NEW YORK: American Express brought back its online philanthropic initiative "Members Project," with a bigger PR push than in previous years and a new partnership with community Web site TakePart.

Ed Gillespie, chair of the Republican State Leadership Committee and former counselor to President George W. Bush, talks to PRWeek reporter Jaimy Lee about why Republicans need to focus on positive messages, such as jobs creation, to communicate on policy issues.

WASHINGTON: The Business Roundtable is tapping into its member network of CEOs for an integrated campaign that aims to remind policymakers about the economic value of the private sector.

WASHINGTON: The US Postal Service (USPS) has launched a multi-faceted PR campaign to sell through a 10-year plan aimed at helping stem financial losses, which includes a controversial proposal to eliminate Saturday service.

WASHINGTON: The US High Speed Rail Association (USHSR) hired Hill & Knowlton to lead a public affairs and communications effort in support of a high-speed rail system in the US.

WASHINGTON: The Business Software Alliance (BSA), which represents 97 leading software manufacturers worldwide, has issued a two-pronged RFP for PR.

PRWeek asked public affairs and healthcare PR pros to grade communications efforts at Thursday's healthcare summit called by the Obama Administration to save its proposal for healthcare reform in the country.

LONDON: Huntsworth, a holding company for PR and health marketing firms that underwent significant restructuring last year, reported $170.6 million* in 2009 PR revenues, about a 6% decline from the $182.3 million the discipline earned in 2008.

WASHINGTON: Toyota's appearance at a series of Congressional hearings this week has already resulted in some much anticipated testimony, with industry insiders pointing to a practiced communications strategy to groom the automaker's top two executives testifying.

WASHINGTON: The US Climate Action Partnership (US Cap) is reaching out to policymakers and the public to assure both audiences that there is broad-based support for climate change legislation this year.