Issue Management

Want to Be a ConocoPhillips Flack (for Free)? Here's How!

by Diane Farsetta — November 27, 2007 - 4:55pm

ConocoPhillips's Bob Ridge visited San Antonio, Texas recently, as stop number 32 of a 33-city "Conversation on Energy" tour. "It becomes obvious fast that Bob isn't in San Antonio to make any great promises," writes local reporter Greg Harman, who attended the event. "He tells our group straightaway that the next 30 years belong to oil, natural gas and coal.

Main Source: 
San Antonio Current (Texas), November 21, 2007

Smithsonian: A Museum Acting Strangely

by Diane Farsetta — November 19, 2007 - 2:32pm

After two Smithsonian Institution board members questioned the appropriateness of accepting oil industry funding for its "Ocean Initiative," the American Petroleum Institute (API) withdrew its $5 million funding offer. "Circumstances within the Smithsonian have changed, to say the least," said an API spokesperson.

Main Source: 
Washington Post, November 17, 2007

The Failure of Oregon's Cigarette Tax: a Postmortem

by Anne Landman — November 12, 2007 - 5:19pm
  • Topics: Front Groups, Issue Management, Health, Public Relations, Tobacco

    • The November 6, 2007 election brought a stinging defeat to Oregon's cigarette tax increase. The proposal aimed to raise the state's cigarette tax by 84.5 cents a pack to pay for health insurance for about 100,000 additional poor Oregon children who currently have no coverage. Measure 50, as the tax was called, went down by a wide 60-40% margin.

    Water Exhibit and Oil Money May Not Mix

    by Diane Farsetta — November 5, 2007 - 4:20pm

    "The Smithsonian Institution has taken the rare step of putting on hold a $5 million donation from the American Petroleum Institute after two members of the museum complex's Board of Regents ...

    Main Source: 
    Washington Post, November 3, 2007

    Oil Execs Continue to Motor Around U.S.

    by Diane Farsetta — October 15, 2007 - 11:57am

    Media activists in Grand Rapids, Michigan attended Shell Oil president John Hofmeister's recent talk there, on "How the US Can Ensure Energy Supply for the Future." Hofmeister "stated up front that he was on a 50 city tour and that Grand Rapids was number 45," according to Media Mouse.

    Main Source: 
    Media Mouse, October 5, 2007

    Something Fishy

    by Bob Burton — October 2, 2007 - 6:44am
  • Topics: Activism, Cause-Related Marketing, Issue Management, Corporations, Environment, International, Public Relations

    • An abridged extract from Bob Burton's Inside Spin: The Dark Underbelly of the PR Industry.

    A hallmark tactic of activist campaigns in the 1960s and 1970s was the use of consumer boycotts to punish recalcitrant companies. By the 1990s, however, the trend was more towards developing standards and accrediting retail products that passed muster. The theory was that an accredited product would be rewarded by consumers while the laggards would be under financial pressure to lift their game. One of the pioneering projects during the 1990s was the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which was established by a broad coalition of non-profit groups. Its aim was to shift timber production to sources designated as more sustainable and reduce the market share for forest products derived from the destruction of the world's great forests. Despite numerous problems, the FSC label had some impact, especially in Europe.

    Pill Pushers Avoid Advertising Restrictions

    by Bob Burton — October 1, 2007 - 1:26am

    Congress has jettisoned proposed amendments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) legislation that would have expanded the agency's powers over drug industry direct-to-consumer advertising campaigns promoting prescription drugs.

    Main Source: 
    Wall Street Journal, September 21, 2007

    Two U.S. States To Get "Balanced Energy" PR in their Stockings

    by Diane Farsetta — September 27, 2007 - 3:20pm

    The coal industry front group Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC) is seeking public relations help "in targeting the public, politicians, interest groups, and the media" on the national level, and also in Pennsylvania and Nevada. ABEC promotes coal as an "essential, affordable and increasingly clean" source of electricity.

    Main Source: 
    O'Dwyer's PR Daily (sub req'd), September 26, 2007
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