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October 28, 2002 Issue of PRWeek

GCI's healthcare unit chosen to help NYC on bioterror preparedness

NEW YORK: The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) is embarking on a bioterrorism-preparedness effort, and has selected GCI's New York ...

PR to take lead role in USPS comms after move into IPG

WASHINGTON, DC: The US Postal Service has picked an integrated team of Interpublic Group agencies to handle its communications needs, with Golin/Harris International becoming the ...

Toyota to roll out cross-country campaign for new 4Runner SUV

TORRANCE, CA: Toyota is rolling out a new PR program to back the introduction of its 2003 redesigned 4Runner midsize sport utility vehicle.

ImClone retained Abernathy for PR when scandal hit

NEW YORK: ImClone Systems, the biotechnology company at the center of one of the biggest insider-trading scandals in recent years, has retained New York-based PR ...

New OneMonday name represents a wink to Warhol

SAN FRANCISCO: Looking to Andy Warhol for inspiration, OneMonday will change its name to Next Fifteen next month.

Roche aligns marketing into Omnicom

INDIANAPOLIS: Roche Diagnostics is shifting PR for its diabetes care unit to Porter Novelli from Edelman as it consolidates its marketing communications with Omnicom agencies.

Argyle Rowland builds on relations with Hanson Brick

TORONTO: Hanson Brick has chosen Argyle Rowland Worldwide as its agency of record.

Harris sheds light on data indicating hike in PR budgets

HIGHLAND PARK, IL: When PRWeek ran a story reporting a 21% increase in corporate PR budgets, the PR industry collectively scratched its head.

MS&L eliminates global tech team in favor of regions

NEW YORK: MS&L has dismantled its global technology practice, and is creating smaller, regional tech practices.

Argentina looks to repair image and boost tourism

FORT WORTH, TX: InterStar Marketing & PR is launching a campaign to improve Americans' perceptions of Argentina to promote tourism.

EDITORIAL: Nike should not let its pending Supreme Court case distract it from the court of public opinion

Nike's decision not to publicly release its annual corporate responsibility report is a shame. Yes, the move is understandable, following the California Supreme Court ruling ...

Cardinal hires its first comms head

DUBLIN, OH: Cardinal Health, provider of healthcare products and services, has appointed Sari Macrie to the position of SVP of corporate communications.

EDITORIAL: Hollywood's PR smells of regression

A recent made-for-TV movie opened with a scene that showed how far the recording industry hasn't come in 20 years. It was the 1980s, and ...

COMMENT: Thought Leader - PR doesn't deserve a place at the boardroom table because it hasn't earned it

Too often these days, I hear senior-level corporate communicators and agency folks lamenting the fact that they don't have a seat at the executive table ...

Agilent taps WSW as its global AOR

PALO ALTO, CA: Agilent has consolidated all its communications with Weber Shandwick Worldwide, naming it global AOR.

Recovery advocates attacking Christian Dior's Addict

LOS ANGELES: Protesters are targeting Parfums Christian Dior over the name and marketing of its new scent, Dior Addict, claiming that it trivializes a serious ...

ANALYSIS: Public Health: Smallpox issue highlights pros' need to be prepared

While the threat of biological terrorism remains a hot topic, many government groups are focused on the need for public education.

NEWS IN BRIEF: New purchase for Huntsworth PLC

NEW YORK: Huntsworth PLC has agreed to purchase Thomson Financial's IR consulting business. The deal is subject to the approval of Huntsworth shareholders. Richard J. ...

PAUL HOLMES: Stakeholders - not CEOs - determine which issues companies should address or ignore

Sometimes, activists find themselves locked in battle with an intransigent foe over which they have little direct leverage. That's the case for women's groups pressuring ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at Raytheon

LEXINGTON, MA: Raytheon has hired James Fetig as VP of media relations. Fetig will serve as chief spokesman, and will coordinate all media relations across ...

ORGANIZATION CASE STUDY: Bush policies keep church and state separatists busy

Despite having more work now than any other time in its 55-year history, Americans United for Separation of Church and State remains responsive to the ...

MEDIA WATCH: Beltway sniper case places media's role under the spotlight

Since October 2, the Beltway sniper has struck fear in the nation’s capital for the random identities of his victims, the precision of his shots, ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at VMS

NEW YORK: VMS has appointed Peter Wengryn, former CFO of the company, as its new president and CEO. The video-monitoring provider would not comment on ...

