Public Relations

Qorvis Communications Coddles Kingdom's Kidnappers

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

"Qorvis Communications is helping Saudi Arabia handle fallout from charges that American children born of mixed U.S./Saudi parents are being kidnapped to the Kingdom," reports O'Dwyer's PR Daily. Congressman Dan Burton, who recently held hearings on the issue, says there are "hundreds of such cases," and that the U.S. State Department hasn't done anything to pressure Saudi Arabia to return the American children held there against their will. U.S.

No
Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily, October 4, 2002
Topics: 
Human Rights
International
Public Relations

I Want My SUV

Submitted by Laura Miller on

New York Times reporter Keith Bradsher's new book "High and Mighty -- SUVs: The World's Most Dangerous Vehicles and How They Got That Way" hit bookstores September 17. Yet before its release, reporters began receiving a 15-page memo titled "SUV Allegations and Facts." According to the Corporate Crime Reporter the memo "seeks to mislead reporters with quotes taken out of context." The source of the attack memo is Washington DC-based PR firm Strat@comm, which counts as clients DaimlerChrysler, Ford, GM, and a number of auto industry trade groups.

No
Main Source: 
Corporate Crime Reporter, September 30, 2002; PR Week, September 30, 2002
Topics: 
Crisis Management

B-M's "Independent" Healthy Weight Task Force

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

"One of the things medical people really know about is clever advertising and one of the really clever tricks of the industry is duping the media into running advertising campaigns absolutely free of charge," writes Media Watch of Australia as it deconstructs the "Healthy Weight Task Force," a front group set up by the Burson-Marsteller PR firm in Australia to promote sales of Xenical diet pills.

No
Main Source: 
ABC Online (Australia), September 30, 2002
Topics: 
Front Groups
Health
Marketing

Soldiers Follow the Script

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

In Afghanistan, BBC correspondent got a revealing look at US military propaganda, when two soldiers showed him the laminated cards they had been given with scripted instructions on how to deal with journalists. The card listed suggested answers to questions like: "How do you feel about what you're doing in Afghanistan"? Answer: "We're united in our purpose and committed to achieving our goals." "How long do you think that will take?" Answer: "We will stay here as long as it takes to get the job done - sir!"

No
Main Source: 
BBC, September 28, 2002
Topics: 
Public Relations
U.S. Government
War / Peace

Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammo

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

KCSA PR Worldwide, whose clients include the Zionist Organization of America, is doing PR for the Christian Coalition to support the war in Iraq. The Christian Coalition is organizing a "Christian Solidarity for Israel Rally" and is urging its members to pray for the Iraqi people while we bomb them. Some PR counselors see a conflict of interest and problems down the road when Jewish and fundamentalist Christian agendas collide.

No
Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily, September 26, 2002
Topics: 
Iraq
Public Relations
Religion

B-M Organizes Anti-Kyoto Front Group in Canada

Submitted by John Stauber on

"National PR is organizing the debut tomorrow of the Coalition for Responsible Environmental Solutions, a group composed of Canada's trade associations largely opposed to the country's plan to adopt the Kyoto global warming treaty. ... [R]epresentatives from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Council of Chief Executives will outline the Coalition's goals during a press conference tomorrow in Ottawa. ...

No
Main Source: 
www.odwyerpr.com
Topics: 
Climate Change
International
Public Relations

Privatization, Before and After

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

Thanks to the internet archives, we can see what the Cato Institute's "Project on Social Security Privatization" looked like last year and compare that with its new look, now that the stock market crash has reminded the public about the reality of privatization. In the Orwellian new version, all references to "privatization" have been airbrushed out of history and replaced with the word "choice."

No
Topics: 
Right Wing
Issue Management
Rhetoric
Think Tanks

"Public Diplomacy" Chief Gets Mixed Reviews

Submitted by Laura Miller on

"As veteran ad executive Charlotte Beers finishes her first year as undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs there are mixed reviews over whether she has accomplished her goal of improving the nation's image beyond its borders," writes Advertising Age. "Even supporters [of Beers] agree that the nation's image has suffered, but they suggest it is unfair to blame Ms. Beers, placing the blame instead on Bush administration policies on Israel and Iraq. Ms.

No
Main Source: 
Advertising Age, September 23, 2002
Topics: 
International
Public Relations
U.S. Government

The Battle of the Band

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

"We're getting the band together," White House Communications Director Dan Bartlett told the group on their first conference call last week. "The 'Band' is made up of the people who brought you the war in Afghanistan -- or at least the accompanying public-relations campaign," explains Martha Brant.

No
Main Source: 
Newsweek, September 18, 2002
Topics: 
Iraq
Public Relations
U.S. Government

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