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June 01, 2009 Issue of PRWeek

PR Play

KFC cooks up smart PR after free meal disaster

Three things are universally true: Everyone loves Oprah; recession or not, everyone loves a free meal; and people love the Colonel's chicken.

Corporate Analysis

Economic pressures and shifting media landscape boost comms' leadership role

The failing economy has been an unexpected boon for communicators. The scrutiny companies confront every day, combined with social media minefields, has helped strengthen communications' ...

Marketing Analysis

Companies reexamine events' role in overall strategy in the wake of recession

As budgets tighten and company objectives change, marketers are reevaluating how to efficiently incorporate events into their 2009 plans.

Public Affairs Analysis

Obama's ambitious agenda prompts a boost in issues-based communications

As a new president and Democratic Congress took control this January, companies in already highly regulated industries prepared for an onslaught of government attention.

Digital Analysis

More b-to-b companies find that social media is an essential business platform

Social media has changed the way companies interact with the average consumer.

CEO Q&A

CEO Q&A: Tom Kunz, Century 21

Century 21's president and CEO Tom Kunz speaks with Tonya Garcia about the value of local PR

CMO Q&A

CMO Q&A: Christa Carone, Xerox

Xerox's Christa Carone speaks with Nicole Zerillo about the value of PR and how she measures individual success

Org Chart

CA is ready to speak positively

After Sanjay Kumar, former CEO of CA, was indicted on financial fraud charges in 2004, the top communications priority was to respond to negative press. ...

DC Influencer Q&A

DC influencer: Q&A with Grover Norquist, president, Americans for Tax Reform

Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, speaks to Douglas Quenqua about mobilizing forces around a key issue

Public Affairs Commentary

Beltway experience validates the increasing importance of strategic comms.

After leaving the White House as counselor to President George W. Bush at the end of his term this past January, many were surprised I ...

Domains

The month's buzziest Web service: Ensembli.com

Ensembli is a personalized, browser-based news aggregator that requires no additional software and filters content in a way that makes results more relevant for the ...

Letter from the Editor

New format gives readers an in-depth look into industry

Welcome to the new monthly print edition of PRWeek. Together with our online daily and weekly editions, this magazine aims to provide our readers with ...

Microscope

Under the microscope: Chevron's video tactics

Chevron recently produced a video to tell its side of a $27 billion lawsuit it is facing in Ecuador.

Habits

Habits: Lynn Casey, CEO, Padilla Spear Beardsley

Lynn Casey, CEO of Padilla Spear Beardsley, talks to PRWeek about her first PR job, most regrettable career moment, the first person she'd call in ...

Gloves Off

Are fixed monthly retainers the best billing option for PR agencies?

DKC's Sean Cassidy and Peppercom's Steve Cody debate the issue of fixed monthly retainers

Master Class

Master Class: How can social media be used to extend the reach of a press release?

This month's panel addresses social media and press releases.

Inside the Mix

Woolite weaves in new elements to promote fabric care campaign

The integrated marketing campaign "Find the Look, Keep the Look" is designed to promote fabric care to fashionistas with the support of style guru Stacy ...

PRWeek Column

Basics of PR measurement still provide valuable insight

Among the many important issues in the PR industry, measurement is one that continues to elicit strong interest and opinions.

The industry benefits from a strong trade publication

I've always enjoyed working on trade publications because it allows me to truly get to know an industry and its people, often becoming a part ...

Guest Column

The peril of people pleasing

If any of you have been to therapy (and if you haven't, schedule an appointment immediately), you've likely heard the phrase "pleaser."

The value of insight in an instant world

In this new format of PRWeek, it seems appropriate to note the new challenges and opportunities for corporate or nonprofit PR pros.

Op-Ed

An effective strategy in the battle to find diverse talent

To ensure that diversity in the workforce prevails, our industry needs to devote efforts to recruit, develop, and retain talented minorities. There are many top-line ...

Influence, not control, has become the key to success

Seismic changes, driven by astonishingly rapid technological breakthroughs, have reshaped many of the underlying premises that define societies.

Journalist Q&A

Journalist Q&A: Ali Velshi, CNN

Ali Velshi is a familiar face to anxious consumers who have watched their investments closely for the past year.

Feature

PR's future in digital on the line

Facing competition from other disciplines, PR is fighting to keep, and grow, its piece of the digital pie.

Measurement Roundtable 2009: Defining value

Be it tactics, investment, or integration, the measurement conversation continues to fundamentally change.

Campaign

Aussie tie-in boosts Tim Tam debut

Tim Tam is an iconic, best-selling cookie brand in Australia that's made by Pepperidge Farm's (PF) sister company Arnott's.

Sears, Kmart open their doors for interactive customer communication

Sears Holdings Corp. (SHC) introduced MySears.com and MyKmart.com, two new interactive platforms for customers to communicate with the brands, as well as each other.

Hampton Hotels renovates its ongoing initiative to honor American legends

In 2000, Hampton Hotels launched "Save-A-Landmark," a landmark renovation program.

Greyhound puts new bus line launch into motion by boosting social media presence

When Edelman and Greyhound were tasked with launching a new bus line, the firm wasn't told a date, bus schedule, or if advertising would be ...

Newsmaker

Simon Sproule crafts a new story for Microsoft

The auto PR veteran steps into Microsoft's top comms slot at a time when the company is preparing for big things- and he is more ...

Book Review

'House of Cards' by William D. Cohan (Doubleday, 2009)

The collapse of 85-year-old Bear Stearns in late 2008 was the biggest early signal to the general public that something was very wrong on Wall ...

Critical Hit

'Today' spots serve as the perfect ingredient for Jif's branding effort

Who is your client? What are its media goals?

Editorial

Comms must take the lead in organizations' social media shift

The reality of the digital era is that communications is no longer the only voice for a company.

Fact File

Newspaper program for Kindle DX creates opportunities, challenges

Amazon recently introduced the Kindle DX, the newest version of its Kindle mobile reading device. The company promises a higher-quality reading experience on the device ...

Launch Pad

Farmers infuse local flavor to new effort for Lay's Potato Chips

Earlier this year, PepsiCo's Frito-Lay division began to reposition its Lay's Potato Chips brand around a new emotional theme, "Happiness is Simple," in hopes that ...