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March 08, 2004 Issue of PRWeek

Two Publicis firms merge into largest Hispanic ad group

LOS ANGELES: Publicis has combined two of its Hispanic marketing companies, both with PR components, to create the largest Hispanic advertising agency in the US.

Nanosys picks Antenna to help explain work to public

PALO ALTO, CA: Nanotechnology company Nanosys has selected the Antenna Group as its PR agency, a key client for the firm's growing nanotech practice.

Disney 'Pirates' PR team given award for film promotion

LOS ANGELES: Pirates of The Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl didn't win any Oscars, but the Disney publicity team that helped propel the film ...

DES launches push to familiarize MD voters with new voting machines

WASHINGTON: Diebold Election Systems (DES), one of the largest manufacturers of touch-screen voting machines in the country, has begun a statewide campaign to familiarize voters ...

S&D merges with boutique, begins Hispanic practice

LOS ANGELES: LA-based entertainment specialist Solters & Digney (S&D) is absorbing another entertainment firm while launching a Hispanic practice.

MGM Mirage hires Bullfrog to oversee food, drink unit

LAS VEGAS: MGM Mirage has hired New York-based Bullfrog & Baum to handle PR for its food and beverage operations.

Hospital appoints Edelman its AOR to boost awareness

NEW YORK: The Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), which sits atop US News & World Report's annual rankings of hospitals specializing in orthopedics, rheumatology, and ...

Widmeyer to help BSA fight software piracy at colleges

WASHINGTON: The Business Software Alliance (BSA) has tapped Widmeyer Communications to extend its fight against software piracy to college campuses across the country.

Tellem develops a scale to evaluate crises, scandals

LOS ANGELES: When it comes to crisis communications, what's the difference between handling an Exxon oil spill and a Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction?

Porsche appoints Harling to GM post to increase sales

ATLANTA: Bernhard Harling has been named GM of PR for Porsche Cars North America. He'll report to the company's CEO, Robert Schwarzenbauer.

Survey shows success for Pitney campaign

STAMFORD, CT: They don't just sort mail anymore.

Metzner becomes investor relations VP at energy firm

CHICAGO: Exelon, the Chicago-based energy company, has appointed Michael R. Metzner VP of investor relations and shareholder services.

Reshuffle won't disrupt FDA, Pitts says

ROCKVILLE, MD: The FDA "will remain on plan" in achieving its communications objectives, said Peter Pitts, head of external relations for the agency, amid internal ...

DFW hunting for AOR as Ackermann quits

DALLAS: Ackermann Public Relations won't seek to renew its contract with Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), leaving a $20,000-a-month contract up for grabs.DFW officials were ...

PR21 closes down London office amid losses in '03

LONDON: PR21, the consumer arm of the Edelman group, has closed its ailing London operation after a year of lost business and senior-level defections.

Weber to run Treasury push for switch to Direct Deposit

WASHINGTON: Weber Shandwick emerged as the winner last week of a US Treasury campaign promoting the use of electronic funds transfer among recipients of federal ...

R&C starts Diet Coke with Lime campaign

LOS ANGELES: Rogers & Cowan (R&C) has started promoting the launch of Diet Coke with Lime after recently winning the Diet Coke account in a ...

Barry leaves Joele for partnership at Brunswick Group

NEW YORK: Financial PR specialist Ellen Barry has left Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher to become a partner in the Brunswick Group's office in New ...

News Briefs

TateAustin to lead city's $3.5m push to revive economy

AUSTIN, TX: Recession-battered Austin wants to stop its economic slide, so the chamber of commerce has hired TateAustin to lead a four-year, $3.5 million economic ...

Scrushy launches TV show to fight allegations of fraud

BIRMINGHAM, AL: Richard Scrushy, the beleaguered former chairman of HealthSouth set to go on trial in August on corporate fraud charges, has launched his own ...

GOP lobbyists accused of accepting $45m

WASHINGTON: A February article in The Washington Post has sparked intense controversy for two Republican K Street operatives accused of taking exorbitant fees over the ...

Geduldig shuffles staff after joining up with Fleishman

NEW YORK: Geduldig & Ferguson, an agency that's worked with clients like Oracle and JP Morgan, is merging with Fleishman-Hillard.

Coca-Cola plans institute to study health, wellness

ATLANTA: Coca-Cola has announced a new research institute that observers say might help its image in the ongoing debate about obesity in the US and ...

Sony taps Ruder Finn to lead US efforts of its global branding push

SAN DIEGO: Just two months after Sony Electronics launched a global branding initiative, the company has picked Ruder Finn as its new US agency handling ...

Weber Shandwick, Wag Ed win top honors at PRWeek Awards 2004

NEW YORK: Weber Shandwick and its client, law firm Foley & Lardner, received the highly coveted Campaign of the Year award at PRWeek's fifth annual ...

'Passion' campaign aims to overcome Christian rifts

LOS ANGELES: After earning more than $125 million in its first five days in theaters, The Passion of the Christ is being hailed as a ...

Communications SVP quits Novartis Pharmaceuticals

EAST HANOVER, NJ: Greg Baird, SVP of communications for Novartis Pharmaceuticals, has resigned from the Swiss drug company to pursue other opportunities.

EDITORIAL: Distinguishing between managing clients and managing an office should serve everyone well

John Graham, chairman and CEO of Fleishman-Hillard (who is profiled on p. 13 of this issue), is enthused about formalizing a system he says the ...

OP-ED: Creativity, vision key to efficient business leadership

What makes some CEOs like Herb Kelleher, Richard Branson, and Jack Welch great leaders? Why do others fail to reach this summit?