MEDIA ROUNDUP: Wall Street: Market watchers keep eye out for next big scandal

As financial outlets move their focus from IPO success to management mishap, one trend stays steady: the machinations of the market remain front-page news.

NEWS IN BRIEF: On The Scene Productions launches new service

LOS ANGELES: On The Scene Productions has launched its new Spanish-language audio news release service, OTSPrimero Radio Espanol. The company's president, Sally Jewett, said the ...

MEDIA PROFILE: Lifestyle title promotes smart spending for the rich-thinking

For many who grew used to last decade's good life, the state of the stock market has been a wake-up call. For Budget Living, ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at Westhill Partners

NEW YORK: Westhill Partners, a management consulting firm specializing in corporate communications, has named Alexander Jutkowitz as its president. In his new role, he will ...

PROFILE: Kraut crafts a creditable career from IR innovation

For more than 30 years, Gary Kraut has been a breakthrough force in the field of investor relations. And as Paul Cordasco reports, the firm ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Wireless Retail retains CPRi Communications

SCOTTSDALE, AZ: Wireless Retail, a national mobile phone and mobile service retailer, has retained CPRi Communications to develop and implement a PR campaign, focusing heavily ...

Seeing is believing

The way earnings are reported has become a hot IR issue.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Metzger Associates to be AOR for new clients

BOULDER, CO: Metzger Associates is the AOR for two new clients: Blue Titan Software and Advisen. Blue Titan Software is a web-services networking firm based ...

REGIONAL FOCUS: Texas: Enron and on: Texas tries to reenergize

Old standbys offer hope for Lone Star State's future.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Two new clients for the Bernhardt Agency

PORTLAND, OR: The Bernhardt Agency has signed two new clients for its public-speaking services. National Semiconductor will use the agency's speaker-placement and executive speaker-training services, ...

PR TECHNIQUE: Media relations: The sink-or-swim world of exclusive stories

Floating an exclusive in front of an editor is a great way to score coverage - if you follow the rules.

NEWS IN BRIEF: New client for AtomicPR

SAN FRANCISCO: AtomicPR has signed one new client, and expanded its relationship with another. OuterBay, an application data-management software firm, has named AtomicPR its AOR. ...

CAMPAIGNS: Cartoon hero aids Florida elections

PR Team: Pasco County (Florida) and Ron Sachs Communications (Tallahassee, FL) Campaign: Introducing Florida's New Voting System Time Frame: January - November 2002 Budget: $151,000

NEWS IN BRIEF: Two new clients for Waggener Edstrom

STAMFORD, CT: Waggener Edstrom has added two new clients: Knowledge Products and Reed Exhibitions. In addition, the agency has reported that existing clients have increased ...

CAMPAIGNS: Mullen campaign resurrects resort

PR Team: Mountain View Grand Hotel (Whitefield, NH) and Mullen (Wenham, MA) Campaign: The reopening of the Mountain View Grand Hotel Time Frame: October 2001 - ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at Skanska USA Building

PARSIPPANY, NJ: Skanska USA Building, the US-based construction-services arm of $15.9 billion Sweden-based Skanska AB, has appointed Thomas Crane to the position of SVP, corporate ...

CAMPAIGNS: Dunlop revived by sumo-size effort

PR Team: Environics Communications (Toronto) and Goodyear Canada (Toronto)Campaign: Dunlop Tires Sumo Smackdown Time Frame: June 2001 - August 2002Budget: $35,000

CAREERS: Pandora's Problem Page

Q: I work in the PR department of a government agency. I like my job, but my workload is extremely heavy. I've discussed this with ...

CAREERS: My Big Break

My career started on the ad/marketing side, but in the '80s I landed my first PR job at the Denver Center for Performing Arts. That ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Global Electric Motorcars chooses Kermish-Geylin PR

FARGO, ND: Global Electric Motorcars has chosen NJ-based Kermish-Geylin PR to provide media relations in the Northeast for the launch of its BEM neighborhood electric ...

CAREERS: Where I Work - Samantha Stern, Account manager, Porter Novelli

How long have you been working there? Three years.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Duffey Communications to head media relations efforts

ATLANTA: Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce has selected Duffey Communications to head its media relations efforts. Duffey will promote the Forsyth County corporate business recruitment ...

