"An NBC-owned talk show is offering marketers the chance to buy guest spots for their products and executives, further blurring the line between programming and advertising. The sponsored segments were included in about two dozen shows appearing during the 2001-02 season of the entertainment program "The Other Half," which is owned, produced and distributed by the NBC Enterprises division of NBC, part of General Electric. ...

As we report in our book Mad Cow USA (available on this website as a free PDF download), the British and US governments' mishandling of the threat of mad cow-type diseases is a case study in how "PR crisis management" protects industry at the expense of human and environmental health.

Activists looking for alternatives to the seemingly overwhelming power of corporate PR may find some useful guidance from tthe SPIN (Strategic Press Information Network) Project. SPIN provides training, media strategizing, and resources to help grassroots activists expand their capacity to influence public opinion and garner positive media attention.