PR Week (US) back issues from October 2008:
Financial comms work remains steady amid Wall Street turmoil.
Oct 06, 2008 ... NEW YORK: Financial communications professionals say they are keeping busy as the Wall Street tumult, which began several weeks ago with the demise of Lehman Brothers and sale of Merrill Lynch to Bank of America, continues. Stanton Crenshaw is working with Bain Capital Partners ...
FDA suspends work with pair of agencies.
Oct 06, 2008 ... WASHINGTON: The FDA temporarily halted work September 29 on a dollars 300,000 contract with an Alaska-based PR firm that had subcontracted with Qorvis Communications. The government agency is awaiting the findings of internal and independent reviews. The FDA on July 23 awarded ...
PN wins dollars 6m CMS contract.
Oct 06, 2008 ... WASHINGTON: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a division of the US Department of Health and Human Services, awarded Porter Novelli a nearly dollars 6 million contract to develop and implement an awareness campaign for the 2009 Medicare Open Enrollment season. ...
A nostalgic trip.
Oct 06, 2008 ... For the final game ever at Shea Stadium on September 28, the Metropolitan Transit Authority's New York City Transit rolled out a 'Nostalgia Train' to take fans to the matchup between the New York Mets and the Florida Marlins. Riding in the ...
Coke relaunches energy drink with hip-hop flair.
Oct 06, 2008 ... ATLANTA: Coca-Cola relaunched its Full Throttle Fury energy drink September 30 with a new campaign and spokesman, hip-hop artist Big Boi. The effort focuses on in-person events with Big Boi, one half of hip-hop duo OutKast, and music in general, to reach its target audience of ...
Wheat Council makes new effort an 'Urban Experience'.
Oct 06, 2008 ... NEW YORK: The Wheat Foods Council (WFC), a nonprofit supported by producers, millers, and other industry groups, plans to turn one quarter of an acre of downtown Manhattan into a wheat field for a three-day event. Held from October 6 to 9 at South Street Seaport, the 'Urban Wheat Field ...
Firms reviewed for Juniper Networks.
Oct 06, 2008 ... SUNNYVALE, CA: Juniper Networks is reviewing firms for its North American AOR. Roger Fortier, corporate communications manager at Juniper, said it is part of the company's overall business review process, though he did note a new CMO was hired last year. 'The nature of the work includes ...
WPP plans to incorporate ..
Oct 06, 2008 ... LONDON: WPP Group plans to incorporate in the Republic of Ireland to reduce its tax burden. Shareholders will vote on the proposed move in late October, and if approved, the plan will ...
GlobeImmune hires Russo Partners.(Brief article)
Oct 06, 2008 ... LOUISVILLE, CO: GlobeImmune, a biopharmaceutical company that develops treatments for infectious diseases and cancer, hired Russo Partners for message development and corporate media ...
Goodman Media International adds new clients.
Oct 06, 2008 ... NEW YORK: Goodman Media International added five new clients to its roster since August, including The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, which has an audience ...
Rogers & Cowan AOR for Bahamas International Film Festival.
Oct 06, 2008 ... NASSAU, BAHAMAS: The Bahamas International Film Festival hired Rogers & Cowan as AOR for the second year. The agency will handle strategic planning, ...
BackBay Communications AOR for LifeYield.
Oct 06, 2008 ... BOSTON: LifeYield, a recently launched financial technology provider to wealth management firms and advisers, hired ...
Edelman working with dna13.
Oct 06, 2008 ... NEW YORK: Edelman is working with dna13 to create a standardized Web-based platform that will allow the firm's 3,200 employees to use the software-as-service for media ...
Corrections.(Correction notice)
Oct 06, 2008 ... Corrections: Two errors were made in the September 22 issue. In Inside Information, we said Cigna's first press room was created in 2006 (it was actually 2005) and failed to mention that Cigna created the pressroom internally. In the ...
SunPower selects Ogilvy to help corporate comms.
