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April 07, 2003 Issue of PRWeek

Corporate giants call on shareholders in support of Bush tax plan

WASHINGTON: In an unusual mix of investor relations and grassroots political outreach, several corporate giants have sent letters to shareholders asking them to contact members ...

TSA PR push shows it's 'one step ahead' of the terrorists

WASHINGTON: With war raging in Iraq and the threat of retaliatory strikes looming at home, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is looking to increase overseas ...

PhRMA sees mass exodus as Merritt leaves top PR post

WASHINGTON: Mark Merritt, head of communications for PhRMA, has quit the trade association after just five months on the job to become president and CEO ...

Colle & McVoy joins $25m Novartis effort

GREENSBORO, NC: Novartis Animal Health US has hired Minneapolis-based Colle & McVoy to handle its $25 million integrated marketing, advertising, and PR business.

Frisby quits Porter Novelli to head up Walker Marchant

WASHINGTON: Porter Novelli's public affairs team lost yet another of its stars to small-agency life last week when former Wall Street Journal reporter Michael Frisby ...

Fleming picked as comms manager at Subaru's US arm

CHERRY HILL, NJ: Lisa Fleming has been named new communications manager at Subaru of America.

Movielink reels in mPRm with major push coming soon

LOS ANGELES: Movielink, the downloadable-film service that is backed by major studios, has chosen mPRm as its AOR.

UPS fights war coverage to launch new look

ATLANTA: As UPS unveiled its first change of its trademark in over 40 years, it had to compete with the battlefield reports from Iraq that ...

Sard charged with helping sell Sears' credit-card unit

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL: Sears Roebuck& Co. is working with financial communications firm Citigate Sard Verbinnen as the giant retailer begins to shop its credit-card operation.

CDC takes comms lead as SARS fears grow in the US

ATLANTA: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has taken control of domestic communications as distress over severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) continues to ...

Officials forced to clarify war stories from embed setup

WASHINGTON: The Bush administration took steps last week to counter seemingly unexpected consequences stemming from its own embedded-media program in Iraq.

Sun hires Stanton Crenshaw to build on circulation rise

NEW YORK: The New York Sun has hired Stanton Crenshaw Communications to craft a PR strategy to complement a new $800,000 advertising campaign.

Teenage girls help Fleishman craft nonsmoking message in Texas

AUSTIN, TX: Fleishman-Hillard recruited teenage girls to launch a public service campaign last week, aimed at preventing their peers from smoking.

Healthy Choice starts push to cultivate public nutrition

OMAHA, NE: ConAgra's Healthy Choice brand is teaming with the American Dietetic Association (ADA) to launch a new consumer education program about nutrition and healthy ...

Importer pushing people to pop Dom on a regular basis

NEW YORK: The US importer of Dom Perignon champagne has hired the Susan Magrino Agency to broaden market penetration for the upscale brand.

Forman moves up at Visa USA

SAN FRANCISCO: Visa USA has promoted Susan Forman from VP, corporate relations to SVP, corporate relations in Visa's corporate communications team.

ANALYSIS: AOL's broadband message breeds skeptical response

AOL is spending millions to market its new broadband service, touting sophistication over ease of use. But the media is not impressed.

PAUL HOLMES: The way the US is viewing this war will have a lasting impact on how the world views the US

The Anglo-American attack on Iraq has been both a PR triumph and a PR disaster.

Journalists make their own news in Iraq war reporting

NEW YORK: The coverage of the war in Iraq last week continued to grab headlines almost as prominent as those for the conflict itself.

EWeek upgrades its look and coverage

WOBURN, MA: Thriving despite the gloomy tech world, eWeek has unveiled a new glossy look and expanded its coverage of enterprise infrastructure.

Madonna pulls video over fear of looking unpatriotic

LOS ANGELES: Madonna sparked an avalanche of press coverage last week by deciding not to release her new video over concerns it would be perceived ...

Travel takes its toll as Crighton quits Edelman tech job

LONDON: Carlo Crighton has left Edelman as the international director of its tech practice, a year after joining the agency.

NEWS BRIEF: Maverick Advertising to undertake Nursefinders' campaign

FORT WORTH, TX: Maverick Advertising & PR will undertake Nursefinders' first PR campaign as a part of a broader marketing communications account. Nursefinders, based in ...

NEWS BRIEF: Brodeur Worldwide partners with Cymfony

NEWTON, MA: Brodeur Worldwide has partnered with Cymfony to provide clients with a customized version of Brand Dashboard, the software company's media monitoring and analysis ...

NEWS BRIEF: Bidz.com selects Hoffman Agency

CULVER CITY, CA: Online auction site Bidz.com has selected the Hoffman Agency as its new agency of record. Hoffman will look to increase the company's ...

NEWS BRIEF: Kimberly Allen joins Nieman Group

HARRISBURG, PA: Kimberly Allen has joined the Nieman Group as a VP and the head of the agency's consumer PR practice. Allen had been at ...

NEWS BRIEF: The North Face selects Ruder Finn

SAN LEANDRO, CA: The North Face, an outdoors and exploration apparel company, has selected Ruder Finn as its agency of record. Ruder Finn will focus ...

NEWS BRIEF: Carryon Communicatiion acquires two firms

LOS ANGELES: Carryon Communication has acquired two firms: Washington-DC based MANA Communications and Schuerman Communications. Under the terms of the acquisitions, Schuerman Communications' principal JP ...

