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April 27, 2009 12 17 Issue of PRWeek

PRWeek Column

Smart marketers will not let the economy sober the conversation

Of all the positive experiences during my more than five-year tenure at PRWeek, I am perhaps proudest that I never wrote a column in the ...

As the downturn continues, firms will draw new lessons

A look back at PRWeek's 2000 Agency Business Report is revealing. The main feature reviewed business performance in 1999 and reflected the unbridled zeal of ...

Guest Column

Social media is the new avenue to reach multicultural audiences

Technology is taking over. When you look at today's changing media landscape, online usage is growing at amazing rates.

Op-Ed

Be straight when using public offers

The white hot anger directed at AIG and its bonus-laden execs is not likely to cool any time soon. It has burned an image into ...

Experts seek new nonprofit message

The economic downturn has hit nonprofits hard and foundations are struggling. It's vital to showcase a foundation's value - beyond dollars.

News Analysis

FTC proposal places marketers on alert

The specter of potential liability over blogger endorsements is raising questions from PR pros

Journalist Q&A

Interview: Imran Amed

Imran Amed is editor and founder of the online publication The Business of Fashion (BoF). He talks about a turning point in luxury, emerging global ...

Media Roundup

Bicycling rides trends to broaden interest

Though bicycling has been around for well over a century, bike makers and cycling advocates realize the importance of coming up with fresh angles to ...

Feature

PR poised to rise above challenges

The dramatic decline of the economy in the second half of 2008 derailed agencies across the industry, many of which originally felt they were on ...

Agency Business Report: Weathering the storm

By all accounts, 2008 was a year filled with both good and bad financial performances. Now, in the midst of a recession, agencies are working ...

Focus

Finding the right target for media relations

Media relations still plays a major role in the work of PR practitioners.

Technique

Garnering attention for the right reasons

Marketing a firm requires the same amount of detail and dedication as any other client.

Campaign

Allstate fights domestic violence

Four years ago, the Allstate Foundation identified monetary issues affecting abuse victims as a priority cause.

California Tortilla cooks up awareness with '08 election

California Tortilla, the Rockville, MD-based restaurant chain, wanted to stay relevant during the 2008 presidential election, so it developed burritos named for Barack Obama and ...

Novant Health utilizes the Web to tout washing hands

After three infants died from hospital-acquired infections, Novant Health launched an internal effort to change when and how often employees wash their hands, says Jim ...

Newsmaker

Peppercom role is tailor-made for Siry's strategy

After serving as CMO for two high-profile companies, Darryl Siry made an unexpected move by joining Peppercom as a senior analyst earlier this year.

Toolbox

Updating crisis plans, social media etiquette, and more

How should my company handle itself in a crisis?

Special Reports

2009 Agency Business Report Rankings

PRWeek's annual rankings of US PR firms and their 2008 revenue

Expert Advice

What are some ways junior-level candidates can stay positive during an extended job hunt?

A positive, energetic attitude is one of the main factors to determine a candidate's success.

Media Analysis

Nonprofit model comes with challenges

Bailouts for failing industries are as hot a political topic as any, so it's fitting in a way that the US Senate has scheduled hearings ...

Inside Information

Facebook redesign wins fans in the PR community

When facebook redesigned its ultra-popular social network last month, it also introduced fan pages that allow organizations to create profiles resembling those of standard users.

Critical Hit

Windmill draws in 'Network World'

Who is your client? What are its media goals?

Editorial

Growing multicultural sector requires immediate strategy

In recent months, a number of large companies have introduced multicultural campaigns: Coca-Cola's Spanish-language version of its "Open Happiness;" Colgate hosted a Hispanic-focused Oral Health ...

Launch Pad

Armani Exchange finds proper time to launch new watch line

Armani Exchange (AX) - Giorgio Armani's mid-priced urban fashion brand - recently launched a national marketing campaign to support its new watch collection.

2009 Agency Business Report

Burson-Marsteller

Despite the economic crisis, CEO Mark Penn points out that Burson-Marsteller had its strongest year ever in 2008, due in part to the firm's sturdy ...

Edelman

Last year, all of Edelman's operations grew - in particular its US offices, which exceeded expectations.

Fleishman-Hillard

Fleishman president and CEO Dave Senay now considers 2008 to have been a "landmark year" for PR in general, and for his firm in particular.

Ketchum

"In spite of the extremely ambiguous economic environment," Ketchum CEO Ray Kotcher says he was proud of the agency's work in 2008, which helped it ...

Ogilvy PR Worldwide

Ogilvy not only passed its targets for 2008, but also saw growth organically and with new business, notes CEO Marcia Silverman.

Weber Shandwick

The year has started strongly and the agency remains optimistic about meeting its growth forecast for 2009, despite the general global consensus of a troubled ...

