Public Relations

Rebranding Russia

by Sheldon Rampton — April 8, 2007 - 9:58pm

Concerned about its "rapidly deteriorating image abroad," Russia has launched "a series of public relations events" designed to enhance the image of Vladimir Putin regime, the Russian gas company Gazprom, and the country's intelligence and military forces.

Main Source: 
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, February 6, 2007

Dowie Defiant

by Sheldon Rampton — April 4, 2007 - 10:51pm

Doug Dowie, the former Fleishman-Hillard executive who is about to begin serving prison time for conspiracy and fraud, continues to maintain his innocence.

Main Source: 
LawDragon.com, April 3, 2007

About Schmidt

by Sheldon Rampton — April 4, 2007 - 11:21am

Steve Schmidt, a former White House communications strategist and campaign manager for Arnold Schwarzenegger, has gone to work for Mercury Public Affairs, a subsidiary of the Fleishman-Hillard PR firm.

Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily (sub req'd), March 30, 2007

The Ethical Optimist

by Sheldon Rampton — April 4, 2007 - 10:15am

Ann Higgins of Utopia Communications, a member of the Public Relations Society of America, has started a blog about ethics and public relations.

Main Source: 
Ethical Optimist weblog

Prison Sentence for PR Adviser's Insider Trading

by Bob Burton — April 2, 2007 - 5:22am

A former corporate PR executive has been sentenced to 15 months of periodic detention, after being convicted for insider trading in shares of a company she advised. Between July 2003 and December 2004, Margot McKay, the founder of Margot McKay and Associates, provided PR consultancy advice to the gambling machine company Aristocrat Leisure.

Main Source: 
The Australian, March 31, 2007

More Transparency Than Microsoft Bargained For

by Diane Farsetta — March 30, 2007 - 1:56pm

"While reporting a story on Microsoft's video blogging initiative -- something called Channel 9 -- the dossier that Microsoft and its outside public relations agency Waggener Edstrom keeps on me accidentally ended up in my email inbox," recounts Fred Vogelstein.

Main Source: 
"Epicenter" Wired News blog, March 27, 2007

Don't Worry Your Pretty Heads, Says Cosmetics Industry

by Diane Farsetta — March 29, 2007 - 11:47am

In response to growing concerns about the safety of some cosmetics, the industry group Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association (CTFA) "has embarked on what it calls an 'education process' designed to reassure consumers." As the Center for Media and Democracy reported

Main Source: 
Women's eNews, March 23, 2007

Opaque Standards for European Union Lobbyists

by Bob Burton — March 29, 2007 - 5:07am

The European Commission has backed the introduction of a voluntary register for lobbyists seeking to influence European Union officials. "All these groups or bodies are invited to register publicly whom they represent and what their objectives are. They are invited to declare funding sources and major clients," the commission stated.

Main Source: 
Associated Press, March 21, 2007

The FCC and Armstrong Williams' Continuing Legacy

by Diane Farsetta — March 27, 2007 - 5:55pm
  • Topics: Crisis Management, Pundits, Education, Ethics, Fake TV News, Public Relations, Secrecy, U.S. Government

    • There are many reasons why federal investigations might take some time to conclude. Perhaps the issues are complex. Maybe the parties under investigation are less than forthcoming. The investigating agency may lack the resources needed to resolve the matter in a timely fashion.

    On the other hand, a stalled investigation may be part of a crisis management strategy. When an embarrassing ethical or legal transgression surfaces, launching an investigation sends the message that the matter is being taken seriously. Thanks to a rapid news cycle and a lack of follow-up reporting, public attention shifts elsewhere as the investigation continues. Closing the investigation can be seen as counter-productive, as it once again calls attention to the problem and creates the expectation that the findings will be acted upon.

    Representative John Dingell (D-Mich.) may well have been pondering such matters on March 14, when he pointedly asked Federal Communications Commission Chair Kevin Martin about the status of the agency's ongoing Armstrong Williams investigation.

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