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: Linda Goldstein

Linda Goldstein isn't afraid to swim with the sharks, whether in New York's competitive luxury PR world or in the Caribbean. But family comes first, ...

LAST CALL: Microsoft makes slipup in trying to bite back at Apple

Sounds as though Microsoft could use a "Trustworthy Testimonies" campaign to compliment its "Trustworthy Computing" campaign. But don't blame the PR agency.

LPGA recruits R&C to bolster entertainment appeal of tour players

LOS ANGELES: Weber Shandwick Rogers & Cowan (R&C) has been named agency of record for the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).

LAST CALL: Magnet reaches out to other firms

The state of the economy has led to some remarkable collaborative efforts among companies. Still, it's not often that you see a PR agency reaching ...

Dating site seeks a PR relationship

NEW YORK: Online dating service uDate is hoping to make a match with a New York-based PR shop.

LAST CALL: New novel makes hero out of White House press man

The White House drama genre is getting stale. We've all seen The American President and The West Wing, but the problem is that the protagonist ...

LAST CALL: Hyde hangs on at H&K for 40 years

Last Call congratulates Hill & Knowlton lifer and crisis comms guru Dick Hyde, who took up agency life in 1962, when "The Locomotion" was climbing ...

Global Crossing CEO tours to repair company image

BERMUDA: A year into his stint at the helm of Global Crossing, CEO John Legere has embarked on a media tour as part of the ...

LAST CALL: Teachers condemn McDonald's help

McDonald's found itself frying in the court of public opinion after offering South San Francisco educators the opportunity to pour shakes, flip burgers, and serve ...

Horn Group forms network of firms to boost services

SAN FRANCISCO: The Horn Group has developed a network of 17 partners that it says will make the firm more competitive by offering a greater ...

LAST CALL: Tales from Tinseltown - Worthless treats are priceless weapons against inflated egos

When it comes down to getting people to do favors for you, never underestimate the power of free stuff. Even if it's practically worthless.

Ruder Finn to help OMA spread word on cell uniformity

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA: The Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) has selected the Ruder Finn Group to serve as its first global agency of record.

B-to-b firms turn to PR in tough times

CHICAGO: PR is grabbing a larger share of b-to-b market communications budgets, according to a new survey from Edelman.

Ketchum looking for PA 'rainmaker'

WASHINGTON: Ketchum is hoping to find a "big name" to lead its public affairs practice following the departure of director Anne Forristall earlier this month.

WMA casts rookie in lead media role

LOS ANGELES: William Morris Agency (WMA), one of Hollywood's top literary and talent brokers, has hired Chris Petrikin to head its corporate communications.

French's to flaunt flavored mayo with celebrity-filled campaign

WAYNE, NJ: The maker of French's mustard is launching a major PR push to tout its new line of French's GourMayo flavored mayonnaise. Reckitt Benckiser, ...

Organic food producers to clue in public on new laws

LONDONDERRY, NH: Two organic food producers are teaming up to launch an educational campaign revolving around newly enacted federal standards for organic foods. The standards, ...

Ketchum boosts health team with media managers

NEW YORK: Ketchum has tapped Amy Losak, former vice president at Makovsky & Company, as VP, healthcare media director. Based in New York, Losak will ...

PN snags Hilberg to help dispense executive advice

NEW YORK: Porter Novelli has acquired reputation consulting firm Hilburg & Associates to form PNConsulting, a new division designed to advise boards of directors, CEOs, ...

Staffware grabs Horn Group for first foray in the US

LONDON: Staffware is making its first major foray into the United States, and has hired The Horn Group as its US agency of record.

YMCA responds to a rash of kid violence

MILWAUKEE: The YMCA of Greater Milwaukee is leading an effort to bring together several community groups for a public service campaign aimed at local inner-city ...

Burson to elevate Hilton's spread of high-end resorts

LONDON: Hilton International has hired Burson-Marsteller to promote its global resort chain, Hilton Worldwide Resorts.

GE divisions near final decision for agency of record

CHICAGO: Two Chicago-based units of GE Capital are close to selecting PR agencies after a six-week search.

PAC taps Lane after Neely heeds call to White House

WASHINGTON: Nothing in the nation's capital is safe from the impact of homeland security issues these days - not even the election of new directors ...