NEW YORK: Volunteer service groups that sponsored a forum on September 11 in New York, attracting presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama, planned to build on the grassroots interest from the event.

WASHINGTON: The presidential campaign of Sen. John McCain has hired Tucker Eskew, a founding partner of communications consulting firm ViaNovo and former aide to President George W. Bush, as a strategist for running mate Gov. Sarah Palin.

SAN FRANCISCO: Californians Against Hate are publicly outing companies whose employees have donated $5,000 or more in support of a November ballot initiative that would ban gay marriage in the state.

Obama takes a seat on The O'Reilly Factor; NEJM editors don't dismiss Vytorin cancer link; Apple's big announcement; and more

LOS ANGELES: The Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF), a Latino-serving, social service nonprofit organization, is in the midst of choosing an AOR.

LONDON: The PR and public affairs sector within WPP Group reported a 9% increase in revenue, excluding effects of currency movements, in its half-year results released last week. For the six months, ending June 30, PR and public affairs revenue was about $653.5 million, compared to about $574.5 million in the year-ago period.

LONDON: The PR and public affairs sector within the WPP Group reported a 9% increase in revenue, excluding effects of currency movements, in its half-year results released today.

BAGHDAD: The US military expects to hire a firm to provide "information operations" support in Iraq to counter insurgent misinformation tactics. The bids were due on Friday, August 22.

WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently hired Hill & Knowlton to handle Middle East and Asian outreach on behalf of the organization's external relations team.

BRASILIA, BRAZIL: Brazil's Department of Social Communication (SECOM) plans to award a PR firm with about an $8 million, one-year contract to promote the country as a financially stable, attractive location for foreign investment.