November 22, 2004 Issue of PRWeek

Archive

LA audit reports $4.2m in overbillings by Fleishman

LOS ANGELES: Fleishman-Hillard improperly billed the LA Department of Water and Power (DWP) $4.2 million over a six-year period in "unsubstantiated, unsupported, and questionable charges," ...
 

Apex beginning IR outreach in bid to up its stock price

SALT LAKE CITY: Mining and oil company Apex Resources Group has launched an IR outreach effort aimed at boosting its stock price.
 

Indevus kicks off physician-based push for new drug

LEXINGTON, MA: Indevus Pharmaceuticals has launched an aggressive direct-to-physician campaign to promote a new overactive bladder drug.
 

Jaffe targeting media for religion-based phone firm

WESTFIELD, NJ: Jaffe Communications has embarked on a media outreach campaign to pro- mote a new feature in the competitive long-distance phone service world: religion. ...
 

Group focuses on premature births in lightings, rally

WHITE PLAINS, NY: Twenty-four landmarks - from Niagara Falls to Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Bridge - were lit in pink and blue Tuesday in a "moment ...
 

Panel: PR grads now more savvy with ROI

NEW YORK: Young graduates of university PR programs are increasingly well-versed in measurement and research methodology, an asset that will serve them well with industry ...
 

Visa, MasterCard respond to Amex antitrust lawsuit

NEW YORK: Visa and MasterCard are circling the PR wagons after American Express filed a lawsuit against them last week alleging "illegal, anti-competitive practices."
 

NEWS BRIEFS

WALTHAM, MA: W2 Group, Larry Weber's new marketing venture, has acquired One to One Interactive, an internet marketing services firm.
 

Calphalon names Dome HK its new agency of record

CHICAGO: Cookware maker Calphalon has hired Dome HK as its new agency of record following a three-month search.
 

System links PR pros to editorial updates

ALEXANDRIA, VA: PRSourceCode has launched the Edit Forum Network, a system designed to foster communication between PR firms and IT magazines.
 

WA looks to tout 'perfect climate' for winemaking

SEATTLE: The Washington Wine Commission is launching a branding campaign to let both wine aficionados and amateurs know that the state has the perfect climate ...
 

Closing the Gap: From the inside out

Keeping internal and external messages in sync is critical to maintaining satisfaction among company employees
 

CLOSING THE GAP: Providing counsel

PR and legal share common goals, though the methods used to achieve them can give rise to internal conflicts
 

Closing the Gap: Unmixed messages

Aligning the PR, marketing, and advertising functions is crucial to ensure audiences hear consistent campaigns
 

CLOSING THE GAP: Selling a strategy

PR's messaging muscle can help sales staff, but internal barriers must be overcome.
 

CLOSING THE GAP: Purchasing power

Procurement officers often need to be educated on the importance of PR before they agree on an outside agency
 

Closing The Gap

Over the past year, PRWeek and Peppercom have held a series of panel discussions to explore how in-house communications teams can build bridges between their ...
 

Edelman fills new diversity post, buys SCH

CHICAGO: Edelman has created a senior HR position overseeing diversity initiatives, both within the agency and throughout community relations programs.
 

FitzGerald closes Bay Area unit due to lack of growth

REDWOOD SHORES, CA: FitzGerald Communications has closed its Bay Area office, opting to focus on what it considers growing markets - Boston, New York, and ...
 

Hardee's unapologetic in push for new Thickburger

ST. LOUIS: At a time when most fast-food restaurants are frantically touting "healthy" new menu items, Midwest chain Hardee's captured international attention last week when ...
 

Disney plummets to 16th in study of firms' reputations

ROCHESTER, NY: One of America's most beloved companies suffered substantial damage to its reputation this year, according to the sixth annual Reputation Quotient study con-ducted ...
 

Merck ups comms as timing of recall sparks questions

WHITEHOUSE STATION, NJ: More than a month after pulling its blockbuster drug Vioxx off the market, Merck must now answer questions over whether it acted ...
 

