Public Relations

Just What Iraq Needs: More Spin

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

The U.S.-led military force in Iraq is asking for bids on a two-year, $20 million PR contract. The goal is "to effectively communicate Iraqi government and coalition's goals, and build support among our strategic audiences." The work includes monitoring "Iraqi, pan-Arabic, international and U.S. national and regional markets media in both Arabic and English," including U.S. TV, wire services and newspapers like the New York Times, Washington Post and Los Angeles Times.

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Main Source: 
Washington Post, August 31, 2006
Topics: 
Iraq
International
Propaganda
Public Relations

Hill & Knowlton Reveal Who They Don't Work For

Submitted by Bob Burton on

While Hill & Knowlton are often coy about who they do work for, this week they issued a media release stating that they didn't work for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "At Hill & Knowlton, we work hard to protect the reputations of our clients.

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Main Source: 
CNN, August 28, 2006
Topics: 
Activism
Public Relations
U.S. Government

How Much Freedom Does $2,300 Buy?

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

Wal-Mart's new television ads promote "its health care plans, charitable contributions and positive impact on the American economy" in "unusually detailed terms." In one ad, the narrator says, "Our low prices save the average working family $2,300 a year. Which buys a lot of things -- and a whole lot of freedom." Wal-Mart's Robert McAdam stated, "These ads are more direct than anything we have done before." The New York Times' Michael Barbaro compares them to political campaign ads.

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Main Source: 
New York Times, August 29, 2006
Topics: 
Advertising
Corporations
Public Relations

Government PR: Your Tax Dollars at Work

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

"Agencies across government are under increasing pressure to sway public opinions -- either to win funding from Congress, to satisfy customers, to recruit new employees, to educate the public about new programs, to minimize fallout from controversial policies," writes Mollie Ziegler. With more U.S. federal agencies "applying sophisticated public relations tools and tactics," government spending on PR and marketing services skyrocketed from $39 million in 2001 to more than $400 million for 2006 to date.

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Main Source: 
Federal Times (U.S.), August 28, 2006
Topics: 
Public Relations
U.S. Government

Meet the Future of Marketing: It Is Us

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

Joseph Turow summarizes how marketers are using new technologies to make it "harder than ever for audiences to escape, and resist, their advances." One practice, "seeding," blends "publicity, product placement, and public relations." Seeding can involve hiring actors for "clandestine campaigns that 'may consist of seeding chat rooms, blogs and forums with paid-for messages,'" as one marketer explained.

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Main Source: 
Boston Globe, August 27, 2006
Topics: 
Internet
Marketing
Public Relations

The Bipartisan Nature of the Revolving Door

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

"Scores of Washington [Democrats]" are "ensconced in firms working to advance corporate agendas that don't look that different from policy we see emanating from the Bush administration," writes Russ Baker, summarizing a report released by his Real News Project.

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Main Source: 
AlterNet, August 24, 2006
Topics: 
Left Wing
Lobbying
Public Relations
U.S. Government

E-Voting Company Settles Lawsuit, Gets Religion

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

The electronic voting machine company Election Systems & Software (ES&S) "agreed to a $750,000 settlement that resolves complaints filed after its software caused delays for some Indiana voters and election officials during the state's May primary," reports the Associated Press.

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Main Source: 
Associated Press, August 22, 2006
Topics: 
Corporations
Democracy
Public Relations

Accentuate the Positive, While Getting Rid of Unions

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

PR Week's "Toolbox" column provides tips on how to increase the effectiveness of various PR techniques. But in the August 15, 2006, issue, the feature hints at union-busting techniques. The question is how "to reduce the level of acrimony, improve communications, and facilitate a more pleasant outcome" to labor disputes.

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Main Source: 
PR Week (sub req'd), August 15, 2006
Topics: 
Corporations
Labor
Public Relations

How Bizarre is a CSR Bazaar?

Submitted by Jonathan Rosenblum on

The Institute for International Research notes that it is transmitting information about its September 2006 corporate social responsibility meeting in Dubai solely via the web in order to conserve paper. But one of IIR's sessions--the "CSR Bazaar"-- might lead some to wonder if the organization sees the forest or only the trees.

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Main Source: 
Institute for International Research, August 2006
Topics: 
Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporations
Human Rights
Public Relations

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