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November 04, 2002 Issue of PRWeek

Qwest ends relationship with Ogilvy as it moves PR work in-house

DENVER: As part of an effort to move more PR services in-house, Qwest has severed its ties with Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide after five years.

HP taps trio of firms as part of global PR consolidation

PALO ALTO, CA: Hewlett-Packard has selected Hill & Knowlton, Porter Novelli, and Burson-Marsteller as its global agencies of record, after months of speculation in the ...

Goldman creates new post to direct executive comms

NEW YORK: Goldman Sachs has created a new communications post that will be focused on executive communications and corporate messaging. Kathleen Baum, who is currently ...

United hires ChevronTexaco veteran to lead corporate affairs team

CHICAGO: United Airlines parent UAL has poached ChevronTexaco PR chief Rosemary Moore to head its 200-strong corporate affairs team.

City-renaming drive lands 'Got Milk?' on media's map

BIGGS, CA: The California Milk Processor Board (CMPB) scored an unexpected press barrage last week when word of a new PR campaign leaked out.

H&K ups Midwest public affairs with W&C partnership

CHICAGO: Hill & Knowlton is partnering with Chicago public affairs firm Wilhelm & Conlon (W&C) to broaden its public affairs reach across the Midwest.

NEC selects Ruder Finn to help place more focus on PR

IRVING, TX: NEC America, the telecommunications division of NEC USA, has selected the Ruder Finn Group as its AOR.

Moore taps into internet's power to promote new film

LOS ANGELES: Documentarian Michael Moore has once again used a personal appeal over the internet to boost the success of his controversial work, highlighting the ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at ChevronTexaco

SAN FRANCISCO: ChevronTexaco has promoted Patricia Yarrington to VP of public and government affairs. She previously served as VP of strategic planning.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at Nike

BEAVERTON, OR: Nike has appointed Trevor Edwards to the newly created position of corporate VP of global brand management, where he will develop and execute ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at BASF

MOUNT OLIVE, NJ: Global chemical company BASF has appointed Donald McGrath as VP of corporate communications for North America. McGrath will oversee all communications, including ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Omnicom say PR still sore spot

NEW YORK: Omnicom Group officials, announcing Q3 profits up 37%, said PR continued to be a sore spot in its portfolio. Profits for the company's ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at TechTV

SAN FRANCISCO: TechTV has appointed Gaynor Strachan Chun VP of marketing and communications. Strachan Chun will oversee all branding and marketing, including PR, promotions, and ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Lord, Sullivan & Yoder for campaign

COLUMBUS, OH: The Diamond Hill Investment Group has picked Lord, Sullivan & Yoder to handle a media relations campaign and provide strategic counsel. The agency ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Franco to be agency

DETROIT: The Heat and Warmth Fund, a nonprofit that provides emergency energy assistance for low-income Michigan residents, has named Franco Public Relations its PR agency. ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Brand Marketing formed

LOS ANGELES: Bender/Helper Impact has formed The Brand Marketing Group, a new division focusing on branding through PR.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at Teletrax

CHARLOTTE, NC: Teletrax, Medialink's tracking service, has appointed John Utley to the post of VP of US business development. He will be responsible for introducing ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Illinois Council picks CKPR

CHICAGO: The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities has picked CKPR to handle a public-awareness campaign focusing on the council's activities and people with disabilities. The ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Travers Collins to provide PR

NIAGARA FALLS, NY: The Seneca Niagara Falls Gaming Corporation has hired Travers Collins & Company to provide PR, advertising, design, and promotional support of the ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Ackermann signs new clients

KNOXVILLE, TN & DALLAS: Ackermann PR has signed several new clients in recent weeks: Atmospheric Glow Technologies, Book Market, and Music Alliance Group in Knoxville, ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Washington Women in PR announce finalists

WASHINGTON: Washington Women in Public Relations has announced the finalists for its 2002 Woman of the Year award. They include Susan Davis, chairman of Susan ...

Fleishman's Castaldi picked for vacant GM slot at Hill & Knowlton

NEW YORK: Hill & Knowlton has filled its vacant GM slot for its New York office with Marilyn Castaldi, chair of Fleishman-Hillard's healthcare practice.

