Crisis Management

Taco Bell Seeks PR Antidote to E. Coli Cases

by Jonathan Rosenblum — December 13, 2006 - 3:31pm

Taco Bell has hired a safety expert, tested its produce, eliminated green onions, changed suppliers, and hired a PR crisis-response firm, Penn, Schoen & Berland. The firm's advice: publicize safety, which the company has done in big market newspaper ads. Still, with 69 reported East Coast cases of E.

Main Source: 
The Wall Street Journal (sub req'd), December 13, 2006

New York City Becomes First Big City to Ban Trans Fats

by Jonathan Rosenblum — December 6, 2006 - 8:13am

Bucking intense restaurant industry opposition, New York City has banned all added trans fats in restaurant food. The ban was passed by the city's Board of Health on December 6, 2006, and takes effect in July 2007. Donut makers get a one-year reprieve in order to find a substitute oil for the deep-fried dough. The board's action also included a requirement that restaurant chains post nutritional information.

Main Source: 
Alternet, December 6, 2006

Book Ban Backfires

by Bob Burton — November 23, 2006 - 4:59am

The leader of the New Zealand National Party, Don Brash, has resigned in the wake of a party backlash over his attempt to ban a book by investigative journalist Nicky Hager. Last week Brash gained an injunction from the High Court of New Zealand banning anyone in the country from publishing the content of his emails. Hager's book, The Hollow Men: A Study in the Politics of Deception, was set to be released last Tuesday but was blocked by the injunction.

Main Source: 
New Zealand Herald, November 23, 2006

Implant Flacks

by Bob Burton — November 23, 2006 - 4:55am

On November 17 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved silicone breast implants manufactured by Mentor Corporation and Allergan. PR Week reports that the PR firm MS&L "began working with Inamed Corp.

Main Source: 
PR Week (sub req'd), November 21, 2006

Fast Food Nation Interview: Eric Schlosser On Obesity, Kids, and Fast Food PR

by Jonathan Rosenblum — November 17, 2006 - 5:08pm
  • Topics: Crisis Management, Obesity, Front Groups, Children, Health, Public Relations

    • When PR Watch most recently caught a cell phone signal from Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation and the new Chew on This: Everything You Don't Want to Know About Fast Food, Schlosser was rushing from car to car in New York City, after London, which was just after Berkeley, where he was giving students a preview of the indie film version of "Fast

    PR or School Teachers? Maldives Party Asks

    by Bob Burton — October 9, 2006 - 5:22am

    The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has called for the termination of Hill & Knowlton's contract defending the repressive government of the Maldives. The MDP calculated that the PR firm has been paid $800,000 over almost three years.

    Main Source: 
    Minivan News (Maldives), October 7, 2006

    Covering Up for Foley?

    by Sheldon Rampton — October 5, 2006 - 7:33pm

    A screenshot from Foley's now-defunct campaign website

    Republicans in the U.S. Congress continue to grapple with the controversy surrounding the resignation in disgrace of Rep. Mark Foley. Former Foley chief of staff Kirk Fordham, who subsequently became chief of staff to Rep.

    Main Source: 
    New York Times, October 5, 2006

    No Time For Flowers

    by Bob Burton — September 20, 2006 - 4:48am

    Maldives democracy supporter Abdulla Mahir attempts to deliver flowers to Hill & Knowlton's Tim Fallon.
    Main Source: 
    Minivan News (Maldives), September 19, 2006

    A Fortunate Matter

    by Bob Burton — August 29, 2006 - 3:07pm
  • Topics: Activism, Crisis Management, Obesity, Issue Management, Children, International

    • Spinning an Iraq Oil Kickbacks Confession

    by Bob Burton — August 11, 2006 - 2:30am

    Faced with a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the payment of approximately $A300 million in kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's government, in breach of the United Nations' Iraq Oil-for-Food Program, the Australian wheat trader AWB Limited hired

    Main Source: 
    News.com.au (Australia), August 10, 2006
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