Oct 06, 2008 ... SAN JOSE, CA: SunPower, a solar power designer, manufacturer, and marketer based in San Jose, CA, named Ogilvy global AOR after a competitive pitching process. The San Francisco-based account team will focus on corporate communications for the remainder of the year and has plans ...
CJP to launch Buffett series.
Oct 06, 2008 ... NEW YORK: Author Alice Schroeder recently enlisted CJP Communications to launch an online, promotional documentary series to coincide with the release of the first authorized biography of Warren Buffett. Schroeder authored The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life, ...
US Navy Seals choose Gallup.(Gallup Consulting)(Brief article)
Oct 06, 2008 ... SAN DIEGO: The US Navy Seals recently awarded Washington-based Gallup Consulting a six-month, dollars 500,000 contract to help it develop a new branding and marketing strategy. Work will include assessment of the Seals' current communications tactics and development of a ...
Launch Pad: McDonald's broadens Hispanic outreach with traveling 'Fiesta'.
Oct 06, 2008 ... <Pre> Company: McDonald's Campaign: Fiesta Tour McDonald's Music Experience PR Team: Valencia Perez & Echeveste PR Launch: September 28 Budget: Undisclosed </Pre> Idea: As a sponsor of the Latin Grammys, McDonald's wanted to tie in its experiential tour with other events leading ...
Don't miss out.
Oct 06, 2008 ... Logging on to prweekus.com/web-exclusives. Gives you access to all of our Web exclusives and podcasts in one location. For breaking news, log onto PRWeek.com ONLY ON PRWEEK.COM: Kimberly Maul looks at ABC.com's new interactive offerings. 'ABC introduced its digital ...
Remington seeks brand boost, taps Clarke/EMA.(Clarke/Eric Mower and Associates)(Remington Products Inc.)
Oct 06, 2008 ... MADISON, WI: Remington, a division of Spectrum Brands, recently selected Clarke/Eric Mower and Associates (Clarke/EMA) as AOR for its North American men's grooming and shaving products. The contract, which was won after a competitive review, is for approximately a year. The ...
Olympic ties earn brands good press.
Oct 06, 2008 ... NEW YORK: Brands aligned with the 2008 Games saw far more positive news coverage than negative, despite pre-Olympic protests, according to a Hill & Knowlton-sponsored study conducted by ComMetric. The study examined the coverage received by 36 major Olympic sponsors and partners ...
Love those bonus points.
Oct 06, 2008 ... Citibank, which bought Wachovia last week, debuted its 'Thanks a Million' sweepstakes program on September 23 in New York, where winning customers get ThankYou points. Citibank chairman and CEO Peter Knitzer spoke about the program at the event and was joined by Nancy Gordon, EVP of the ...
MAOF hires Valencia arm as new AOR.(Mexican American Opportunity Foundation)(Valencia & Co.)(Brief article)
Oct 06, 2008 ... LOS ANGELES: The Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF) chose Valencia & Co., the separate public affairs arm of Valencia, Perez & Echeveste PR, as its AOR in a one-year contract, effective September 25. 'Qualifications we were looking for boil down to experience in the ...
PR Play of the Week: Pirates reveal new side with spokesperson.
Oct 06, 2008 ... Years of stories that depict pirates as villainous brutes have caused some serious reputation damage to the pirating business as a whole. So when a call came from The New York Times, pirate spokesperson Sugule Ali stepped up to offer a 45-minute interview and a never-before-seen level of ...
News Analysis: Automakers happy to tell electric car story.
Oct 06, 2008 ... Car manufacturers are starting to plan comms for the 2010 rollout of their next-gen vehicles. Automakers are handling myriad issues - changing consumer demand, rising costs, layoffs - but perhaps none as important as convincing its stakeholders that its next-generation, electric ...
Newsmaker: Hunt brings mature attitude to Thomson Reuters.(appointment of Jolie Hunt )
Oct 06, 2008 ... Jolie Hunt joined Thomson Reuters as global head of PR for its Markets division just 10 days after the companies merged in April 2008. Not long after that, Hunt accompanied the division's CEO Devin Wenig and other team members on a 17-city tour of its European and US offices. She hoped to ...