APCO Worldwide

The firm reported similar growth in 2008, with both staff and new business, as compared to recent years, says Margery Kraus, president and CEO.

Cohn & Wolfe

The global environment forced moderate adjustments to C&W's forecasts and expectations, mostly because of client cutbacks and fewer new business opportunities.

GolinHarris

In 2008, Golin won many new accounts, while numerous existing relationships were expanded. "We were firing on all cylinders," says Fred Cook, president and CEO.

Hill & Knowlton

In 2009, the agency is seeing new businesses in many sectors that stand to benefit from Barack Obama's administration.

Manning Selvage & Lee Worldwide

MS&L experienced a strong 2008 with a 6% increase in global revenue.

MWW Group

For MWW, 2008 was an important year for digital. President and CEO Michael Kempner says the agency has been building its digital capabilities over the ...

Peppercom

Steve Cody, cofounder and managing partner, attributes new account wins and continued success to the strength of his workforce.

Porter Novelli

Additions to the staff and innovative programs helped the agency through 2008, which CEO Gary Stockman described as "almost two different years."

Ruder Finn

RF's continued focus on its four pillars contributed to its growth and profitability in 2008, says Kathy Bloomgarden, co-CEO.

Text 100

Text 100 enjoyed client stabilization for most of 2008, but the agency was hit with the global recession as it began fiscal year 2009 and ...

Waggener Edstrom Worldwide

WE cited 2008 as its "best-ever year for growth and revenue," noting that the agency exceeded its expectations.

WeissComm Group

The WeissComm Group continued on its growth plan in 2008, opening offices in London and Washington and exceeding revenue goals by 15%. It also opened ...

Atomic Public Relations

CEO Andy Getsey says the firm is now recruiting senior-level hires for upcoming ventures that couldn't yet be disclosed. "We halted a lot of our ...

Airfoil Public Relations

The 2008 practice area restructure was part of an effort to align resources to meet the needs of clients in growth industries.

Barkley Public Relations

Despite the recession, Barkley, which is well known for its cause branding efforts, is still seeing client investment in this area.

Bite Communications

"I'm confident that 2009... will see us continue to develop our business in the right direction," says CEO Clive Armitage.

Brodeur Partners

Brodeur rebranded itself Brodeur Partners last year to better reflect its expanded capabilities and service offerings, as well as a redesigned structure.

CJP Communications

"Bring back 2008," says managing partner Jennifer Prosek. She called 2008 a "great" year, despite it being clear by August that "predictions of a market ...

Chandler Chicco Agency

Principal Robert Chandler is certain that 2009 will be a growth year, as the healthcare firm ramps up its presence in DC and Europe.

Carmichael Lynch Spong

CEO Doug Spong says CLS "stumbled to the finish line" in 2008 due to a poor economy, but is optimistic it can rebound, in part ...

Cone

Cause branding, a Cone staple, continues to play a key role in the agency's business, says president and CEO Jens Bang.

Coyne Public Relations

Coyne PR, PRWeek's 2009 Midsize Agency of the Year, really focused on its digital capabilities in 2008 with the addition of the Coyne Digital practice ...

DKC

The addition of Gregson signals that the agency will continue to grow its digital offerings this year, according to president Sean Cassidy.

Euro RSCG Worldwide PR

In 2008, the agency saw the results and benefits of several years of "rebuild mode," according to CEO Lisa Sepulveda.

FD International

US CEO Edward Reilly calls FD's capital market communications area the firm's "core competency," but other areas have become important due to the recession, particularly ...

Levick Strategic Communications

Levick Strategic Communications had its third record-breaking year in a row, as it conducted significant work for its corporate, financial, and healthcare clients.

The Jeffrey Group

The firm continued to grow within Latin America and cement itself as a major Hispanic agency in the US, with double-digit growth in its US ...

M Booth & Associates

Even with revenue flat compared to 2007, M Booth posted a "solid year," says CEO Margaret Booth.

Makovsky & Company

With the recession here to stay for the foreseeable future, this year's theme is "persistence." Providing exceptional client service and a quick turnaround on assignments ...

Padilla Speer Beardsley

Lynn Casey, chairwoman and CEO, says she's "relieved" about the firm's position in early 2009, given the poor economy.

PainePR

PainePR touts a record fiscal year associated with its evolution in online influencer and social media work.

Qorvis Communications

In 2008, Qorvis invested heavily in its digital offerings for clients, expanded its advertising business, and launched its in-house Clarus Research Group. It also bolstered ...

Shift Communications

In its fifth year of business, Shift Communications attributes its success to additional social media projects and consumer accounts, as well as a hybrid approach ...

Voce Communications

CEO Richard Cline says the firm plans to forge stronger partnerships with agencies it works with in other markets in 2009. "It's going to be ...

Taylor

In 2008, the firm focused on growing its portfolio in the lifestyle sector, as well as using in-house resources, such as the research and consumer ...