increases efforts for back-to-school.
Sep 08, 2008 ... FORT LEE, NJ: Wicked Fashions has launched a multimedia campaign to drum up support for its flagship clothing line SouthPole in time for the back-to-school and holiday seasons. It is employing social media, viral, and traditional methods, including Web campaigns, in-store ...
Socializr selects DKC as AOR.(Brief article)
Sep 08, 2008 ... SAN FRANCISCO: Socializr, a free Web service for sharing event and party information, has selected DKC as AOR. Socializr will look to DKC to increase its profile in the consumer marketplace, as well ...