Mobile Version Subscribe Issue Archive Contact Us About Us Advertise PRWeek UK PRReport Germany PRWeek Asia

RSS | Login | Register

August 01, 2009 Issue of PRWeek

PR Play

Scorned flier doesn't sing United's praises

Passengers expect little from air travel nowadays.

Video

Interview: Don Middleberg, owner of Middleberg Communications

Reporter Frank Washkuch talks with Don Middleberg, owner of Middleberg Communications about how the recession is affecting agencies and when they can expect the economy ...

Corporate Analysis

Financial services organizations buck traditional attitude, embrace outreach

On June 9, the US Treasury Department announced that 10 financial institutions would be allowed to repay billions of dollars they had received through the ...

Marketing Analysis

Marketers struggle to gain consumer trust and interest with branded content

With the advent of self-publishing tools, brands have been given the option of generating their own online content directly for consumers.

Public Affairs Analysis

Trade associations use size and unity to impact policy debate in Washington

America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), representing health insurers, was one of several trade groups to promise $2 trillion in savings to the White House in ...

Digital Analysis

Organizations cast a broader net in efforts to recruit social media talent

Despite the recession, digital is a growing and evolving space within the PR industry.

CEO Q&A

CEO Q&A: Gary Kelly, Southwest Airlines

Gary Kelly of Southwest Airlines speaks with Rose Gordon about its usage and measurement of PR.

CMO Q&A

CMO Q&A: Gail Galuppo, Western Union

Western Union's Gail Galuppo speaks with Aarti Shah about the evolving collaboration between PR and marketing at the company.

Org Chart

BMC realigns comms to tell its entire story

More than three years ago, the communications structure at Houston-based BMC Software, a b-to-b IT company, was organized by business units.

DC Influencer Q&A

DC Influencer: Q&A with Arlene Holt Baker, EVP, AFL-CIO

Arlene Holt Baker, the AFL-CIO's EVP, talks to Jaimy Lee about the labor movement, the current economy, and social media.

Public Affairs Commentary

Conflicting public sentiment presents another challenge for healthcare comms

Polls, much like Shakespeare said of biblical references, can be used to support just about every side in the current healthcare debate.

Domains

The month's buzziest Web service: BackType.com

BackType describes itself as a "conversational search engine" that allows users to follow conversations in comments sections on blogs, social networks, and other Web sites.

Letter from the Editor

Forty reasons why the future of the industry looks so bright

The August issue of PRWeek includes one of our favorite annual specials, the 40 under 40.

Microscope

Microscope: Best Buy crowdsources hiring decision

Best Buy turned to its customers, via its Idea X Web site, for suggestions on qualifications for hiring a new senior marketing manager for emerging ...

Habits

Habits: Shirley Powell, SVP of corporate comms, Turner Broadcasting

Powell shares her morning ritual, proudest career achievement, and more.

Gloves Off

Should PR professionals use social media to build their personal brand?

Ketchum's Nancy Martira and Jeremy Pepper, formerly of Boingo Wireless, debate PR professionals' use of social media to build their personal brands.

Master Class

How can social media monitoring assist in planning PR campaigns?

This month's panel discusses the role of social media monitoring in PR campaign planning.

Inside the Mix

LG connects with blockbuster film to spotlight launch of latest phone

When LG Electronics launched an integrated campaign to promote its mobile phones through the latest Transformers film, PR was tapped to lead the effort.

PRWeek Column

To truly progress, PR must leave its poor pitching behind

Last month's call by a mommy blogger for a "PR blackout" by her peers was troubling.

There remains a great deal of news that's fit to print

Everyone recognizes the Web's prevalence. No news flash there. However, the appearance of your company's or client's name in good old-fashioned ink still prompts a ...

Guest Column

Entrepreneurial success is fueled by marketing

More than ever, entrepreneurship will continue to play an instrumental role in driving the global economy.

The look of success

I keep a file called "ideas" in which I squirrel away articles, clippings, or personal thoughts that seem really smart, only I don't exactly know ...

Op-Ed

Maintaining PR's reputation as the strongest brand builder

Marketing has always been about brand building. Traditionally, this meant developing a clear brand proposition and delivering that message to a target audience.

Corporate comms strategy should highlight innovation

A groundbreaking 2008 survey of R&D programs at 69 publicly traded companies concluded that the stock market rewards companies with stronger R&D investments, and tends ...

Journalist Q&A

Journalist Q&A: Tara Parker-Pope, 'The New York Times'

Tara Parker Pope is the driving force behind The New York Times' Well blog - which focuses on personal health and what consumers can do ...

Feature

Lessons for the future: universities and social media

Steve Quigley at Boston University (pictured) is among the educators trying to figure out how best to incorporate social media into PR education.

Campaign

IC Bus effort picks up kids and parents

IC Bus is a school-bus manufacturer, and the first to offer hybrid buses. This year, longtime agency Ketchum worked with it to create a campaign ...

Nationwide giveaway proves valuable for recently consolidated Pretzelmaker brand

NexCen Franchise Management, one-time parent of both Pretzelmaker and Pretzel Time stores, combined the two brands into Pretzelmaker earlier this year.

Reckitt Benckiser hits the dance floor to introduce teens to latest Clearasil product

Reckitt Benckiser (RB) hadn't invested heavily in PR for its Clearasil skincare brand in many years. To launch Clearasil's Ultra Pimple Blocker Pen, however, the ...

B&G attempts to make a lasting impression with Emeril's food line

B&G Foods, which owns 18 brands, including Cream of Wheat and Ortega, promoted the 10th anniversary of Emeril Lagasse's line of food products with a ...

Newsmaker

Collamore shifts strategy at Chamber of Commerce

Although Thomas Collamore (pictured) spent the bulk of his career in politics and corporate affairs, his eye for strategic communications led him to the Chamber ...

Book Review

'Putting the Public Back in Public Relations' by Brian Solis and Deirdre Breakenridge (FT Press, 2009)

Brian Solis and Deirdre Breakenridge feel now is the time for PR to lead the charge in owning social media communications.

Special Reports

40 under 40 - 2009

PRWeek takes a look at young industry professionals who demonstrate the powerful future of the industry.

Critical Hit

North Dakota targets 'Journal' to stake claim as business hotbed

Our client is the North Dakota Department of Commerce.

Editorial

Blogging alone does not make up a communications strategy

Seven years ago, PRWeek identified corporate blogging as a trend that communicators had to embrace. Although some PR pros that steep themselves in social media ...

Fact File

Financial reality prompts news organizations to share content

Content sharing among news organizations is becoming more common.

Launch Pad

T-Mobile displays its strong sense of touch

In a market saturated with smartphone launches - like those of the Palm Pre and Apple's latest iPhone - T-Mobile needed to differentiate its second ...