WASHINGTON: SEIU launched a new phase of its recent campaign against tax loopholes that it said unfairly benefit private equity firms. This effort specifically targets Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts (KKR) and its ties to the John McCain presidential campaign.

RELIEGH, NC: The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) has hired French/West/Vaughn (FWV) as AOR, focusing on brand management and media outreach, after an RFP.

WASHINGTON: Pause Parent Play (PPP) has launched the School's Out campaign, which is geared towards helping parents make educated decisions about their children's entertainment.

Although former White House press secretary Scott McClellan gained instant attention for his recent book - What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception - discussions soon turned to criticism of the PR industry as a whole.

Connecting with this unique audience requires a specialized approach.

NEW YORK: The Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a nonprofit that draws on the entertainment sector, hired Ketchum to promote the recently announced September 5 broadcast of Stand Up to Cancer, an hour-long fundraising event set to air simultaneously on ABC, CBS, and NBC - a rare collaboration among the three major TV networks.

NEW YORK: Pfizer readjusted its communications strategy for its anti-smoking drug Chantix on the heels of concern regarding its possible side effects.

Government agencies are increasingly making online tactics part of their outreach to various audiences.

MANAMA, BAHRAIN: The Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) recently hired Weber Shandwick to promote Bahrain worldwide as a business-friendly center for financial dealings in the Middle East.

WASHINGTON: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) coordinated nationwide arrests of telemarketing scammers to draw media attention to a new campaign educating consumers about telemarketing fraud.