Issue Management

Big-Spending Drug Industry Defenders

by Bob Burton — August 20, 2007 - 3:32am

The lead U.S. drug industry lobby group, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), spent $10.7 million in the first six months of 2007 lobbying the U.S. government.

Main Source: 
Associated Press, August 17, 2007

Spinning Wikipedia

by Sheldon Rampton — August 16, 2007 - 9:27pm

"Editing your own entry on Wikipedia is usually the province of vain celebrities keen for some good PR," writes Bobbie Johnson. "But a new website has uncovered dozens of companies that have been editing the site in order to improve their public image.

Main Source: 
The Guardian (UK), August 15, 2007

McDonald's Advised to Fight or Fess Up

by Bob Burton — August 13, 2007 - 4:47am

McDonald's has been criticized by PR professionals for its response to the recent study by Stanford University School of Medicine and the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital which found that young children preferred foods associated with the company's packagi

Main Source: 
Advertising Age, August 13, 2007

Gazprom Hires Omnicom Agencies

by Bob Burton — August 2, 2007 - 9:45pm

Gazprom, the Russian gas company that supplies approximately one-quarter of Europe's gas needs, has hired the PR firms Gavin Anderson, Ketchum and GPlus to handle "all financial and corpo

Main Source: 
PR Week, August 1, 2007

Military Takes Aim at U.S. Propaganda Ban

by Bob Burton — July 31, 2007 - 5:36am

In preparing its marketing study commissioned by the U.S. military, the RAND Corporation sought the advice of PR advisers including Burson-Marsteller, Weber Shandwick, J.D.

Main Source: 
PR Week, July 30, 2007

Solid Spoof

by Bob Burton — July 30, 2007 - 1:06am

The New Zealand Government-owned coal mining company, Solid Energy, has had only a limited win with the legal action it launched over a spoof corporate social responsibility

Main Source: 
New Zealand Press Association, July 25, 2007

Future Freedom

by Bob Burton — July 9, 2007 - 7:06pm

An Australian government agency has refused to release the results of market research on controversial labor de-regulation laws until after the next federal election.

Main Source: 
Sydney Morning Herald, July 3, 2007

Let's Picko on Sicko

by Sheldon Rampton — July 4, 2007 - 10:20pm

A Google advertising sales rep has apologized after using her company blog to urge healthcare companies to take out Google ads attacking Michael Moore's new movie, "Sicko." Moore "attacks health insurers, health providers, and pharmaceutical companies by connecting them to isolated and emotional stories of the system at its worst," wrote Lauren Turner.

Main Source: 
Forbes, July 2, 2007

Spin Doctor for Gates Foundation

by Bob Burton — June 28, 2007 - 3:40am

Earlier this year, the investments held by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in companies which had adverse health and environmental impacts were scrutinised by the Los Angeles Times. The foundation, which aims to improve health and reduce extreme poverty, said they would review their investment policy, but then subsequently retreated.

Main Source: 
Seattle Times, June 19, 2007
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