Public Relations

System Failure: Ethical Meltdown Burns Wall Street

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

"Phony earnings, inflated revenues, conflicted Wall Street analysts, directors asleep at the switch--this isn't just a few bad apples we're talking about here," writes Fortune magazine. "This, my friends, is a systemic breakdown. Nearly every known check on corporate behavior--moral, regulatory, you name it--fell by the wayside, replaced by the stupendous greed that marked the end of the bubble. And that has created a crisis of investor confidence the likes of which hasn't been seen since--well, since the Great Depression." And the crisis hasn't even peaked yet.

No
Main Source: 
Fortune, June 24, 2002
Topics: 
Crisis Management
Corporations
Ethics

Myanmar Hires PR Help

Submitted by Laura Miller on

"The Union of Myanmar, which is ruled by a ruthless military junta, has retained Washington, D.C.-based DCI Assocs. to improve its relationship with the U.S.," trade publication O'Dwyer's PR writes. "DCI is to brief members of the Bush Administration and Congress that the former Burma is now committed to democracy and human rights. It also wants to be considered a foot soldier in President Bush's so-called 'war on terror.' DCI received a $100,000 retainer from Myanmar in early April, which will cover work through July 15. It will then bill Myanmar $35K a month. ...

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Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR, June 21, 2002
Topics: 
Terrorism
Democracy
Human Rights
International
Public Relations

The Global Greenwash Oscars

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

"What's good for big business is good for the earth," proclaims the EarthSummit.biz web site, which is spoofing corporate greenwashing in the buildup to the Earth Summit in Johannesburg, scheduled for August of this year. EarthSummit.biz is accepting nominations for "Green Oscars" -- "the world's premiere awards for those acting green" -- to "dramatize the lack of real progress by the world's governments at two Earth Summits in holding corporations accountable for their environmental and social behavior."

No
Main Source: 
http://www.earthsummit.biz/
Topics: 
Environment
Public Relations

Global Crossing's New Crisis Team

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

Gary Winnick, the Global Crossing founder/chairman who is trying to raise $1 billion to rescue his once-mighty company from bankruptcy, has hired Rubenstein and Associates, the PR firm that specializes in "reputation management" for clients such as Rupert Murdoch, Donald Trump, Leona Helmsley, Adnan Khashoggi, Kathie Lee Gifford and the state of Israel.

No
Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily, June 10, 2002
Topics: 
Crisis Management
Corporations

The Value of Trust

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

"A series of revelations of corporate malpractice and number fiddling" have destroyed investor faith in Wall Street, reports the Economist. "Investors have not only lost patience with corporate America's greed and its inability to do what it says it is doing; they have also lost confidence in Wall Street's ability to act as an honest broker between them, the providers of capital, and the corporate users of it.

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Main Source: 
The Economist (UK), June 6, 2002
Topics: 
Crisis Management
Corporations
Ethics

PR at the FBI

Submitted by John Stauber on

Tompaine.com has run an opinion page advertisement in the New York Times decrying the FBI's recent PR campaign to improve its image in the wake of now public disclosures that it dropped the ball in regard to the 9/11 terrorist attacks: "Americans are entitled to a full accounting of the problems at FBI headquarters -- Who is responsible? Who will be held accountable? Using public relations tactics to change the subject and to defuse the political consequences short-circuits needed reforms and does the nation a disservice."

No
Main Source: 
www.tompaine.com, June 5, 2002
Topics: 
Terrorism
Public Relations
U.S. Government

Makeover Week

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

A "PR makeover," explains communications consultant Fraser P. Seitel, is when "a caged and cornered public figure attempts a complete identity reversal." Seitel examines recent makeover attempts by FBI Director Robert Mueller, Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi, and New Jersey Senator Robert Torricelli. "Changing one's image depends on a shocking release, startling revelation or completely unanticipated declaration - to confess to past lapses and promise future change," Seitel says. But are any of these conversions genuine?

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Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily, June 3, 2002
Topics: 
Crisis Management

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