Ashcroft squelches move toward laws against leaks

WASHINGTON: Senator Richard Shelby's (R-AL) long crusade to create a federal law punishing government employees who disclose classified information to the media received a potentially ...

Magnet captures Nortel comms job

BRAMPTON, ONTARIO, CANADA: Nortel Networks has selected Magnet Communications to handle its corporate PR, and has kept Lois Paul Partners as its product and technology ...

Dems crying foul after GOP stages lawn radio event

WASHINGTON: Democrats criticized the White House last week for using a radio outreach event to gain an unfair advantage in the waning days of the ...

Braun quits after Blake accepts TV interview on ABC

LOS ANGELES: High-profile lawyer Harland Braun resigned as accused murderer Robert Blake's attorney last week, citing differing opinions between himself and the TV star on ...

Trade group soon to dive into tuna push

WASHINGTON: While "Got Milk?" gets its customary headlines (see story, opposite), another marketing body is hoping to get people to ask, "Got Tuna?"

SEC backs reform of pro forma rule

NEW YORK: The Securities and Exchange Commission proposed a rule change last week that would regulate the way companies present their financials to investors via ...

Home Depot makes another comms hire with Powell Tate veteran

ATLANTA: Retailing giant Home Depot has hired a Washington, DC, public affairs veteran as its new director of public relations.

Publicis commodities unit grows with cranberry job

WAREHAM, MA: Publicis Dialog has become the agency of record for another major commodities group, The Cranberry Marketing Committee.

WSW taps Boston Globe editor for a top NE office post

CAMBRIDGE, MA: Weber Shandwick Worldwide has lured Boston Globe business editor Peter Mancusi across the Charles River to be SVP of corporate practice in its ...

Magnet enters DC with acquisition of EPB PR operations

WASHINGTON: Magnet Communications has acquired the PR arm of Earle Palmer Brown and started a public affairs practice in Washington, DC.

Ogilvy taps former group directors to lead medical area

NEW YORK: Ogilvy PR has named Sherry Pudloski and Pam Jenkins - both former group directors of their respective healthcare practices - as MDs and ...

Pawnshop touts its anti-crime initiative

FORT WORTH, TX: The nation's largest pawnshop chain and a Dallas software company have hired Fort Worth's Witherspoon Advertising and PR to promote a system ...

Edelman eyes the future of marketing with UFO launch

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN: Edelman has opened a new communications shop in Sweden that it hopes will be a launch pad for innovative communications marketing techniques throughout ...

Oracle gets boost from Biz360 to up its media analysis

REDWOOD SHORES, CA: Oracle has selected Biz360 to handle the company's media-measurement needs.

Nuveen hires WSW to propel its PR focus

CHICAGO: Nuveen Investments has hired Weber Shandwick Worldwide as its agency of record, the first time in several years it's had a PR agency.

ReNew Life selects WWR for its public education project

NEW YORK: ReNew Life Formulas, a company that produces natural digestive health products, has appointed Williams Whittle Rothstein (WWR) to assist with a public education ...

FDoC retains Golin for global growth drive

LAKELAND, FL: The Florida Department of Citrus (FDoC) has rehired Golin/Harris International, and expanded its PR role to include international as well as US assignments.

THOUGHT LEADER: Public affairs pros will rejoice or reel after upcoming congressional elections

A mere one-seat change in the US Senate would dramatically transform the world of public affairs in Washington.

EDITORIAL: Size shouldn't be everything when it comes to selecting the right firm for your business

Hewlett Packard's choice of three large, multinational firms for its global brief will discourage some midsize agencies and boutiques.

ANALYSIS: Agency Integration: Giant clients have started to ask for one-stop shops

Creating a new agency for one big client's marketing needs is all the rage. But is it the right approach? Anita Chabria examines the trend, ...

PAUL HOLMES: PR pros should take note as DC sniper crisis exposes a variety of the media's bad habits

If you want to see how the 24-hour news cycle has changed the media, look at the coverage of the recent sniper attacks in the ...