Companies: Corporate Profile - Wolters' CLS unit gets its staff on-board.(Company overview)
Oct 06, 2008 ... External campaigns are aided by creative efforts that educate employees on the entire company. No matter their size or cleverness, PR and ad campaigns can't really succeed if the people at the companies don't understand or believe in the brands being promoted. At least that's ...
Companies: The Agency Business - Client service key to riding out economic unease.
Oct 06, 2008 ... As the economic climate dampens, new business opportunities across the industry, some PR firms are focusing on client service to shore up existing accounts. For instance, proactive surveying of client satisfaction enables New York-based Makovsky & Company to identify issues ...
Opinion: Public bails on bill thanks to communications failure.(Brief article)
Oct 06, 2008 ... At press time, the House of Representatives had shot down a dollars 700-billion bailout plan for the financial sector from the White House that was initially expected to pass. A revised bill was headed to the Senate, but the initial failure offers not only a political lesson, but also a ...
Op-Ed: Curiosity could save the comms pro.
Oct 06, 2008 ... In the midst of the dot-com tailspin, I heard a former CEO of the late, once-great Arthur Andersen speak in a general way about the challenges of client consulting. Human nature being what it is, he said, it is far easier to embrace the status quo than to challenge the business model of a ...
Op-Ed: Motivated Millennials provide hope.
Oct 06, 2008 ... Mentoring, meaningful internships, and interaction with university students are all important approaches to preparing the next generation, but many industry leaders have reservations about the next generation of PR pros. Do the 20-somethings - or 'Millennials' - now being hired have the ...
Opinion: McCain, Obama haven't been on the money with their messaging.
Oct 06, 2008 ... For months, the 2008 presidential election has been hyped, by media and political pundits, to be unlike any this nation has ever seen. And to be sure, with the first African-American nominee and the first woman ever on the GOP ticket, it certainly is historic. Also, given the level of ...
Opinion: In today's market, IR pros must be on the front lines, not the sidelines.
Oct 06, 2008 ... Panic may be a natural reaction to the historic market turmoil we're witnessing. However, after we shake our heads in disappointment, take a deep breath, realize that the next few months, or longer, will be tough, and turn off CNBC, we must get back to work. A few IR ...
Factfile: Planning helps Newman brand prosper even after his passing.(Paul Newman)(Newman's Own)
Oct 06, 2008 ... In the news When Paul Newman passed away two Fridays ago at the age of 83, media coverage focused not only on his long film career, but also his work as a philanthropist and entrepreneur. He leaves behind Newman's Own, which he cofounded in 1982, an all-natural food ...
Media Roundup: Mental health groups struggle for coverage.
Oct 06, 2008 ... Though much of the stigma of mental health conditions has abated among the general public, coverage of depression, addiction, and other disorders is still often overshadowed by other health issues. Therefore, there are few journalists covering mental health full time, says ...
Media: Critical Hit - 'Journal' shows Gerstein's strengths.(Gerstein Fisher)(Interview)(Brief article)
Oct 06, 2008 ... Who is your client? What are its media goals? John Roderick: Gerstein Fisher is a midsize financial advisory firm with dollars 1 billion in assets under management. (Its) media goals are to raise (its) profile nationally through the top-tier financial press, driving home the ...
Media: Inside Information - Employees, clients gain from enterprise social networks.
Oct 06, 2008 ... Most PR pros know to use social media platforms to engage the public, but many are also finding ways to use them to communicate with colleagues and clients. Al Comeaux, SVP of corporate communications at Sabre Holdings, a travel retailer and technology provider, helped his ...
Media: Ups and Downs.(briefs)(Brief article)
Oct 06, 2008 ... News aggregator Digg announces it has raised nearly dollars 29 million and will double its staff to 150 employees The New York Times extends its TimesPeople social networking tool across its Web site, adding reader inter-action through the ranking of stories Hearst ...
Feature: American beauty.
