By all accounts, 2008 was a year filled with both good and bad financial performances. Now, in the midst of a recession, agencies are working harder than ever to make the best of 2009.

PRWeek's annual rankings of US PR firms and their 2008 revenue

The dramatic decline of the economy in the second half of 2008 derailed agencies across the industry, many of which originally felt they were on pace for a record year.

The year has started strongly and the agency remains optimistic about meeting its growth forecast for 2009, despite the general global consensus of a troubled year ahead.

Ogilvy not only passed its targets for 2008, but also saw growth organically and with new business, notes CEO Marcia Silverman.

"In spite of the extremely ambiguous economic environment," Ketchum CEO Ray Kotcher says he was proud of the agency's work in 2008, which helped it to record solid top- and bottom-line growth.

Fleishman president and CEO Dave Senay now considers 2008 to have been a "landmark year" for PR in general, and for his firm in particular.

Last year, all of Edelman's operations grew - in particular its US offices, which exceeded expectations.

Despite the economic crisis, CEO Mark Penn points out that Burson-Marsteller had its strongest year ever in 2008, due in part to the firm's sturdy corporate and public affairs practices, as well as its new crisis and issues practice.

The WeissComm Group continued on its growth plan in 2008, opening offices in London and Washington and exceeding revenue goals by 15%. It also opened Invigorate Communications.

WE cited 2008 as its "best-ever year for growth and revenue," noting that the agency exceeded its expectations.

Text 100 enjoyed client stabilization for most of 2008, but the agency was hit with the global recession as it began fiscal year 2009 and made headcount reductions.

RF's continued focus on its four pillars contributed to its growth and profitability in 2008, says Kathy Bloomgarden, co-CEO.

The following are questionnaires submitted by agencies not profiled in the Agency Business Report, including Eastwick Communications, French/West/Vaughan, Lewis PR, Padilla Speer Beardsley, Racepoint Group, Stanton Communications, The Rogers Group, and Topaz Partners.

CEO Harris Diamond and president Andy Polansky say the agency is currently seeing robust hiring and historically unprecedented revenue growth. The firm's revenue figures reflect its growth in technology and healthcare last year.

Overall, Ogilvy had a "smashing year," says global CEO Marcia Silverman, with things going really well in the US as well as Asia, and the firm posting a "good" year in Europe.

Once a nice add-on, digital prowess is now key to an agency's capabilities. Keith O'Brien reports, and PRWeek staff explore individual agency performance in profiles

The PR industry is flying high after a strong 2005 and a prosperous first quarter in 2006. And, finds Julia Hood, agency CEOs are bullish about their ability to grapple with the new-media environment, the talent situation, and increasing globalization

PR agencies are working towards specialization and differentiation.