Public Relations

Staying on Message, Whatever the Question

by Bob Burton — January 18, 2007 - 11:36pm

Elias Buchwald, a founder of Burson Marsteller, recently ran a four-day training session for 17 high-level Israeli spokespersons from government agencies. The session was organized by 5W Public Relations, the American Jewish Congress and the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

Main Source: 
The Jewish Week, January 19, 2007

Gazprom Plans PR Blitz

by Bob Burton — January 18, 2007 - 5:32pm

Gazprom, the Russian gas company that supplies approximately one quarter of Europe's gas needs, is planning a PR and lobbying campaign in Europe and the U.S. to improve its image, after it cut off gas supplies to the Ukraine in 2006 and Belarus in 2007.

Main Source: 
Kommersant (Moscow), January 16, 2007

A Public / Private Spin Partnership

by Diane Farsetta — January 16, 2007 - 3:49pm

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, U.S. public diplomacy chief Karen Hughes and the Public Relations Coalition held a "Private Sector Summit on Public Diplomacy" on January 9 and 10. PR executive Richard Edelman suggested de-politicizing the U.S. image. "Take it away from the part of the media that covers politics," he counseled.

Main Source: 
FOX News, January 11, 2007

U.S. Drops Cool $36 Million to Burson-Marsteller to Promote...Money

by Jonathan Rosenblum — January 16, 2007 - 11:33am

The federal treasury will pay out $36 million over five years to the Burson-Marsteller PR firm to promote redesigned $5 and $100 bills. According to the Treasury Department's Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the bills need to be promoted and explained to businesses, the media and others in order to ensure that new security features, including "optically variable ink" and watermarks are fully understood.

Main Source: 
PR Week (sub req'd), December 21, 2006

Sentencing Of Overbilling Duo Delayed

by Bob Burton — January 9, 2007 - 9:17pm

The sentencing of Doug Dowie and John Stodder, former staff of Fleishman-Hillard's Los Angeles office who were convicted of fraud last year, has been delayed pending further evidence on prosecution calculations of how long they should serve in federal prison.

Main Source: 
Los Angeles Times, January 9, 2007

Illinois Power Company Cash Lines "Consumer Group" Coffers

by Jonathan Rosenblum — January 8, 2007 - 4:22pm

An apparent astroturf group calling for an end to an electricity rate freeze received $10 million for its programs from ComEd, the largest power company in Illinois. An administrative law judge with the Illinois Commerce Commission has ordered an investigation of financial ties between the company and the group Consumers Organized for Reliable Electricity (CORE).

Main Source: 
Chicago Tribune, January 5, 2007

Lieberman, Bush and the Generals: The PR campaign around the troop "surge" in Iraq

by Conor Kenny — January 3, 2007 - 2:19pm
  • Topics: Iraq, U.S. Congress, Public Relations, Rhetoric

    • President Bush is expected to make an announcement soon about his plan for Iraq, but a PR war has been raging for several weeks to prepare the ground for a "surge" in troop levels for Baghdad and Iraq. Bush and surrogates Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Sen.

    Frequent Flyer

    by Bob Burton — January 2, 2007 - 10:07pm

    After resigning from British Airways (BA) amidst an investigation into allegations of price-fixing in the airline industry, Iain Burns has been appointed as the head of Corporate Communications at Etihad Airways (EA). EA is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates. In June 2006 the U.K.

    Main Source: 
    Manchester Evening News, January 2, 2007

    More Nukes? Moore Spin

    by Bob Burton — January 2, 2007 - 9:41pm

    Patrick Moore, a former environmental activist who left Greenpeace twenty years ago and is now a PR consultant, argues "it is now far more effective to work with governments and industries to encourage positive change." As a consultant, Moore has dismissed concerns about the impact of logging in the Amazon, supported Newmont Mining over controversies at its mines in the U.S., Ghana and Peru, defended the use of PVC in plastics and extoll

    Main Source: 
    Pallet Enterprise, January 1, 2007

    Society of Professional Journalists, or for Professional Flacks?

    by Jonathan Rosenblum — January 2, 2007 - 12:41pm

    The Society of Professional Journalists is moving ahead on a joint venture with Market Wire, a PR industry firm that, among other services, distributes news releases. Columnist Michael Miner of the Chicago Reader exposed the deal last fall.

    Main Source: 
    The Reader, December 15, 2006
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