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March 31, 2003 Issue of PRWeek

DC think tank leads coalition in effort to stir up national health debate

WASHINGTON: Washington think tank The Wye River Group on Healthcare (WRGH) will soon decide which DC agency will help it and a broad coalition stir ...

HealthSouth calls on NRP for PR aid in fraud scandal

BIRMINGHAM, AL: Facing charges of accounting fraud by federal prosecutors and the SEC, HealthSouth Corporation has enlisted healthcare firm Euro RSCG Life NRP (formerly Noonan ...

New IDC service to help IT marketers better display ROI

FRAMINGHAM, MA: IDC has introduced a new research service to help hi-tech marketers get a better grasp on ROI.

PRWeek and MS&L kick off survey of marketing execs

NEW YORK: PRWeek, together with MS&L, has launched a new survey of marketing executives.

AztraZeneca streamlines PR into quartet

NEW YORK: AstraZeneca ended its nine-year relationship with Ketchum when it selected Edelman, Fleishman-Hillard, Burson-Marsteller, and Signova to handle all PR responsibilities.

Study shows reputation of DJIA companies slid in '02

GREENWICH, CT: A detailed study of individual investors' perceptions of the 30 companies that comprise the benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average found that the reputations ...

Lois Paul closes San Francisco outpost

SAN FRANCISCO: The hi-tech downturn continues to take its toll in the Bay Area, as Lois Paul & Partners (LPP) plans to close its San ...

Pentagon PA staff helping out embedded reporters

WASHINGTON: They may not get as much attention as their media counterparts, but dozens of Pentagon public affairs officers are "embedded" right alongside the reporters ...

Ketchum picked to promote Absolut's new Vanilia variety

NEW YORK: Ketchum Entertainment Marketing (KEM), a division of Ketchum, has begun a PR push for Absolut Vanilia, the newest variety of the liquor.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Golf Marketing Alliance picks Hamilton

NEW YORK: The United States Golf Marketing Alliance has picked The Hamilton Group to handle PR and marketing communications. The New Jersey-based alliance provides services ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Phoenix selects OutCast

SAN JOSE, CA: Phoenix Technologies has selected OutCast Communications to provide PR services. The company develops technologies that activate, secure, and connect computers, digital devices, ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Lutron hires Carmichael Lynch Spong

MINNEAPOLIS: Lutron Electronics has hired Carmichael Lynch Spong to work on media relations, product-launch media communications, and consumer-awareness programs. Lutron manufactures residential and commercial lighting ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Direct Impact recruits Schmidt

WASHINGTON: Burson-Marsteller's grassroots advocacy firm Direct Impact has recruited Steve Schmidt, former communications director for the National Republican Congressional Committee, as SVP, and Vlad Cartwright, ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: US 33 Works hires Lord Sullivan & Yoder

COLUMBUS, OH: US 33 Works, an Ohio regional-development group, has hired Lord Sullivan & Yoder to create an awareness-building campaign. The agency will handle media ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Huawei selects Edelman

PLANO, TX: Huawei Technologies, a Chinese IT company specializing in the development of communications and networking equipment, has selected Edelman to provide PR services in ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: MAASH retains Rasky/Baerlein

MASSACHUSETTS: The Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities (MAASH) has retained The Rasky/Baerlein Group as public affairs and strategic advisors. MAASH is an ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Detroit Science picks Marx Layne

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI: The New Detroit Science Center has picked Marx Layne as its new PR agency of record. The center completed a $30 million ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Connect PR signs clients for services

PROVO, UT: Connect PR has signed two new clients for strategic counsel and PR services. Symark, based in Westlake Village, CA, develops security services to ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Gradepoint selects Franco

DETROIT: Gradepoint has selected Franco Public Relations as its agency of record to handle media relations, speaker placement, community relations, and corporate-identity development. Gradepoint markets ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: VocalData chooses Calysto

RICHARDSON, TX: VocalData has chosen Calysto Communications to promote the company's integrated-voice and enhanced-network applications. Calysto will focus on trade-show support, strategic counsel, and trade ...

