Public Relations

Free Trip Drug Zones: Paris and Budapest

by Bob Burton — July 8, 2006 - 10:54pm

The world's third largest drug company, Sanofi-Aventis, sponsored a tour to Budapest and Paris for a "parliamentary and stakeholder working group" including representatives from British patient groups. The tour included "optional attendance" at lectures at the European Association of Cancer Research conference in Budapest and a presentation in Paris on cancer drugs used in France but not yet approved in Britain.

Main Source: 
The Observer (UK), July 2, 2006

A Real Life Advertising Creep

by Diane Farsetta — June 30, 2006 - 3:25pm

"Reality-based product placement" is here. The car maker Jaguar's new marketing strategy is to give "its high-end cars to jet-setters" in major cities, for free. In Manhattan, Nico Bossi and his Jaguar XK "show up at all the right places, such as ... hangouts in New York's trendy meatpacking district." According to the Wall Street Journal, "Many people ask about the car, but Mr. Bossi doesn't reveal his Jaguar deal. ...

Main Source: 
Wall Street Journal (sub req'd), June 29, 2006

Keeping Media "On Track" with Audio News Releases

by Bob Burton — June 30, 2006 - 5:44am

Kate Corcoran, an account executive at the New York-based PR firm Articulate Communications, told PR Week that one of the benefits of audio news releases that run to a 60-second script is control. "This allows the message to be delivered in the exact way the company chooses," she said.

Main Source: 
PR Week (sub req'd), June 29, 2006

British Airways Grounds PR Manager

by Bob Burton — June 30, 2006 - 5:14am

An investigation by the U.K. government's Office and Fair Trading and the U.S. Department of Justice into allegations of price-fixing in the airline industry has resulted in British Airways (BA) suspending its head of communications, Iain Burns.

Main Source: 
The Independent (UK), June 28, 2006

Call Goes Out For PR Industry Makeover Proposals

by Bob Burton — June 27, 2006 - 12:01am

The European Centre for Public Affairs (ECPA), a non-profit PR training and research group, is calling on PR consultancies to outline how they would improve the image of the PR industry. ECPA deputy chairman Michael Burrell told PR Week that it was "important that the industry promotes and defends itself." However, Burrell recognises the that improving the image of the industry won't be easy.

Main Source: 
PR Week (sub req'd), June 22, 2006

Nuking Hearts and Minds in Britain

by Diane Farsetta — June 23, 2006 - 11:15am

"We need to win hearts and minds in local communities and reassure people about safety," said Philip Dewhurst. He's not a military commander in Iraq or Afghanistan, but the chair of the British Nuclear Industry Association (NIA).

Main Source: 
PR Week (sub req'd), June 22, 2006

Benador Asks: Are You With the Fabricators or the Terrorists?

by Diane Farsetta — June 21, 2006 - 5:25pm

"Who needs Hill & Knowlton when you've got Benador Associates?" asks Larry Cohler-Esses in The Nation. Cohler-Esses examines a rapidly-debunked May 2006 story in Canada's National Post, which claimed that Iran's government was requiring Jewish residents to wear a yellow insignia.

Main Source: 
The Nation, June 14, 2006

Pentagon Calls SOS for Foreign Media Work

by Diane Farsetta — June 21, 2006 - 4:08pm

STRATCOM, the U.S. military's Strategic Operations Command, has awarded its new contract for foreign media monitoring to SOS International. Perennial Pentagon favorite the Rendon Group formerly held the contract. SOS will track "foreign press in several languages across Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia and Mexico with a focus on the so-called Global War on Terrorism," reports O'Dwyer's PR Daily.

Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily (sub req'd), June 21, 2006

Hill & Knowlton Spins Repression

by Bob Burton — June 20, 2006 - 6:10am

The Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Maldives, Ahmed Shaheed, has confirmed that Hill & Knowlton is still helping the government polish its image. "They are observing political advancements and other changes. They occasionally check these things," said Shaheed. "They are doing several reviews for the government. ... Very recently two members of its staff were in Maldives," said Shaheed.

Main Source: 
Haama News (Maldives), June 17, 2006
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