SANTA CLARA, CA: McAfee selected Red Consultancy as its consumer AOR. The six-figure contract adds consumer duties to the firm's existing corporate and enterprise responsibilities. The selection followed a competitive bid by six agencies.

CHICAGO: Encyclopedia Britannica is promoting its online information as a free service to Web publishers, and has hired Holtz Communication & Technology (HC&T) to focus PR efforts on bloggers.

The campaign aims to collect 1 million volunteers to pledge their time or money in support of bringing freedom to Burma and releasing political activist Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest.

Say "I Love New York," and images of the Statute of Liberty, corner hot dog stands, and tourists packed in mid-town immediately come to mind. Well, not for long.Today, Gov. David Paterson (D-NY) and state officials unveiled a plan to expand that vision with a new ad and marketing campaign to drive tourism throughout New York state, reports the New York Times.

A PR campaign designed by students at Hunter College in New York, and sponsored by the Coach fashion label, is coming under criticism for promoting a fake persona complete with a Facebook profile and blog, according to AdWeek.

From Chevy Chase as Gerald Ford to Phil Hartman as Ronald Reagan to Amy Poehler as Hillary Clinton, 'Saturday Night Live' has always been known for its political satire. Now NBC has brought that online with a new political Web site: SNL Elections 2008.

How can you maximize coverage of an FDA approval?

I'm not sure which of the nine circles of hell I was in the week before ad:tech San Francisco 2008, but it's the level where PR people spam bloggers with irrelevant e-mail pitches.

Captivating consumers with brand messages for hours is one of the most common PR dreams, and online gaming is helping to make that a reality.

Thanks to the rise of blogs, dedicated Web sites, and new festivals, independent films are still finding their audience. Inde-pendent film publications are also seeing their audiences move online, says Todd Konrad, online editor and critic for Independent Film Quarterly.

As many veteran journalists accept buyouts or leave the profession for other reasons, there is a younger generation ready to take on the challenges of reporting in a new age.

Tis the season where politics and politicians are scrutinized like foreign animals newly donated to the local zoo.

If done correctly, this forum for information is an effective way to engage the media.

VP, Abelson Group

Having offices around the world is a benefit to PR firms, but keeping staff connected and informed while in different time zones can be a challenge.