STRATHAM, NH: Timberland has selected Cone as its AOR for corporate communications after a competitive review for the six-figure account.

Looking to build on the momentum generated by last year's "The Place to Meet" marketing campaign, this year the Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts launched the "A Meeting with Phil [Mickelson]" initiative.

Netflix helped revolutionize the movie rental business with its business plan. And now, the company is entering the race to get downloaded video onto the television sets of consumers.

Covering the consumer beat in 2007 didn't leave much time for rest. It seemed as if every other week there was another major RFP being issued or a six- to seven-figure assignment being pitched. And getting anyone to talk about those isn't easy.

While the Mitchell Report on steroids may not actually be a product, its debut this week overshadowed just about anything else that was in the news. In fact it wasn't just news here. The report made news in England, Australia, and Canada.

NEW YORK: After a 20-month investigation by former Sen. George Mitchell into Major League Baseball's steroid problem, his 300-plus-page report released last week has created a major reputation crisis for the league.

AUBURN HILLS, MI: With Jason Vines, communications VP at Chrysler LLC resigning last week, the carmaker announced it would be realigning its corporate communications department.

OAK BROOK, IL: McDonald's recent rollout of a number of non-traditional burger products has caused it to use more consumer-focused communications efforts after finding media fatigue in its rollouts.

Experts differ on whether or not the classic tactic of embargoes has a place in today's new-media world

Jeff Petty, CEO of Wesley Enhanced Living, which operates long-term care facilities, has long felt that the US isn't ready for the rising number of senior citizens in terms of its healthcare and Social Security systems.