Public Relations

The Nation Magazine Examines "MoveOn @ Ten"

by John Stauber — July 17, 2008 - 3:47pm

Attendees at the Netroots Nation conference in Austin were offered the latest Nation magazine with a cover article by Christopher Hayes. He writes, "This year, MoveOn turns ten. ...

Main Source: 
The Nation online July 16, 2008

Nuking the Media

by Bob Burton — July 15, 2008 - 2:27am

Two years ago, an editorial in the Columbia Journalism Review (CJR) referred to the dream run that Patrick Moore and Christine Todd Whitman were getting in the media representing the Clean and Safe Energy Coalition.

Main Source: 
Jay Hancock's blog, Baltimore Sun, July 12, 2008

Spinning the Spin on Barack Obama

by Anne Landman — July 14, 2008 - 2:26pm

The cover of the upcoming issue of the New Yorker magazine bears a satirical cartoon that incorporates practically every jab the right wing has taken at Barack Obama and his wife Michelle: the couple is pictured standing in

Main Source: 
The Boston Globe (Boston.com), July 14, 2008

A Match Made In Political PR Heaven

by Judith Siers-Poisson — July 10, 2008 - 3:10pm

Former undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs and longtime George Bush advisor and confidante Karen Hughes has taken a position with PR giant Burson Marsteller.

Main Source: 
Wall Street Journal (sub req'd), July 9, 2008

Pentagon Working to Influence Future Movies about Iraq

by Anne Landman — July 7, 2008 - 4:41pm

The Pentagon is attempting to influence filmmakers and future movies depicting the U.S. conflict in Iraq.

Main Source: 
Los Angeles Times, July 7, 2008

The PR People in the Lost Chapter on Iran / Contra

by Diane Farsetta — July 3, 2008 - 2:16pm

To understand how the Bush administration "could fool tens of millions of Americans, intimidate Democrats, and transform the vaunted Washington press corps from watchdogs to lapdogs," look to the 1980s, suggests Robert Parry.

Main Source: 
Consortiumnews.com, June 30, 2008
Op-Ed

Who Really Benefits from Voluntary Corporate Codes of Conduct?

by Anne Landman — July 2, 2008 - 4:55pm
  • Topics: Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporations, Ethics, Public Relations, Tobacco

    • A recent investigation by BBC Television showed British American Tobacco (BAT) violating its own voluntary marketing and advertising codes in Malawi, Mauritius and Nigeria. Contrary to BAT's public pronouncements that it doesn't want children to smoke, the company was caught using marketing tactics in these countries that are known to appeal to young people, like advertising and selling single cigarettes, and sponsoring non-age-restricted, product branded musical entertainment.

    As trading has become more global and corporations have become more multinational, countries started discovering that they have little recourse to rein in the harmful behavior of corporations. As public clamor to regulate multinationals has grown, companies have increasingly responded by adopting "voluntary codes of conduct." But what are the real purposes for these codes? Are they just window dressing, or worse?

    PR Firms Holding Their Own, for Now

    by Judith Siers-Poisson — June 27, 2008 - 3:31pm

    U.S. PR firms seem to be doing well despite uncertain economic times, at least for now. The annual Best Practices Benchmarking Survey by StevensGouldPincus showed that while the industry didn't match its 22% growth of 2006, in 2007 they still managed a 19.7% average profit.The survey found "a remarkable average of $221,388 per professional in annual billings and a huge jump in average monthly fee minimums to $14,000 from $10,000 one year earlier. "But other indications in the survey might point to leaner times ahead.

    Main Source: 
    Bulldog Reporter's Daily Dog, June 23, 2008

    The Swift Boating Begins in August

    by Diane Farsetta — June 25, 2008 - 1:06pm

    Saying "we believe the media whitewashed the candidate," the president of Regnery Publishing announced an August release for a book titled "The Case Against Barack Obama: The Unlikely Rise and Unexamined Agenda of the Media's Favorite Candidate." The PR firm Creative Response Concepts (CRC) is promoting the book.

    Main Source: 
    Muckety.com, June 24, 2008
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