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August 11, 2003 Issue of PRWeek

Henne, McGraw to take on new roles with VH1's comms

NEW YORK: Music television network VH1 has named two new senior executives in its communications department.

Firms put in bids on Trans Texas project

AUSTIN, TX: Eight agency teams are vying for a contract to support what could be the largest public engineering project in Texas history.

Potato Board plans national push in 2004

Denver: The US Potato Board is planning a major national campaign in 2004 to encourage consumption of potatoes in light of consumers' changing tastes and ...

NHTSA to kick off African-American safety campaign

WASHINGTON: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has awarded a $1 million, five-year contract to Sonshine Communications. The Miami-based firm will handle PR for ...

L'Oreal USA picks Caruso as head of corporate comms

LOS ANGELES: L'Oreal USA, the American-based branch of the world's largest cosmetics maker, has picked Rebecca Caruso as its new head of PR. She will ...

Media drawn to Applebee's healthy menu

Overland Park, KS: The announcement three weeks ago that the Applebee's chain of casual-dining restaurants is partnering with Weight Watchers turned more than a few ...

Ad Council highlights WIC nutrition services in PSAs

NEW YORK: The Ad Council has embarked on an effort to generate awareness of the National Woman, Infants and Children Association's (WIC) benefits. The initiative ...

Trio of tech companies sign with SparkPR

SAN FRANCISCO: RealNetworks, nVidia, and Seybold are the latest companies to hire SparkPR for communications services.

Telemarketing body calls in Klores to contest FCC list

NEW YORK: Dan Klores Communications (DKC) has been working with the American Tele-services Association (ATA) to promote balanced news coverage of the national "do not ...

Brunswick brings in Carmichael as new partner in DC

WASHINGTON: The Brunswick Group, the trans-Atlantic PR firm, has named Barbara "Barie" Carmichael a partner. She will be based in the firm's Washington, DC office. ...

News briefs

Spector finds text terror alerts tough to sell to telecoms

NEW YORK: Shelley Spector's campaign to develop a text-messaging system that would warn people of an imminent terrorist attack has been rewarding, yet frustrating.

Post covers spoof of its own attempt in tabloid market

WASHINGTON: The debut last week of The Washington Post's free tabloid newspaper The Express was met with a spoof from the city's alternative weekly that ...

Peet's launches in hostile territory with media blitz

SEATTLE: The opening of Peet's Coffee & Tea's first store in the coffee capital of America - and the home turf of industry giant Starbucks ...

GKV hired in $30m marketing plan for ACA's new carrier

DULLES, VA: Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA) has tapped Baltimore-based agency GKV Communications for a $30 million branding and marketing account for its soon-to-launch low-fare carrier.

BBG praised despite lack of information on its impact

WASHINGTON: The US General Accounting Office (GAO) issued a report late last month praising recent advances in US diplomatic broadcasting efforts overseas, but stressed the ...

GLAAD takes milder route in church debate

MINNEAPOLIS: Although one of the nation's leading gay-rights groups sought not to campaign aggressively over the confirmation of Rev. V. Gene Robinson as the Episcopal ...

Union and Verizon trade PR shots as details are scarce

WASHINGTON: Few details emerged from the contract negotiations between Verizon and its two main unions last week, but that didn't mean the PR battle was ...

Post claims State Dept. comms lapse fueled Powell resignation story

WASHINGTON: The State Department press office acted quickly to discredit a story that appeared on the front page of The Washington Post last Monday. The ...

H&K enacts crisis plan after sending unauthorized press release

LOS ANGELES: Hill & Knowlton had to use its crisis-management skills on itself last week after it disseminated a press release that announced a financial ...

BOOK REVIEW: 'Effect' impacts students of the media

Just when you think you know a lot about the media, along comes a book to teach you what you don't know. The Press Effect ...

TOY BOX: Aqua FM still needs a little fine-tuning

Amphicom's Aqua FM is a snorkel that lets you listen to the radio while swimming. Users can activate the receiver, and adjust the station and ...

THE PUBLICIST: No film production is complete without a sufficient wrap party

A camel stood next to the entrance - always a good sign at a party. And this was going to be some party. After several ...

PR PLAY OF THE WEEK: Simon has the answer to woo the media

LOS ANGELES: "You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht. Your hat strategically dipped below one eye. Your scarf, it was ...

CAMPAIGNS: New PinnacleOne brand spelled out for all employees

PR Team: PinnacleOne (Tempe, AZ) and CKPR (Phoenix) Campaign: PinnacleOne Internal Brand Launch Time frame: March 2002-ongoing Budget: Approx. $60,000

CAMPAIGNS: Deloitte software shows dedication to cutting out bull

PR Team: Deloitte Consulting (New York) and Ketchum (Chicago) Campaign: Bullfighter Time Frame: June 2003-ongoing Budget: About $70,000 globally

PR TECHNIQUE: Trailer splash: How to do a mobile event

While the marketing tour is a time-tested vehicle for spreading the word, it takes meticulous planning to ensure that it will hit the road smoothly.

Focus: Windows of opportunity

With investors and customers looking in, a merger offers the chance to prove you can incentivize and unify a staff.

Tech reality check

The rules of tech have changed, but it's not all bad for PR.

PROFILE: Staying power fuels Polansky's steady climb at WS

Whether it's for the only firm he's worked for or the 700 staffers he now manages, Andy Polansky, North American president at Weber Shandwick, proves ...

MEDIA PROFILE: Zap2it.com brings select entertainment news to big audience

Despite its small staff, Zap2it.com delivers the latest TV and movie news, sometimes even beating the trades to the punch. And its link with the ...

MEDIA ROUNDUP: Gardening as a media topic shows signs of growth

Gardening remains most common among the baby boomer set, but its popularity may be on the rise as more people focus on the home and ...

MEDIA WATCH: Harsh criticism stymies future of Pentagon's futures market

When two Democratic senators held a press conference on Capitol Hill late last month to protest a secretive Pentagon program, the resulting uproar and subsequent ...

Corporate case study: Healthy media reputation aids Duke's crisis recovery

Though Duke Health System's reputation took a devastating hit following an ill-fated transplant in February, its long-standing open relationship with the media helped repair the ...

PAUL HOLMES: Administration's tardiness to defend 'futures market' ended debate before it even started

Opinions are split as to whether the Bush administration's short-lived plan to establish what amounted to a terrorism futures exchange was a good idea. If ...

Analysis: Mixed messages are sent when activist groups unite

Corporations are finding it difficult to address claims raised by critics, especially when different activist groups unite against their targets.

OP-ED: Adding another dimension to the PR diversity dialogue

I contacted PRWeek in response to the coverage and follow-up letters regarding the magazine's look at diversity within the profession and throughout its pages. For ...