Oct 06, 2008 ... Sephora has started marketing to the often-ignored disabled community with events that target children with special needs and their caretakers. In many ways, Gretchen Vogel is a typical 17-year-old girl; she loves wearing makeup and enjoys going out on dates. Yet as a result of ...
PR Technique: Creating a pitch that is always in vogue.
Oct 06, 2008 ... Targeting the fashion media requires a casual, yet informed, tone, finds Alexandra Bruell. The fashion industry has been shaped by celebrity influence, a growing number of designers, and a more complex media environment. To reflect these changes, fashion PR professionals are ...
Campaigns: Prepared 4 Life sets positive goals.(Pennino & Partners)
Oct 06, 2008 ... <Pre> Prepared 4 Life PR Team: Prepared 4 Life and Pennino & Partners (both Houston) Campaign: Lemonade Day 2008 Duration: January-May 2008 Budget: dollars 100,000 </Pre> The organization, along with Pennino and Partners (P&P), launched Lemonade Day in 2007 and got more than ...
Campaigns: Ethisphere drives attention to its leadership conference.(Conference news)
Oct 06, 2008 ... <Pre> Ethisphere institute PR Team: The Ethisphere Institute (New York City) and Mindspace (Tempe, AZ) Campaign: Driving Profit Through Ethical Leadership conference Duration: March-June 2008 Budget: dollars 30,000 </Pre> Seeking a way to draw attention to the magazine, the ...
Campaigns: Palm Springs celebrates gay marriage with wedding event.
Oct 06, 2008 ... <Pre> Palm Springs, CA PR Team: Palm Springs City Council members and Burke, Rix, Hines & Associates (Palm Springs, CA) Campaign: Married in Palm Springs Duration: May 15-June 18, 2008 Budget: dollars 500 </Pre> Burke, Rix, Hines & Associates (BR&H) volunteered to generate buzz ...
PR Toolbox: Stretching your PR budget, pitching bloggers, and more.
Oct 06, 2008 ... Budgets What are some tips for stretching my budget in 2009? Review your contracts with all of your service providers, advises Eric Hill, president of MyMediaInfo. From wire services to media directories, there may be a lower-cost option that suits your needs. ...
People moves: Burson-Marsteller.(promotion of Mike Lake)(Brief article)
Oct 06, 2008 ... DALLAS: Burson-Marsteller promoted Mike Lake to chairman of its US public affairs practice, effective October 1. Lake, whose twin brother James Lake resigned from the same position in early September to join Gibraltar Associates, will oversee about 100 employees in eight US offices, and ...
People moves: Edelman.
Oct 06, 2008 ... SEATTLE: Edelman hired Wayne Hickey as SVP and digital content strategist. Hickey will drive Edelman's work with Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business and play a role in the agency's digital entertainment, rights, and technology practice ....
People moves: IR at NTSE Euronext.(appointment of Stephen Davidson)(Brief article)
Oct 06, 2008 ... NEW YORK: Stephen Davidson will become VP of IR at NYSE Euronext October 6, responsible for its global IR program, including managing relationships and communications with shareholders, analysts, and the ...
People moves: Hilton Hotels Corporation.
Oct 06, 2008 ... BEVERLY HILLS, CA: Hilton Hotels Corporation hired Ellen Gonda as SVP of global communications and PR, effective October 1. Gonda, who previously was director of ...
People moves: The Rogers Group.(appointment of Marion Pyle )(Brief article)
Oct 06, 2008 ... LOS ANGELES: The Rogers Group (TRG) hired Marion Pyle as VP of its Latino Strategies Group, effective September 24. In this position, Pyle will provide expertise in Latino nonprofit and consumer branding and marketing, ...
People moves: The Horn Group.
Oct 06, 2008 ... SAN FRANCISCO: The Horn Group promoted Dee Anna McPherson to partner. McPherson, a principal of the ...
People moves: MWW.
Oct 06, 2008 ... NEW YORK: MWW hired Matthew Della Croce as SVP and deputy GM of its New York office. Croce was most recently president of Phase IV Health & ...
Careers: Expert Advice - Steve Seeman, VP Makovsky & Company.
