Crisis Management

Painful PR

by Diane Farsetta — November 18, 2004 - 11:00pm

U.S. Food and Drug Administration reviewer David Graham told Congress that "at least five medications now sold to consumers pose such risks that their sale should be limited or stopped." They are the weight-loss drug Meridia, anti-cholesterol drug Crestor, acne drug Accutane, painkiller Bextra and asthma treatment Serevent. Pfizer just retained Ogilvy PR for its "pain franchise," which includes Bextra and Celebrex.

Main Source: 
Associated Press, November 19, 2004

NY Times Says Wal-Mart Needs Better Story, Not More Spin

by Laura Miller — September 13, 2004 - 10:00pm

Wal-Mart CEO H. Lee Scott recently said, "We have not gotten our story out to the extent that we need to." The head of the global super store told a retailing conference that Wal-Mart's bad reputation came from newspapers and television. But a New York Times editorial responded that "if Wal-Mart wants to improve its image, it should focus less on shaping its message and more on changing the way it does business. ... These damaging news stories are not a product of bad spin, but bad facts.

Main Source: 
New York Times, September 14, 2004

Growing Market Opposition to GMO Referenda

by Diane Farsetta — August 15, 2004 - 10:00pm

"Worried that county bans on biotech crops could spread throughout the state, mainstream farm groups from the California Cattlemen's Association to the national Farm Bureau are marshaling their resources," reports the Sacramento Bee.

Main Source: 
Sacramento Bee, August 16, 2004

Big Box Buys Buddies

by Diane Farsetta — August 15, 2004 - 10:00pm

"Stung by criticism of its labor practices, expansion plans and other business tactics," Wal-Mart "has become a sponsor on National Public Radio," underwritten the "Tavis Smiley" talk show, and "plans to award $500,000 in scholarships to minority students at journalism programs around the country." A Wal-Mart spokeswoman said there's "no hidden agenda," but "we've really been in the spotlight and I think that

Main Source: 
New York Times, August 16, 2004

Painting Happy Faces on Black Boxes

by Diane Farsetta — August 1, 2004 - 10:00pm

"It's amazing how far the reputation of electronic voting has fallen," writes Center for Media and Democracy researcher Diane Farsetta.

Main Source: 
AlterNet, August 2, 2004

Heal Thyself!

by Diane Farsetta — July 30, 2004 - 10:00pm

Just 13 percent of Americans think pharmaceutical companies are "generally honest and trustworthy," according to a recent survey.

Main Source: 
British Medical Journal, July 31, 2004

An E-Vote and a Prayer

by Diane Farsetta — July 18, 2004 - 10:00pm

As "voters took to the streets in 19 states ... to protest paperless electronic voting machines" at "The Computer Ate My Vote" rallies, the high-tech industry lobby group Information Technology Association of America fought back.

Main Source: 
EWeek, July 19, 2004

High-rise Blitz

by Sheldon Rampton — July 4, 2004 - 10:00pm

Ed McGovern, a Democratic political consultant in the San Francisco Bay area, is helping local developer Glenborough-Pauls as the company fights environmentalists opposed to a controversial condominium project. The PR campaign, calling itself the "Know All the Facts Coalition," is using print advertising and bringing together union representatives, elected officials and government employees in an effort to stymie a petition drive that seeks to halt the project.

Main Source: 
San Francisco Examiner, July 5, 2004
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