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March 03, 2003 Issue of PRWeek

IPG management in turmoil, Omnicom and WPP's PR revenues fall

NEW YORK and LONDON: The marketing holding company scene was in the spotlight last week as two of the three major firms issued earnings, and ...

US chemistry coalition in $50m bid to revive image

WASHINGTON: The American Chemistry Council (ACC) will begin hearing final pitches this week for a $50 million campaign to revive the embattled industry's image.

Scandals prompt Big Four firms to unite in PR effort

WASHINGTON: "The Big Four" accounting firms - KPMG, Ernst & Young, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu - have banded together in an effort to combat ...

Stars and Stripes targets younger men

WASHINGTON: In an effort to attract younger readers, Stars and Stripes plans to unveil a weekly supplement focused on entertainment and lifestyle.

Bank of America hires from within to fill lead PR role

CHARLOTTE, NC: Bank of America (BofA), the nation's third largest bank, has named Mike Clement its new head of corporate communications.

TV station in club blaze gets caught up in ethical debate

PROVIDENCE, RI: While the media has mostly focused on the finger-pointing and legal aftermath of the fire that killed 97 concertgoers in West Warwick, RI ...

People magazine seeking new PR chief

NEW YORK: People is searching for a new head of PR. The outgoing director of public affairs, Susan Ollinick, will stay with Time as VP ...

Clear Channel fills top PR posts in TX consolidation

SAN ANTONIO and HOUSTON: Clear Channel Communications has hired PR leaders for its two largest divisions after consolidating functions in Texas late last year.

Tortorella opts to join Ogilvy after 25 years with Burson

NEW YORK: Ogilvy PR Worldwide has hired veteran crisis management executive Albert Tortorella as MD of its global corporate practice. Tortorella replaces London-based Rob Shimmin, ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Whole Food Market hires new PR manager

AUSTIN, TX: Whole Foods Market, the natural and organic food chain, has hired a new national PR manager, Michael Duffield. He was most recently with ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Verizon Information Services hires Young & Associates

DALLAS: Verizon Information Services has hired Young & Associates as its AOR to handle local and national media relations, and promotions for Verizon's print and ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: PRR opens Washington DC office

WASHINGTON: Seattle-based boutique PRR is opening a Washington, DC office in an effort to keep up with its already heavy roster of federal contracts. Current ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Biz360 enhances Market360 product

SAN MATEO, CA: Biz360 has enhanced the capabilities of its Market360 product by expanding it globally. The new version includes 50,000 print titles and 1,000 ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Hyundai Truck America hires Kermish-Geylin PR

JAMESBURG, NJ: Hyundai Truck America has hired Kermish-Geylin Public Relations to handle strategic and tactical media relations for a new line of medium-duty trucks that ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Michael Caudill becomes MD at Gold PR

NEWPORT BEACH, CA: Michael Caudill has become MD at Gold Public Relations. He had worked on auto accounts for Hill & Knowlton for the past ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Franco PR picks up the Ford Community Center account

DETROIT: Franco Public Relations had picked up the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, MI as a client. The agency will work on ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Liggett-Stashower picks up Slazenger account

CLEVELAND: Liggett-Stashower has picked up Slazenger Golf Products as a client. The company recently moved its headquarters form South Carolina to Cleveland.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Nintendo of North America hires Werkhaus at MWW

REDMOND, WA: Nintendo of North America has hired Werkhaus at MWW, the firm's in-house branding and design practice, to design and market Ncrew.com, a joint ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: IT consultants Keane selects Porter Novelli

BOSTON: Business and IT consulting firm Keane has selected Porter Novelli as its AOR. PN will work with the firm to develop PR initiatives focused ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Lisa Lori Communications joins Network

NEW YORK: Lisa Lori Communications (LLC) has joined the International Public Relations Network, a worldwide communications organization made up of independent PR firms and consultants. ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Julia Brannan hired as group VP at GCI Group

NEW YORK: Julia Brannan has been hired as a group VP in GCI Group's consumer marketing practice. She will support accounts including Slim-Fast, Zantac 75, ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Telx names Publicis Dialog New York as AOR

NEW YORK: Telx, the first and largest carrier-neutral "SuperNode" in New York City, has named Publicis Dialog New York as AOR for branding and PR.

Aiello moves back into account work with PA job at H&K

NEW YORK: After just under nine months as chairman of Cohn & Wolfe, Stephen Aiello is leaving to take on the role of senior counselor ...

TX PR community mourning loss of Jose Villasenor, 31

DALLAS: Hispanic PR entrepreneur Jose Villasenor died suddenly at just 31 years of age from a heart attack on February 21.

CBS criticized for Saddam interview hype

NEW YORK: Although few denied it was effective hype for a stunning get, the publicity surrounding Dan Rather's sit-down with Saddam Hussein was met with ...

Transplant botch prompts Duke to call Burson for help

WASHINGTON: Duke University Hospital turned to Burson-Marsteller last month when a botched transplant on a 17-year-old girl attracted harsh media attention and stirred up a ...

Ephedra makers fighting critics of product's safety

NEW YORK: Weeks after diet pills containing the stimulant ephedra were found in Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler's locker following his death, the PR teams ...