Meat processors plan to give boost to media outreach

ARLINGTON, VA: The American Meat Institute is searching for a director of public affairs as it plans to increase its media outreach efforts across the ...

Technology group CCAT names Ruder Finn to AOR status

SAN DIEGO: The Center for Commercialization of Advanced Technology (CCAT), a congressionally funded public-private collaborative partnership, has selected Ruder Finn as its AOR.

War reports force shift in media strategies

NEW YORK: Less than a week into the invasion of Iraq, glowing stories of early military successes gave way to bleak warnings that this war ...

Burson joins fight against CA 'racial privacy' measure

LOS ANGELES: Burson-Marsteller has been tapped as part of a communications team for the opponents of a highly controversial California ballot measure that would bar ...

Bluetooth takes on Porter Novelli for global PR task

OVERLAND PARK, KS: With wireless internet access all the rage and perhaps the only bright spot in the hi-tech sector right now, the Bluetooth Special ...

Ketchum hired to broaden Insight's image in IT space

TEMPE, AZ: IT company Insight has embarked on a rebranding campaign, and has hired Ketchum to lead the way.

M. Booth wins pitch for Yahoo! Travel

SUNNYVALE, CA: Yahoo! Travel has selected New York-based M. Booth & Associates for a six-figure account after a competitive RFP.

Ogilvy PR chooses Siegel to head up global marketing

NEW YORK: Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide has appointed Barby Siegel to head the global marketing practice.

Shoemaker Brooks hires MWW Savitt to draw more business press

BOTHELL, WA: In the competitive world of athletic shoes, Brooks Sports is looking to hit the ground running with its latest efforts to attract the ...

Questions loom over Clear Channel's pro-troop rallies

SAN ANTONIO: Clear Channel Communications faced a series of tough ethical questions last week when it was revealed that the company's stations were behind a ...

NH boutique wins SATA for its efforts after Azores pact

CONCORD, NH: In a postscript to last week's PR Play of the Week, Louis Karno Communications (LKC) has officially won the account for Portuguese airline ...

Suburban Seattle towns in bid to attract tourist traffic

SEATAC, WA and TUKWILA, WA: Seattle and Tacoma may have great restaurants, fascinating museums, enticing shopping, and scintillating culture, but that's no reason to stay ...

Top tech research analyst appointed first Delahaye COO

NORWALK, CT: Delahaye, Medialink's research division, has chosen David Cappuccio to be its first-ever COO. He joins from SageCircle, an industry analyst relations firm, where ...

Food PR veteran opens Chicago agency

CHICAGO: Food PR veteran Lisa Doherty has launched her own agency, Lisa Doherty Marketing Communications.

Del Mar on track to begin nationwide PR campaign

SAN DIEGO: Promoters of a landmark southern California racetrack have hired Bailey Gardiner (BG) to implement a national campaign to highlight its summer horse-racing season.

Measuring up takes on new significance for PR industry

"Now more than ever, PR teams must demonstrate their value to senior management, and the best way to do that is through an effective measurement ...

Lombardo leaves Strategy One post to start own shop

WASHINGTON: Steve Lombardo left his post as president and CEO of Edelman's Strategy One unit last week to start his own agency, Lombardo Consulting Group.

The Deal brings in Plesser to build up reputation of staff

NEW YORK: The Deal, the weekly magazine covering mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions, has hired Plesser Associates to publicize its staff and its ...

Payless picks GCI to push fashion image

TOPEKA, KS: Payless ShoeSource has picked GCI Group as its PR agency of record as it tries to develop a more fashionable image for its ...

Political group taps Kaplan for press job

AUSTIN, TX: A nonprofit founded by former Texas governor Ann Richards' daughter Cecile has hired PRWeek's 2001 young professional of the year.

Pierpont hired to boost Rockets' new arena

HOUSTON: The Houston Rockets have hired hometown agency Pierpont Communications to help open the last in the city's trio of new sports facilities.

