Public Relations

North American Governments Ponder How Best to Boost Their Wars

by Diane Farsetta — February 6, 2008 - 4:29pm

"A key part of Ottawa's public relations campaign" in support of its controversial military mission in Afghanistan is frequent phone calls where "senior federal officials ... plot strategy." All Afghan mission matters "are vetted through the Privy Council Office, the bureaucratic wing of the Prime Minister's Office," leading to charges of top-down media management.

Main Source: 
Toronto Star (Canada), February 4, 2008

Who's Spinning Who in the U.S. Presidential Race

by Diane Farsetta — February 4, 2008 - 3:12pm

Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee's media team is led by "Kirsten Fedewa, a long-time press adviser from Huckabee's days with the Republican governors' association ... and Alice Stewart, a glamorous Arkansas TV anchor," according to the Belfast Telegraph's rundown of candidate "spinmeisters." Mitt Romney's "press team leaders are ...

Main Source: 
Belfast Telegraph (Northern Ireland), February 4, 2008

Blackwater Practices "Redwashing"

by John Stauber — February 3, 2008 - 10:47am

Jeremy Scahill, author of the bestselling book Blackwater, notes that "Blackwater Worldwide, the Bush administration's favorite mercenary company, is no stranger to blood -- its operatives have caused a lot of it to be spilled in Iraq. ...

Main Source: 
Alternet, February 2, 2008

Green PR Guy Adam Werbach Sells Out to 'Saatchi & Saatchi S'

by John Stauber — February 1, 2008 - 8:15pm

Adam Werbach, once the youngest head of the Sierra Club and currently on the board of Greenpeace, must have a lot more "green" in his bank account today.

Main Source: 
Fast Company blog, January 31, 2008

Think Tank Talks Up Telecom Immunity

by Diane Farsetta — February 1, 2008 - 5:57pm

The Democratic think tank / advocacy group Third Way has been working with Senate Democrats to help sell a controversial measure granting retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies, reports Matt Renner.

Main Source: 
Truthout, January 31, 2008

CMD and Consumer Reports WebWatch Launch Full Frontal Scrutiny

by Judith Siers-Poisson — January 29, 2008 - 2:42pm
  • Topics: Astroturf, Internet, Front Groups, Third Party Technique, Corporations, Democracy, Environment, Health, Pharmaceuticals, Public Relations, Science, Secrecy, Tobacco

    • "The American public deserves to know when someone is trying to persuade them." — U.S. Federal Communications Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, Thursday, January 17, 2008

    Front Groups Beware of Full Frontal Scrutiny

    Today, the Center for Media and Democracy and our partners at Consumer Reports WebWatch launched an exciting new project: Full Frontal Scrutiny. The site seeks to shine a light on front groups -- organizations that state a particular agenda, while hiding or obscuring their identity, membership or sponsorship, or all three. Google the term "front groups" and the number one return is CMD's extensive articles on its SourceWatch site.

    When Flacks Attack, We Bite Back

    by Judith Siers-Poisson — January 27, 2008 - 8:35pm
  • Topics: Agriculture, Arts / Culture, Corporations, Marketing, Media, Public Relations

    • The Center for Media and Democracy has never been shy about criticizing the public relations industry. That's what we do, and we're proud of it. You'd think that this would give PR people second thoughts before sending us their drivel. Unfortunately, they can't seem to help themselves -- even when that means that they end up tipping us off to their own efforts at sneaking product placements into TV shows such as American Idol.

    Made in China: More Propaganda

    by Diane Farsetta — January 24, 2008 - 2:53pm

    As China prepares to host the Olympic Games, President Hu Jintao is urging Communist Party officials to "perform well the task of outward propaganda, further exhibit and raise up the nation's good image." At a recent Communist Party gathering, Jintao stressed the need for "cultural soft power," or public diplomacy, and said Chinese propaganda must "advance the building of the body of socialist core value and further boost unity and ha

    Main Source: 
    Associated Press, January 23, 2008
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