Public Relations

WHO's Money?

by Bob Burton — February 21, 2007 - 3:06pm

The British Medical Journal reports that the director of the World Health Organization's (WHO's) department of mental health and substance abuse, Benedetto Saraceno, proposed in an e-mail that the European Parkinson's Disease Association accept a $10,000 grant from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and pass it on to the UN agency. WHO has a policy that it doesn't accept contributions from drug companies.

Main Source: 
British Medical Journal (sub req'd), February 17, 2007

Edelman's Contract for Ousted Thai Leader Worth $300k

by Bob Burton — February 21, 2007 - 2:43pm

The global PR firm Edelman's six-month-long contract to help build international support for Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a September 2006 military coup, has been revealed as being worth $300,000. The contract is via Thaksin's law firm, Baker Botts.

Main Source: 
O'Dwyers PR Daily (sub req'd), February 13, 2007

Coke Cans Weber Shandwick, Cries over Spilt Milk

by Bob Burton — February 20, 2007 - 6:19am

Source: MilkPEP

The Coca-Cola Company has terminated a 15-year long working relationship with the global PR firm Weber Shandwick.

Main Source: 
PR Week (sub req'd), February 14, 2007

Maldives Controversy Dogs Hill & Knowlton

by Bob Burton — February 17, 2007 - 5:10am

Source: Friends of Maldives.

Supporters of the Maldives democracy movement protested outside the London office of the giant public relations firm Hill & Knowlton over its work f

Main Source: 
Minivan News (Maldives), February 14, 2007

Shell and Edelman "Bring the Gasoline Experience Home"

by Diane Farsetta — February 16, 2007 - 2:55pm

The oil company Shell is working with the PR firm Edelman "in an effort to bring the gasoline experience home to consumers in a hands-on fashion." The wide-ranging campaign kicked off at the Daytona 500, with Shell-sponsored NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick.

Main Source: 
PR Week (sub req'd), February 15, 2007

Drug Company Funds Direct-To-Consumer Movie

by Diane Farsetta — February 16, 2007 - 1:58pm

Johnson & Johnson's biopharmaceutical unit, Centocor, "has developed a documentary film to serve as the centerpiece of a national campaign," reports O'Dwyer's. The movie, "Innerstate," follows "three patients living with chronic diseases like Crohn's disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis -- ailments for which Centocor markets treatments.

Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily (sub req'd), February 15, 2007

DynCorp's New Hired Guns: Qorvis Communications

by Diane Farsetta — February 12, 2007 - 12:51pm

Image from the movie "Iraq for Sale"

Military contractor DynCorp has retained Qorvis Communications for "messaging and image work," reports O

Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily (sub req'd), February 12, 2007

Turf Changes Favor Corporate "Grassroots" Lobbyists

by Diane Farsetta — February 6, 2007 - 5:09pm

"When Congress reeled in traditional lobbyists in January, it gave a boost to lobby firms and trade associations that specialize in swaying lawmakers by stirring public sentiment in their districts," writes Jessica Holzer. House and Senate bills "ban gifts and trips from lobbyists," but "lobbyists escaped having to disclose their grassroots activities when the Senate ...

Main Source: 
The Hill, February 6, 2007
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