NEWS BRIEF: High Liner Foods (USA) picks Wheatley & Timmons

CHICAGO: High Liner Foods (USA), a frozen seafood supplier based in Portsmouth, NH, has picked Wheatley & Timmons as its PR agency of record. The ...

NEWS BRIEF: TriMas hires Bianchi Public Relations

TROY, MI: TriMas has hired Bianchi Public Relations to handle media relations. TriMas manufactures a variety of products for the commercial, industrial, and consumer markets. ...

NEWS BRIEF: Two new VPs join Waggener Edstrom

NEW YORK: Two new VPs have joined Waggener Edstrom on the East Coast. Former Cunningham PR president Kristin Hilf brings 15 years of PR experience, ...

NEWS BRIEF: MGM promotes Debra Nathin Solomons

LOS ANGELES: MGM has promoted Debra Nathin Solomons and Andrew Bernstein to SVPs. Both will report to SVP of publicity Eric Kops.

NEWS BRIEF: Sandra Moreland leaves Ogilvy PR Worldwide

ATLANTA: Sandra Moreland, co-managing director of Ogilvy PR Worldwide's global technology practice, has left the agency to spend more time with her family. She will ...

Bittler named new head of comms for TNN, TV Land, Nick

NEW YORK: David Bittler has been promoted to VP of communications for Nickelodeon, TV Land, and TNN, all channels in the MTV Networks division of ...

Singer and Ketchum unite to pull in Pabst

SAN ANTONIO: Beer brewer Pabst Brewing Company has tapped Singer Associates and Ketchum to promote its more than 40 brands of beer.

Memphis hires firm to build support for transit system

MEMPHIS, TN: With the first phase of its new light-rail system under construction and the second on the drawing board, the Memphis Area Transit Authority ...

SUV owners group drives at offering media information

WASHINGTON: The Sport Utility Vehicle Owners of America, a grassroots group started in 1999, is in the midst of a major membership push and revamping ...

Club Med gets Wiser to head marketing

CORAL GABLES, FL: Club Med has named Mark Wiser as its new VP of marketing for North America, also overseeing PR and special events.

New Allergan plan looking to change view of glaucoma

DURHAM, NC: Webb Patterson, AOR for Allergan's glaucoma medication Lumigan, has added a new component to its ongoing national awareness campaign: Partnership for Sight, a ...

German and French brands stand to suffer

RESTON, VA: French and German companies operating in the US need to begin emphasizing their ties to the American economy to prevent a consumer backlash ...

EDITORIAL: Media pays PR a compliment by asking why HealthSouth employed Hervey to begin with

Even The Wall Street Journal could not resist gleefully exposing the background of HealthSouth's head of marketing and PR. Jason Hervey, former child star of ...

OP-ED: PR pros have the power to assuage war-induced fears

Sitting at the computer, we often reach a moment where suddenly the machine flashes a "not responding" message. In computer language it's a way to ...

ORGANIZATION CASE STUDY: Success stories help Peace Corps reinforce its ranks

A mention in the 2002 State of the Union address buoyed the Peace Corps' strong image, but also prompted a ramped-up recruiting drive - one ...

MEDIA WATCH: Oscar acceptance speech adds to Moore's controversial image

Filmmaker Michael Moore is known to be a direct and controversial figure. The Detroit Free Press (March 24) referred to the Michigan native as "a ...

MEDIA ROUNDUP: Travel reporters still on the move during tough times

It may be tough for the travel market now, but many editors still have space to fill. And with war in Iraq and a weak ...

MEDIA PROFILE: Country Home skips sleek to stay focused on 'the way we live'

Country Home is no longer concerned with ideals suggested by its name, and instead looks at modern family life. So when pitching, keep it simple ...

PROFILE: Mirelson plots new media relations course for NASA

After two decades of doing public affairs for the US Army, Robert Mirelson knows how vital it is to be open and accessible. As Kimberly ...

U.S. and them

John N. Frank looks at PR challenges facing US multinationals.

MARKET FOCUS: A question of cost

While few in PR doubt the value of doing up-front market research, the opinions vary over who should pay for it.

PR TECHNIQUE: Clarity not clutter: how to write boilerplates

Boilerplates can be helpful tools in introducing a company or product to the media. The most effective ones, finds Matthew Creamer, are succinct rather than ...

CAMPAIGN: AICPA focuses on women investors to build credibility

PR Team: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (New York) and Stanton Crenshaw (New York) Campaign: Women's Financial Health Week Time Frame: January 14-18, 2002 (and January ...

CAMPAIGN: GLAAD's efforts up press' reception of same-sex unions

PR Team: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (New York) Campaign: Announcing Equality Time Frame: 2002 - ongoing Budget: Under $5,000

CAMPAIGN: NYSCC gets good mileage pushing canals' proximity

PR Team: New York State Canal Corporation (Albany, NY) and Eric Mower & Associates (Rochester, NY) Campaign: Promotion of Canal System Time Frame: February - September 2002 Budget: ...

THE PUBLICIST: Publicists' heads spin as the media displays knack for PR

Hollywood publicists are often considered the masters of spin, capable of convincing the masses that Matthew McConaughey can act, or that the entire world actually ...

PR PLAY OF THE WEEK: What a Girl Wants is to stay out of war talk

LOS ANGELES: Warner Brothers' new chick flick, What a Girl Wants, has a message for its pre-teen audience: Be yourself.

TOY BOX: CD fans will like the sound of RioVolt

The RioVolt SP350 is found in the "portable MP3 players" section of most stores and websites. Even the product's packaging has a prominent label that ...