December 01, 2003 Issue of PRWeek

Special Reports

Diversity Survey 2003

The lack of diversity in the PR industry means that companies must compete harder to attract great candidates.
 

Archive

The annual Taste of Vail taps CTA for 2004 media push

VAIL, CO: The Taste of Vail, an annual food festival that draws 5,000 visitors from 40 states and 10 foreign countries, has hired CTA Public ...
 

Access, Noblemen gain US PR task for Silicon Graphics

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA: Silicon Graphics has split its US PR account between two midsize agencies, after two years with Fleishman-Hillard.
 

Dittus opens new practice dedicated to counseling energy clients

WASHINGTON: Dittus Communications is launching a practice with a focus on providing high-level counsel to the energy industry, one of the most contentious sectors in ...
 

Disney makes top-level promotions in film-publicity unit

LOS ANGELES: Disney has made two high-level changes to its communications team, hiring a leader for its Buena Vista division and promoting a long-time veteran ...
 

Rainbow appoints new marcomms head

LOS ANGELES: Rainbow Media Holdings, owner of AMC, Fuse, The Independent Film Channel, and WE: Women's Entertainment, has hired a new head of marketing and ...
 

Childhood-obesity concerns prompt latest Coke initiative

ATLANTA: Responding to criticism that soda consumption in schools is contributing to childhood obesity, the Coca-Cola Company announced a series of initiatives designed to improve ...
 

Brightmail taps H&K as it ups public-affairs focus

SAN FRANCISCO: As junk e-mail, or "spam," becomes more ubiquitous, not just in people's e-mail boxes, but also in the news and on legislative agendas, ...
 

Baker set to retire after 30-year run in automotive PR

IRVINE, CA: After 30 years in auto PR, William Baker is retiring as director, special projects, at Land Rover North America, effective December 31. He ...
 
 

UK agency The Red Consultancy sets up New York office

NEW YORK: UK-based The Red Consultancy opened a US office this week, as it attempts to build on its growth in Europe. The firm is ...
 

Groups prepare attack on low-carb diet health claims

BOSTON: The low-carb diet movement may be about to have a PR battle on its plate.
 

Jackson launches news website in wake of arrest

NEW YORK: Pop star Michael Jackson is the latest public figure in a highly publicized legal tussle to launch a website devoted to providing information ...
 

Pentagon takes bids for Iraqi news media

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon is searching for an entity to take over its massive media operation in Iraq, transforming what is now perceived largely as US ...
 

Golin lends advice to EU on struggling antitobacco effort

WASHINGTON: The European Union is seeking some private-sector US advice before re-launching its international antitobacco push.
 

BusinessWire inks deal for expanded offerings in China

NEW YORK: Business Wire (BW) has forged an agreement with a Chinese government agency to offer news distribution to businesses, media outlets, government and educational ...
 

Burson chosen to direct strategy for Pfizer's Pregabalin

NEW YORK: Pfizer has appointed Burson-Marsteller to handle US and international strategy for Pregabalin, a treatment for neuropathic pain and adjunctive therapy in epilepsy, which ...
 

PRWeek presents 2004 directory of comms contacts

NEW YORK: The 2004 edition of PRWeek Contact is now available.
 

Companies content with diversity levels

NEW YORK: Both PR firms and in-house PR departments said overwhelmingly that they are satisfied with the level of ethnic and racial diversity among their ...
 

PN gets top role as DAS claims Aventis oncology account

STRASBOURG, FRANCE: Aventis has handed all marketing responsibilities for its global oncology franchise to Team Aventis Oncology, a network created by Omnicom's Diversified Agency Services ...
 

EDITORIAL: Pfizer pitch will offer telltale sign of PR's place in the marketing hierarchy at holding companies

Pfizer's decision to solicit pitches from WPP, Interpublic, and Omnicom, inviting each holding company to offer its "best of breed" to work on its cardiovascular ...
 

OP-ED: Legal considerations enter the client-firm relationship

Leading insurance brokers and lawyers across the country report that lawsuits against ad and PR agencies have soared by 30% over the past few years, ...
 

Analysis: Brand building key as tech market gets more crowded

As Christmas nears, companies introducing consumer electronics will focus on developing trust for their brands and the experience they provide.
 