Euro RSCG moves health firms under new 'Life' structure

NEW YORK: Euro RSCG Worldwide has aligned its 44 health-focused companies - which had combined billings of $1,640,766 in 2002 - under a single executive ...

US seniors lash out as GSK cuts supplies to Canadian pharmacies

PHILADELPHIA: GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has come under attack by a coalition of senior citizen groups for its decision to cut supplies to Canadian internet pharmacies that ...

Stonyfield names Clarks' marketing director to lead PR

LONDONBERRY, NH: Stonyfield Farm has hired a new communications VP to oversee three major PR programs the organic yogurt maker has underway.

Kekst & Co. dominates in generally down M&A year

NEW YORK: The M&A league tables demonstrate that although the number of deals continued to decline in 2002, a handful of financial PR firms continue ...

Publicis sets out to clear up the kiwi's fuzzy image in US

REDWOOD CITY, CA: The world's largest kiwi marketer has hired Publicis Dialog to help clear up misconceptions about the little, fuzzy, misunderstood fruit.

Your PR Department to help ease fears about going to the dentist

FARMINGTON, CT: A Connecticut dentist who is launching a new dentists' referral site has taken on Your PR Department for a $175,000 PR campaign.

Carmichael Lynch Spong to open up outpost in Chicago

CHICAGO: Minneapolis-based Carmichael Lynch Spong is opening a Chicago office, hiring PR veteran Jim Heininger to run its new operation.

Darden serving up launch effort for Seasons 52 chain

ORLANDO, FL: Darden Restaurants has launched a media relations and community outreach campaign to promote its newest restaurant concept, Seasons 52.

C&W hires former McHenry VP to run its Bay Area office

SAN FRANCISCO: Former Wilson McHenry VP Annie Longsworth has joined Cohn & Wolfe as SVP, and will manage its Bay Area office.

EDITORIAL: Agencies should be anxious to put their work on display, instead of shrouding it in secrecy

Explaining exactly what PR people actually do may seem easy, but it isn't always so. There are times when the industry seems downright secretive, which ...

OP-ED: Corporate America can profit by putting people first

When times are tough, character shows through. Companies, like people, are put to the test in times of economic adversity.

ANALYSIS: Automakers need to drive home information on SUVs

Despite safety and fuel-efficiency concerns, SUV sales remain high. But auto-industry PR teams must be ready should the naysayers gain momentum.

PAUL HOLMES: Attracting good clients starts with retaining the best people, and hearing their concerns

A little more than a decade ago, senior management at Hill & Knowlton decided to go to work for the Conference of Catholic Bishops, which ...

ORGANIZATION CASE STUDY: TSA conveys its relevance with mobilized PR effort

A piecemeal and reactionary operation at its beginning, the Transportation Security Administration has now streamlined its PR efforts to become a proactive, informative unit.

MEDIA WATCH: French opposition to war in Iraq prompts US media to attack

On the question of war with Iraq, well-thought arguments have been made in the media by both hawks and doves. However, heated criticism in the ...

MEDIA ROUNDUP: Press finds space for nonprofits during tough times

Charity has gained more attention of late, but with so many competing nonprofits, getting coverage can be tough. David Ward looks at ways charitable organizations ...

MEDIA PROFILE: Premiere finds its light in remaining focused solely on movies

Forget about fashion, fads, makeup, and who's dating who. Save it for Us Weekly. The rule for pitching a story or front-of-book item to Premiere ...

PROFILE: Painter cements his place atop Houston's PR scene

From the mid-1970s Arab oil embargo to his present role at Sterling Bank, Graham Painter's global PR prowess has prompted industry execs to tag him ...

Side effects of DTC

Sara Calabro looks at how question marks over drug advertising could open up avenues for PR.

MARKET FOCUS: Rewriting the rules

Paul Cordasco looks at how the Sarbanes-Oxley Act is changing the IR landscape.

PR TECHNIQUE: Production, Subject, Audience: getting a PSA on air

Competition to get PSAs aired is fierce, but Douglas Quenqua finds that a well-produced spot with a clear message aimed at the right audience can ...

CAMPAIGNS: WS sells Hanes on PR with big launch of tagless T-shirts

PR Team: Weber Shandwick New York (assisted by Chicago, LA, Miami, and Dallas) and Hanes (Winston-Salem, NC) Campaign: Tagless T-shirts Time Frame: June 2002-ongoing Budget: More than $50,000

CAMPAIGNS: Coverage of WTC forum helps public influence decision

PR Team: Civic Alliance to Rebuild Downtown New York (New York), CooperKatz (New York), M&R Strategic Services (New York), AmericaSpeaks (Washington, DC) and Jasculca/Terman (Chicago) Campaign: ...

THE PUBLICIST: Canada's rise in film industry gives LA publicists the chills

OK, I'll admit it. Until I began working in the film publicity biz, I'd never been to Canada. I wasn't even sure where Vancouver and ...

PR PLAY OF THE WEEK: Turning back puts Smith in front of press

NEW YORK: Political protests are a daily occurrence in a democracy with as diverse a set of viewpoints as the US. Yet getting one voice ...

TOY BOX: Burton fashions place for itself in tech

Once again, it's time to talk tech. Thankfully, Burton, the totally rad snowboard company, has a killer creation: the first and only jacket with - ...