Democracy

How to Win through Spin

by Diane Farsetta — January 27, 2005 - 4:17pm

The Bush administration "spent $250 million on public relations contracts during its first term, compared with $128 million spent for President Clinton between 1997 and 2000," including $88 million in fiscal year 2004, according to

Main Source: 
USA Today, January 26, 2005

Never Mind the Social Security Numbers

by Diane Farsetta — January 14, 2005 - 6:24pm

"White House allies are launching a market-research project to figure out how to sell" privatizing Social Security, while "Republican marketing and public-relations gurus are building teams of consultants," reports the Washington Post.

Main Source: 
Washington Post, January 14, 2005

Let the Sun Shine In

by Diane Farsetta — January 4, 2005 - 1:02pm

The American Society of Newspaper Editors and other media organizations are organizing "Sunshine Week" in mid-March, to encourage print, broadcast and online media outlets "to address the issue of a more open government through news coverage, editorials, commentaries, and editorial cartoons." The organizations are "alarmed by a trend toward secrecy at all levels of government." A similar effort, OpenTheGovernment.org, has been launched by dozens of organizations "to advance the pu

Main Source: 
PR Week (reg. req'd.), January 3, 2005

Norquist Dreams of Twelve More Years

by Bob Burton — December 23, 2004 - 10:11pm

Conservative activist Grover Norquist, from Americans for Tax Reform, told Australian Financial Review journalist Tony Walker that three of his political priorities – tort reform, curtailing political contributions from unions, and promoting free trade – would have the combined effect of weakening support for the

Main Source: 
Australian Financial Review, December 23, 2004. (Sub req

Open Source News in Greensboro

by Sheldon Rampton — December 22, 2004 - 3:47pm

The Greensboro News & Record is looking to make a "transformative, revolutionary change" by turning its Web site into "more of an online community or public square," inviting bloggers and the general public to add and comment throughout their website.

Main Source: 
Cyberjournalist.net

The Military Is the Message

by Diane Farsetta — December 13, 2004 - 12:48pm

Should "deceptive techniques endorsed for use on the battlefield to confuse an adversary" be adopted "for covert propaganda campaigns aimed at neutral and even allied nations"?

Main Source: 
New York Times, December 13, 2004

Class War Is Sell

by Diane Farsetta — December 10, 2004 - 2:57pm

Bush's second term will focus on domestic policy, specifically "creating private Social Security accounts," "revising the tax code," "limiting the size and number of lawsuits, and changing immigration laws." The PR plan to sell these policies is underway. "In the next few weeks, White House officials, including [Karl] Rove, are planning to meet with Republican activists" to coordinate the campaign.

Main Source: 
Washington Post, December 10, 2004

Another Reason Not To Trust Everything You See

by Diane Farsetta — December 9, 2004 - 6:07pm

"U.S. Special Operations Command, whose antiterrorist missions are usually conducted in utmost secrecy, is in the market for an ad agency," reports the St. Petersburg Times.

Main Source: 
St. Petersburg Times, December 8, 2004

Lobby, Lobby, Lobby, Get Your Influence Here

by Diane Farsetta — December 8, 2004 - 4:08pm

What were the largest lobbying contracts on Washington DC's power corridor, K Street, in 2004?

Main Source: 
The Hill, December 8, 2004

Providing Moral Support (Not Tank Armor)

by Diane Farsetta — December 8, 2004 - 3:28pm

The Washington, DC-based public affairs firm Susan Davis International "is handling the Pentagon's 'America Supports You' campaign to drum up support for the nearly 150,000 U.S. forces that may be occupying Iraq during the next four years," reports O'Dwyer's. "America Supports You," a Defense Department campaign, will run through May 2005.

Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily (reg req'd), December 7, 2004
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