Public Relations

Powell Tate Lobbies for Star Wars

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

Boeing is using Interpublic's Powell Tate unit to build PR support for President Bush's missile defense system. Bush's request for $8.3 billion for missile defense was expected to be sliced due to the vanishing surplus, but now has gotten new life in aftermath of last week's terror attacks. This contradicts Kevin McCauley's prediction in last week's O'Dwyer's PR Daily. McCauley wrote that the terrorist attacks "killed Bush's missile defense program.

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Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily, September 17, 2001
Topics: 
Public Relations
War / Peace

PR Watch Examines How Corporate PR Defeats Environmentalism

Submitted by John Stauber on

Supporters of the Center for Media & Democracy have just been mailed the third quarter 2001 issue of PR Watch. It examines the strategies employed by corporations such as Philip Morris and BP/Amoco, and their PR firms such as Burson-Marsteller, to defeat environmental activism through partnerships and co-optation. Articles include "Keep America Beautiful: Grassroots Non-Profit or Tobacco Front Group?" by Walter Lamb; "Corporations 'Get Engaged' to the Environmental Movement" by Andy Rowell; and, "Endangered Wildlife Friends Are Here" by John Stauber.

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Main Source: 
http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/2001Q3/index.html
Topics: 
Corporations
Environment
Public Relations

U.S. Army Calls in Hill & Knowlton

Submitted by Laura Miller on

The U.S. Army Community and Family Support Center recently hired PR-firm Hill & Knowlton for a 5-year, $2-million-dollar contract to promote the Center's "morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) programs." According to a Center spokesperson, H&K's work on 250 various MWR activities will include concerts (Miller Genuine Draft Army Concert Tour), sporting events ("Bowl Hog Wild" tournament featuring a Harley-Davidson motorcycle as grand prize), theater, and social/health/education programs.

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Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily, August 28, 2001
Topics: 
Public Relations
War / Peace

Wisconsin County Hires PR For Help With E. Coli Outbreak

Submitted by Laura Miller on

As the number of people sick from E. coli strain O157:H7 in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, climbed past 150 last Friday, public officials hired the PR firm Zigman Joseph Stephenson to help with media and an anticipated crush of lawsuits. The outbreak is being blamed on children not washing their hands after visiting the petting zoo at the Ozaukee County Fair. The Ozaukee County Board's Administrative Committee approved hiring the PR firm for up to $12,000 in expenses.

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Main Source: 
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, August 17, 2001 & August 22, 2001
Topics: 
Health
Public Relations

O'Dwyer's PR Starts Awards Program

Submitted by Laura Miller on

O'Dwyer's PR launches a new awards program to "recognize outstanding efforts at educating the public about issues, products or services." "We've heard complaints for some time that certain firms have come to dominate too many of the awards programs," said publisher Jack O'Dwyer. As an example, he noted that four PR firms took 18 or 43% of the 41 Silver Anvils awarded by PRSA in June out of a field of 736 entries. Many smaller PR firms have been critical of the elaborate and expensive entry process for other PR awards.

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Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily, August 21, 2001
Topics: 
Public Relations

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Criticized For Use of PR

Submitted by Laura Miller on

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, which reported that the New York City Police Department used improper racial profiling and which found serious flaws in the Florida voting process, is now facing criticism for spending $135,000 on public relations. The Holmes Reports writes that according to a Scripps Howard story, "payments made during the current fiscal year are more than double the amount that the panel is allowed to pay to outside consultants, according to the requirements of its 2001 spending allocation from Congress."

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Main Source: 
The Holmes Report, August 20, 2001
Topics: 
Human Rights
Public Relations

Journalist Layoffs Spur PR Fence Jumping

Submitted by Laura Miller on

With fewer journalism jobs available, many reporters and editors are looking at PR jobs to pay the bills. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 31-35% increase in PR jobs, versus a 0-9% increase in journalism, which also pays less than PR. For journalists worried that flacking means selling out, PR Week advises that "many believe it's an inevitable career progression." PR Week quotes Lou Colasuonno, a former editor at the New York Post and New York Daily News before turning PR practitioner, who says, "I had accomplished all I could in [the journalism] field.

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Main Source: 
PR Week, August 20, 2001
Topics: 
Journalism
Public Relations

Wanted: Top PR Gun for NRA

Submitted by Laura Miller on

The National Rifle Association, one of the most powerful Washington lobbying organizations, is seeking a new communications director to replace out-going flack Bill Powers. Applicants for the job -- called the third-most hellish PR job by PR Week readers -- would look forward to handling PR for NRA president Charlton Heston and to presiding over one of the largest stockpiles of PR dollars. The group spent $100 million on PR and advertising last year. Former communications director Powers left the NRA to join The Mercury Group, the PR agency of record for the NRA.

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Main Source: 
PR Week, August 20, 2001
Topics: 
Public Relations

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