WASHINGTON: Gloria Dittus opened Story Partners, a public affairs firm, in January. Known for founding Dittus Communications (now FD Dittus) and Direct Impact, Dittus left her position as president and CEO of FD Dittus in May 2009.

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.

Gary Sheffer, GE's VP of communications and public affairs, is helping to build a more skilled team to deal with the myriad messages coming out of the conglomerate.

In late January, the Department of Health and Human Services indicated that it planned to hire a firm to help the federal agency raise awareness about issues relating to personal health information and health technology.

In Washington, DC, a city so defined by bureaucracy, it's no surprise professional practitioners are often mired in conservative practices.

Anthony Romero, American Civil Liberties Union executive director, talks to Jaimy Lee about how the economy impacts civil rights efforts

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has long advocated for healthcare reform, especially on issues relating to the poor and immigrants.