Ford, GM race to dominate SUV stability-control issue

DETROIT: Ford and General Motors are stepping up PR efforts around new stability controls for SUVs.
 

ACS puts focus on legislation for '04 smokeout efforts

WASHINGTON: For 27 years, the American Cancer Society's (ACS) Great American Smokeout has asked smokers to go a single day without a cigarette.
 

Sard, Brunswick handle announcement of Kmart-Sears merger

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL: Last week's announcement that Kmart would merge with Sears, Roebuck, & Co. came via two high-powered M&A communications firms, both of which ...
 

Mozilla plays on distrust, enthusiasm for launch of Firefox browser

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA: The release of Mozilla's Firefox web browser exceeded expectations this month, thanks to PR initiatives tapping into two key emotions - enthusiasm ...
 

'Hitting' brings Europe's media into focus

Do media relations tactics used in the US translate in Europe?
 

PR PLAY OF THE WEEK: Ratings stunt exposes Reed's bad judgment

It's been said that journalism is in decline, and it's getting hard to disagree.
 

The Publicist:

New Orleans is putting on quite a show to lure the film industry
 

TOY BOX: The Logitech io2 has a future in writing

The Logitech io2 Digital Writing System is fun because it offers users a futuristic feeling.
 

Awareness Initiative: Project Billboard's effort gets best of traffic in Times Sq.

Creating simple signage in the heart of Times Square when your goals are to raise aware-ness and educate the masses is not an easy task. ...
 

Consumer Relations: SEA gets the public to train its eyes on latest technology

To highlight its technology, Siemens Energy & Automation (SEA) took a road trip.
 

Media Relations: Treasury initiative to highlight online presence pays off

When the US Department of the Treasury decided to phase out paper savings bonds in favor of electronic ones, it needed to convince the public ...
 

Extranets: Keeping account teams on the same page

An extranet can be a vital conduit of communication between an agency's account team and its client contacts. Christie Casalino looks at best practices
 

Technology: Software's hard sell

Software companies are now focusing their PR initiatives on consumers' business needs.
 

PROFILE: New Yorker's Auletta gains access through honesty

New Yorker columnist Ken Auletta has shed light on some of the biggest names in business and communications by approaching his subjects with an intense ...
 

Inside the Mix

Amazon's short films serve to generate buzz with consumers more than to place products
 

PR pros can look at cable TV again

Cable news outlets are more open to pitches with the election over, but PR pros must consider timing and audience demographics to solidify clients' prospects.
 

MEDIA WATCH: Domestic issues top post-election news

While many believed the 2004 Presidential election hinged on the public's opinion on the war in Iraq, polling statistics showed moral issues and domestic policy ...
 

Interview: Karl Greenberg

Karl Greenberg has covered a wide variety of beats in his career, working as a drama critic and columnist for Showbusiness Magazine, as petrochemicals editor ...
 

THE AGENCY BUSINESS: Public affairs must hit on GOP targets for Bush's second term

As the President prepares for the next four years, public affairs agencies must recruit staff for key areas like healthcare and tax policy, and utilize ...
 

Corporate Case Study: Ameritrade cashes in on renewed media interest

Last year, Ameritrade brought most of its communications in-house. Now, its team works closely with the media to sustain the company as a voice for ...
 

Start-ups: Start-ups fight skepticism with solid business plans

As the start-up market begins to show renewed signs of growth, many firms are focusing their PR goals on building credibility with the media.
 

PAUL HOLMES: Revenues might be up, but success will be short-lived if it comes at expense of workers

When The Wall Street Journal begins to worry, in print, that corporate profits are "too high," it might be time for the rest of us ...
 

Fleishman's situation in LA is a problem that the entire PR industry will need to overcome

The audit by the Los Angeles City controller's office, which last week reported that it had found an alleged $4.2 million in overbillings by Fleishman-Hillard, ...
 

OP-ED: Penn State Page Center will benefit PR students and pros

PRWeek readers recently found out about the new Arthur W. Page Center at the Penn State College of Communications (PRWeek, October 25).
 
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