ORGANIZATION CASE STUDY: CAIR responds resolutely as 9/11 puts its faith to the test

Since 1994, CAIR has employed a well-rounded plan in its role as a top Muslim voice in the US. Sherri Deatherage Green finds this strategy ...

MEDIA WATCH: Augusta stays course as opinions vary on membership policy

Back in June, the Augusta National Golf Club, home of America's premier golf event, The Masters, was publicly approached about revising its men-only membership policy. ...

MEDIA ROUNDUP: Wireless communications: Tech PR gets personal in wireless education boom

The technology buzz is back with a new emphasis on wireless communications. David Ward discovers that editors have learned a valuable lesson from the dot-com ...

MEDIA PROFILE: Early preparation helps whet The Best Of's eclectic appetite

PR practitioners prove to be a valuable asset to The Best Of as programmers seek great restaurants and talented chefs. As Matthew Arnold finds, the ...

PROFILE: Doke navigates American through turbulent skies

As head of corporate communications for American Airlines, Tim Doke has seen everything from employee strikes to terrorist attacks. Matthew Arnold finds out why he ...

On the line

Telecoms are trying to find ways to rebuild their credibility.

PR TECHNIQUE: Press clippings: Clippings from across the globe

As clips remain a major barometer for agencies, clipping services are responding with new offerings that satisfy PR pros' ever-increasing global needs.

CAMPAIGNS: RTF project gains a river of support

PR Team: The Pittsburgh Riverlife Task Force and Skutski & Oltmanns (Pittsburgh) Campaign: Three Rivers Park Time Frame: June-October 2001 Budget: Approximately $300,000

WHERE I WORK: Kirt Webster, VP, media marketing, Webster & Associates PR

How long have you been working there? Six years.

CAREERS: Pandora's Problem Page

Q The other day, my boss called me into her office to ask me a computer question. She wanted to know how to open two ...

CAREERS: My Big Break

I got my big break while still working on my degree at California State University at Fullerton. I had spent several weeks gathering background information ...

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: Shirine Coburn

Though a propensity for laughing did get Shirine Coburn into a bit of trouble early in her career, she has a great deal to smile ...

LAST CALL: Imagine that: PR man discovers Lennon tribute in Cuba

Imagine you are the head of a New York-based PR boutique, as well as the former manager of the Beatles. Now, imagine you are escorting ...

LAST CALL: WeWantWork wraps up push, but the job isn't done yet.

WeWantWork, the band of unemployed white-collar job-seekers that has been taking its resumes to Manhattan's streets, concluded its drive last week and watched the clips ...

LAST CALL: Morale boosting and media relations served a la cart at GCI Group Atlanta

Kudos to GCI Group's Atlanta office, which managed to turn some bad news into golden coverage. The PR firm's hometown newspaper, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, came ...

LAST CALL: Taco Bell claims a PR victory despite lack of home runs

Taco Bell's hopes sank in the end. By the fifth game of the World Series, Taco Bell's 15-foot-wide black-and-white inflatable target, floating in the bay ...

EDITORIAL: Size shouldn't be everything when it comes to selecting the right firm for your business

Hewlett Packard's choice of three large, multinational firms for its global brief will discourage some midsize agencies and boutiques.

MARKET FOCUS: Celebrities: Hollywood hawkers

While PR helps sell products to the public, Anita Chabria learns that it plays an even bigger role in getting stars to buy into the ...

CAMPAIGNS: Low costs pay off for new Buy.com

PR Team: Buy.com and ThinkBig (Aliso Viejo, CA) Campaign: Price war Time Frame: June 18-21, 2002 Budget: Part of the normal contract costs

TALES FROM TINSELTOWN: Some Hollywood publicists are actually worthy of the spotlight

Granted, entertainment publicists are accessories to some of our culture's greatest crimes (i.e. The Anna Nicole Show), but some are also responsible for leading the ...

CAMPAIGNS: CEA makes news in legislative push

PR Team: Consumer Electronics Association (Arlington, VA) and The Harbour Group (Washington, DC) Campaign: Promoting Computer Sales Tax Holiday Time Frame: Fall 2002 Budget: Under $25,000