NHL's Ducks help fans show their support for US troops

LOS ANGELES: The Mighty Ducks NHL team has launched a postcard campaign to support US forces overseas.

Miller Bonner, TX hi-tech PR leader, passes away, 52

AUSTIN, TX: A car crash claimed the life of Texas hi-tech PR pioneer Miller Bonner on March 15. He was 52.

EDITORIAL: The Pentagon's wartime terminology is surely euphemistic, but it's also very understandable

My colleague Paul Holmes and I agreed that from time to time we would tackle a major issue from different perspectives, in the point-counterpoint ...

OP-ED: PR's necessary wartime resolve is epitomized in Israel

My role at Ruder Finn has provided me the opportunity to work in many parts of the world, and view how PR is approached around ...

ANALYSIS: Augusta offers lessons on how not to handle diversity

The media spotlight on Augusta's membership policy is intensifying. The club can still get out of the rough, but not with the tactics it has ...

PAUL HOLMES: The Pentagon's engagement in words of war provides fodder for students of propaganda

Ah, the language of war. The campaign in Iraq has only just begun, and already there are a half-dozen words I hope to never hear ...

CORPORATE CASE STUDY: The Princeton Review learns value of messaging

Though SAT tutorials remain a Princeton Review staple, increased PR has helped promote its many services, while offering the media, students, and schools various angles ...

MEDIA WATCH: Dixie Chick's criticism of Bush hits sour note with band's fans

Here's a quick question for the Dixie Chicks: What's free and costly at the same time? Lead singer Natalie Maines might not have known the ...

MEDIA ROUNDUP: Op-eds remain a coveted voice for news analysis

Those seeking issues analysis still value the op-ed page highly. But as cable TV, talk radio, and the web create more outlets for sharing views, ...

MEDIA PROFILE: Cigar Aficionado sports a distinctly mature, upscale flavor

Cigar Aficionado knows everything about cigars, so don't pitch that subject. Beyond that, the title welcomes inquiries from PR pros relating to any topic of ...

PROFILE: Promoting fun is serious business for McMackin

From dressing like Elvis to championing local involvement, Les McMackin, VP of marcomms at Isle of Capri Casinos, knows the best way to sell fun ...

What's a master's worth?

Douglas Quenqua finds that experience is often valued above a master's in PR.

REGIONAL FOCUS: Dry spell

The surging population has yet to bring big PR business with it.

PR TECHNIQUE: Winning in the court of public opinion

Before a big, tell-all interview, the legal and PR counsel must take several steps to make sure the interview will do their client more good ...

CAMPAIGNS: Testimonials help create electricity for LEC's products

PR Team: Power PR (Torrance, CA) and Lightning Eliminators and Consultants (Boulder, CO) Campaign: Dissipation Array System Time Frame: February 2000-ongoing Budget: Under $100,000

CAMPAIGNS: Symphony targets various audiences in Memphis return

PR Team: Archer-Malmo (Memphis, TN) and Memphis Symphony Orchestra (Memphis, TN) Campaign: Debut in the new Cannon Center for the Performing Arts Time Frame: October 2002 - ...

CAMPAIGNS: DMA honors 100th with a continuous open-door policy

PR Team: The Powell Group (Dallas) and the Dallas Museum of Art (Dallas) Campaign: Dallas Museum of Art stays open for 100 hours Time Frame: Summer 2002 ...

THE PUBLICIST: Publicists Guild show raises some interesting questions

War is hell. Oscar nominees were denied red carpet glory. March Madness was pushed to cable. Pizza deliveries are running an average of 20 minutes ...

PR PLAY OF THE WEEK: Oscar speeches keep the media talking

Last week's Academy Awards ceremony didn't win any ratings wars, but not for lack of spectacle.

TOY BOX: Mini-fridge is so cool, it's also hot

Say goodbye to the days of worrying about your lunch getting nabbed by sneaky coworkers with no regard for the increasingly stern labeling job you ...