Decency flap may up focus on consolidation of media

The public ire spurred by Janet Jackson's Super Bowl show could become one more defense given in the case against creating big media companies.

PAUL HOLMES: The same PR focus that drew record viewers to 'Passion' must help advocate post-film harmony

Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ opened this weekend to the kind of box office most blockbusters can only dream of. The movie hauled ...

MEDIA CASE STUDY: Walsh's credibility captures 'Most Wanted' viewers

With the help of PR efforts touting host John Walsh as a trustworthy authority on crime, America's Most Wanted regularly enjoys high TV ratings in ...

THE AGENCY BUISNESS: As corporate strategies shift, PR firms ready to reap benefits

While CEOs report a change in priorities from cutting costs to growing revenue, midsize PR agencies now feel as if they're on the verge of ...

MEDIA ROUNDUP: Reporters take on workplace beat

As Americans spend more of their time in the workplace, reporters are finding new ways to expand coverage of the on-the-job issues facing employees.

JOURNALIST Q & A: Seth Stevenson

Seth Stevenson writes Slate's Ad Report Card column, in which he humorously depicts advertisements down to their minute details and then grades them. Thus far, ...

MEDIA WATCH: Nader's bid prompts widespread dismay

Day-after coverage of Ralph Nader's decision to launch another long-shot presidential bid, announced on NBC's Meet the Press on February 22, showed an already angry ...

MEDIA BRANDS: Dobb's new anti-offshoring stance shows effects of rebranding for television reporters

Politicians are regularly excoriated for changing their platforms with the slightest breeze of public opinion, but they do it nonetheless. Celebrities suffer less judgment but ...

PROFILE: Graham embodies the values that built Fleishman

Job-hopping is common among PR pros, but John Graham, chairman and CEO of Fleishman-Hillard, has thrived at the same firm for 38 years by being ...

SELLING THE STORY

By working together, PR and sales teams are boosting both revenues and reputations.

REGIONAL FOCUS: The great bright north

Growth is slow, but a consumer boom augurs well for the Canadian PR industry.

From winning awards to winning coverage

The right accolades can translate into PR gold, if they're touted in the right way to the right people

CAMPAIGNS: CDC's VERB fosters a more active role for kids

The CDC's VERB fitness-promotion initiative did not just specifically target tweens of all ethnic groups, it involved kids in the marketing efforts, as well.

THE PUBLICIST: Publicists bask in a brief pre-Oscar moment in the spotlight

It's the Friday before the Oscars, which means the Beverly Hills Hotel ballroom is stuffed full o' publicists and a scattering of celebs and journalists. ...

PR PLAY OF THE WEEK: Adjusted menu is super move for McD's

OAKBROOK, IL: McDonald's made "Super Size It" part of every fast-food junkie's vocabulary, but now it's taking away super-sized offerings as it seeks to better ...

TOY BOX: Max Wireless is the clear phone choice

Max Wireless, made by ClearOne Communications, is a wireless conference phone that can handle up to eight participants. It can be transferred between multiple conference ...

BOOK REVIEW: 'Slightly' is very helpful to entrepreneurs

This "how-to" branding book's premise is simple, yet powerful: Become a minor celebrity in your field of expertise, and you'll get more business than you ...

‘Passion’ campaign aims to overcome Christian rifts

LOS ANGELES: After earning more than $125 million in its first five days in theaters, The Passion of the Christ is being hailed as a ...

Sony taps Ruder Finn to lead US efforts of its global branding push

SAN DIEGO: Just two months after Sony Electronics launched a global branding initiative, the company has picked Ruder Finn as its new US agency handling ...

Weber Shandwick, Wag Ed win top honors at PRWeek Awards 2004

NEW YORK: Weber Shandwick and its client, law firm Foley & Lardner, received the highly coveted Campaign of the Year award at PRWeek’s fifth annual ...

Scrushy launches TV show to fight allegations of fraud

BIRMINGHAM, AL: Richard Scrushy, the beleaguered former chairman of HealthSouth set to go on trial in August on corporate fraud charges, has launched his own ...

GOP lobbyists accused of accepting $45m

WASHINGTON: A February article in The Washington Post has sparked intense controversy for two Republican K Street operatives accused of taking exorbitant fees over the ...

Coca-Cola plans institute to study health, wellness

ATLANTA: Coca-Cola has announced a new research institute that observers say might help its image in the ongoing debate about obesity in the US and ...

Communications SVP quits Novartis Pharmaceuticals

EAST HANOVER, NJ: Greg Baird, SVP of communications for Novartis Pharmaceuticals, has resigned from the Swiss drug company to pursue other opportunities.

Geduldig shuffles staff after joining up with Fleishman

NEW YORK: Geduldig & Ferguson, an agency that’s worked with clients like Oracle and JP Morgan, is merging with Fleishman-Hillard.

TateAustin to lead city’s $3.5m push to revive economy

AUSTIN, TX: Recession-battered Austin wants to stop its economic slide, so the chamber of commerce has hired TateAustin to lead a four-year, $3.5 million economic ...

TOY BOX: Max Wireless is the clear phone choice

Max Wireless, made by ClearOne Communications, is a wireless conference phone that can handle up to eight participants. It can be transferred between multiple conference ...

Primedia recruits JMPR to work with its car magazines

NEW YORK: The special-interest publisher Primedia has tapped JMPR to handle events and media relations for its Automotive Enthusiast Group and its stable of 53 ...