Public Relations

Israeli Reality Show Searches for Best Spin Doctor

A new reality show in Israel promises the winner a year's contract at a PR agency in New York where he or she will be responsible for promoting Israel to Americans, the Guardian reports. The show, called The Ambassador, has 14 contestants carrying out a variety of diplomatic tasks. "The winner will be the person who best demonstrates the qualities of a professional advocate and presents Israel in the most positive light," the Guardian writes.

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Fleishman-Hillard Liquidates Public Assets

"Fleishman-Hillard treated the ratepayers of Los Angeles like a cash cow, milking them for millions," said city controller Laura Chick. Chick's audit of Fleishman-Hillard's work for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power concludes the PR firm overcharged the city $4.2 million over 5 years, through "unsubstantiated, unsupported and questionable" billings.

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An Anti-Spin Sister

A new European organization, Spinwatch, has been launched to inform "journalists and the general public about the behind-the-scenes interests that influence - and occasionally create - the news." Co-founder David Miller "says the lies of non-existent weapons of mass destruction, and the general lack of questioning in the mainstream media, inspired him to take action," reports the Guardian. "Miller wants to recreate U.S.

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A Spoonful of PR to Make For-Profit Medicine Seem Good

Rising healthcare costs, drug recalls and a low public opinion of the healthcare industry mean that there will be "less money in [direct-to-consumer advertising]" and "more money in PR" in the future, predicts Chandler Chicco's Jeff

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PR for Mr. PR

Columnist Gene Weingarten takes a savage cut at a flack who calls himself "Mr. PR" and has written a book that promises to teach people how to become famous. "As an end in itself, this sounded as slimy as squid succotash," Weingarten writes before describing his own "diabolical plan" to "subject Mr. PR to the PR man's Worst Nightmare."

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