Oct 06, 2008 ... I don't believe I was fairly assessed in my performance review. How should I address this? A: This is a delicate situation that must be handled with a great deal of diplomacy, because your approach will impact your future at your firm. First, you should re-read the performance review with ...
Pepsi Bottling mixes first CSR report in messaging.
Oct 13, 2008 ... SOMERS, NY: Pepsi Bottling Group (PBG), the largest manufacturer, seller, and distributor of Pepsi-Cola, issued its first CSR report last week and is working to integrate the message into all communications. In issuing the report, the dollars 14 billion company was responding to ...
USPS issues an RFP for firm to provide strategic outreach.
Oct 13, 2008 ... WASHINGTON: The US Postal Service (USPS) issued an RFP on October 2 for a contractor to provide strategic messaging services to the media, the general public, and postal employees. The deadline for proposals is November 5. Crisis communications factors into the work, noted USPS ...
ACS is looking for AOR that has multicultural capabilities.
Oct 13, 2008 ... WASHINGTON: The American Cancer Society (ACS) is holding a competitive review of its creative firms, including PR, and plans to select a new AOR in the next month. The RFP is part of a larger initiative for the nonprofit organization to become more integrated and better able to ...
CDC broadens its child flu vaccination campaign.
Oct 13, 2008 ... ATLANTA: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began its 2008 influenza vaccination push with a dollars 1 million PR budget. This year's campaign, which opened September 24, taps children ages 5 to 18 years old for the first time, said Kristine Sheedy, director of ...
P&G seeks to forge fashion ties for fabric care products.
Oct 13, 2008 ... CINCINNATI, OH: Procter & Gamble continued its multimillion-dollar investment in aligning its Tide and Downy products with fashion, through a new partnership with Ann Taylor Loft. The effort includes a national tour, media outreach, and an interactive component at Ann Taylor ...
News brief: AIG works with Sard Verbinnen & Co.(American International Group Inc.)(Brief article)
Oct 13, 2008 ... NEW YORK: AIG is working with Sard Verbinnen & Co. as it encounters criticism for a high-priced company retreat that followed its dollars 85 billion bailout from the federal government. The company sought to clarify the event with a press release and ...
News brief: TACA hires The Jeffrey Group as AOR.(TACA International Airlines S.A.)(Brief article)
Oct 13, 2008 ... MIAMI: The Central American airline TACA recently hired The Jeffrey Group as its AOR to help with a rebranding through 2009. The company is overhauling its brand with a new campaign to better ...
News brief: TNS executives recommend shareholders accept acquisition offer.
Oct 13, 2008 ... LONDON: Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) executives have recommended that shareholders accept an acquisition offer from WPP Group. WPP first began with a hostile bid in July. By October 8, 82% of investors ...
News brief: Clear!Blue ordered to rebrand by federal court.
Oct 13, 2008 ... CHARLOTTE, NC: Clear!Blue, a Detroit-based marketing and advertising firm, was ordered by federal court in North Carolina to rebrand following North Carolina-based marketing communications agency, Clear Blue's successful copyright infringement case. The agency won ...
News brief: Board of directors at Cision replace CEO.
Oct 13, 2008 ... STOCKHOLM: Cision's board of directors replaced its CEO ahead of Q3 earnings that the company described as 'unsatisfactory.' It appointed Hans Gieskes as CEO, effective immediately, replacing Niklas Flyborg, who held ...
News brief: Correction.(Correction notice)
Oct 13, 2008 ... In the October 6 issue, a story on The Wheat Foods Council stated that the 'Urban Wheat ...
News brief: ProChile selects Ogilvy PR Worldwide as global AOR.
Oct 13, 2008 ... CHILE: ProChile, the trade commission of Chile, selected Ogilvy PR Worldwide as its global AOR for a multi-year account to help position the country's brand around the world. The campaign will emphasize the country's leadership in exports, ...
News brief: Support for acquisition.
Oct 13, 2008 ... 82% - Investors that supported WPP's acquisition ...