PAUL HOLMES: Consumer interests stand to lose the most in Supreme Court non-ruling on Suzuki-CU case

More than a decade ago, Suzuki earned itself a place in the crisis- management textbooks thanks to its response to a negative review by Consumer ...
 

CORPORATE CASE STUDY: Boston Scientific links consistent branding to growth

Boston Scientific has maintained the momentum of its early success through a slew of acquisitions and successful products, and is now unifying them in a ...
 

THE AGENCY BUSINESS: Is there another wave of agency acquisitions on the horizon?

PR firm consolidation tends to occur in cycles. And while the next round of M&As may be more circumscribed and less lucrative than past ones, ...
 

MEDIA ROUNDUP: Media giving more attention to pets

Though mainstream outlets don't typically have dedicated reporters on pets, it's a hot topic since there are always offbeat hooks or trends to be found.
 

JOURNALIST Q&A: Tony Silber

The magazine industry often appears as a minor league of celebrities, with editors and publishers appearing as bold-faced names on the same gossip pages that ...
 

MEDIA WATCH: Viagra faces slew of healthy competitors

It has been a busy year for Pfizer, the maker of the ubiquitous erectile-dysfunction treatment, Viagra. The company spent the fifth birthday of its banner ...
 

MEDIA BRANDS: Hiring Blodget to cover Stewart's trial fits the trend, but also threatens journalistic trust

As if we needed more evidence that F. Scott Fitzgerald's line about there being no second acts in American life is dead wrong, out of ...
 

PROFILE: Shutterbug Esparza helps develop the CBS brand

While Tony Esparza has spent 45 years behind CBS' camera, Anita Chabria finds that his professionalism, demeanor and, of course, his photographs have come to ...
 

REGIONAL FOCUS: State of independents

Atlanta's recovery has been buoyed by a strong backbone of freelancers and independent counselors.
 

PR TECHNIQUE: Using PR to strike before the union does

Any labor action could potentially damage a company's image. John N. Frank finds how to use PR to minimize problems while staying sympathetic to the ...
 

CAMPAIGNS: Cold Stone allows media to get true sense of its flavor

PR Team: Cold Stone Creamery (Scottsdale, AZ) and Golin/Harris (Los Angeles) Campaign: Cold Stone Creamery's Times Square opening Time Frame: March-June 2003 Budget: $75,000
 

CAMPAIGNS: New appearance helps reenergize Sears customers

PR Team: Sears Roebuck and Co. (Hoffman Estates, IL) and Dome Communications (Chicago) Campaign: "Sears Appliance Re-Charge" Time Frame: May - August 2003 Budget: Under $215,000
 

CAMPAIGNS: Ice-Tek reaches for stars to build buzz for watches

PR Team: Ice-Tek Watch Company (New York) and 5W Public Relations (New York) Campaign: Creating Brand Awareness for Ice-Tek Watches Time Frame: April 2003-ongoing Budget: Under $100,000 annually
 

Even if all the stars come out, Britney's shines the brightest

Monday, November 17 was one of the biggest days in California history. Journalists had gathered from around the world. Thousands of spectators had been lining ...
 

PR PLAY OF THE WEEK: Honesty proves the best policy for Kerry

CONCORD, NH: In what seems like a first for a flagging Presidential run, Democratic contender John Kerry recently admitted the obvious, and publicly stated that ...
 

TOY BOX: Sanyo 8100 is a picture of consistency

I've tried several camera phones, and none have worked as consistently well as the Sanyo 8100, part of Sprint's Picture Mail line. Not for this ...
 

BOOK REVIEW: 'Secret' reveals US' PR prowess in WWII

The current administration loves to boast about the unconventional means employed in its war on terror. But cash payoffs to warlords and super-sized bombs can't ...
 

Opponents of new Medicare bill mobilize comms effort against AARP

WASHINGTON: AARP, often called America's most influential advocacy group, became the victim of its own brand of political pressure last month after endorsing the Republican-crafted ...
 

File-sharing service Kazaa launches rebranding effort

NEW YORK: In the midst of a pitched public debate over the future of the recording industry, Magnet Communications is helping to reposition the controversial ...
 
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