Terrorism

Saudi Arabia's Expanding PR Arsenal

by Laura Miller — February 15, 2002 - 12:00am

PR trade publication O'Dwyer's PR Daily reports there is yet another firm representing Saudi Arabia. In addition to Burson-Marstellar, Qorvis Communications, and Patton Boggs, the Kingdom is using The Gallagher Group in its public affairs and lobbying campaign. The firm was hired by Qorvis, the Saudi's media relations firm, to do "government relations" work. O'Dwyer's reports the firm's president James Gallagher expects the $20,000 contract, which covered work between November 15 and February 15, to be renewed.

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O'Dwyer's PR Daily, February 15, 2002

Flacking for the Saudis

by Sheldon Rampton — January 31, 2002 - 12:00am

Saudi Arabia is paying $100,000 to Patton Boggs, an affiliate of Qorvis Communications, to lobby on its behalf in the U.S. Congress. According to Kevin McCauley, editor of O'Dwyer's PR Daily, the Saudis have been getting "PR fit for a King (or at least a Prince)" lately, notwithstanding their complaints that they are victims of a "savage media campaign" in the West.

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O'Dwyer's PR Daily, January 31, 2002

More Than Strong Fences

by Sheldon Rampton — January 30, 2002 - 12:00am

Apparently it takes more than strong fences to protect nuclear power plants from terrorists -- it takes paramilitary squads with guns pointed straight at you. That's the take-home message from an advertisement which the Alexandria, Va.-based Smith & Harroff designed for the Nuclear Energy Institute. The ad, which ran in the January 26 National Journal, celebrates the "highly committed, highly trained ... expert marksmen" who stand ready to fend off any threat that might come their way. (Question: How many rifles would it take to shoot down an incoming jetliner?)

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O'Dwyer's PR Daily, January 30, 2002

Exploiting Sept.11 - Greens Bashed as "Eco-Terrorists"

by Sheldon Rampton — January 23, 2002 - 12:00am

The Clearinghouse on Environmental Education, Advocacy and Research (CLEAR) has issued a special bulletin detailing efforts by anti-environmentalist to attack green activism. "There have been rhetorical attacks branding public interest groups as elitist and unpatriotic, further attacks on non-profit status of a handful of groups, and a renewed intensity in fighting 'eco-terrorism,' a term and concept environmental backlash leaders are trying desperately to get into circulation," the report states.

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CLEAR View, January 23, 2002

Prime-Time Smear Campaign

by Sheldon Rampton — January 19, 2002 - 12:00am

"By pandering to anti-Arab hysteria," writes Eric Boehlert, "NBC, Fox News, Media General and Clear Channel radio disgraced themselves -- and ruined an innocent professor's life." University of South Florida computer science professor Sami Al-Arian received death threats and lost his job after conservative Fox commentator Bill O'Reilly revived discredited, years-old allegations from self-styled terrorism expert Steve Emerson that

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Salon.com, January 19, 2002

Oil PR/Lobby Campaign Seeks to Un-Demonize Libya

by John Stauber — January 14, 2002 - 4:09pm

The Wall Street Journal reports that, " Libya's Col. Moammar Gadhafi, is attempting a rehabilitation. Top U.S. and Libyan officials have held several unpublicized meetings in England and Switzerland in recent years to discuss improving ties. Public-relations campaigns and lobbying efforts on Libya's behalf are under way, funded in part by oil money and driven by a desire to cash in on future deals or resume business interrupted by sanctions. ... The four American oil companies that were forced by U.S. sanctions to suspend operations in Libya ... are eager to return to Libya.

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Wall Street Journal

Giuliani Eyes Crisis Communications

by Laura Miller — December 17, 2001 - 12:00am

Outgoing New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani may open his own high-end consulting firm. New York Daily News reports that Giuliani and 15 members of his administration are part of the start-up business plan. PR Week reports that NY public affairs academics and industry insiders are praising Giulianiis potential move to crisis consulting.

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PR Week, December 17, 2001

Appealing to Feelings

by Sheldon Rampton — December 17, 2001 - 12:00am

Until recently, the U.S. government rarely included any emotional content in its press materials, knowing that public relations that pander to emotions are often dismissed as propaganda. But the State Department's newest venture, a Web-based pictorial documenting life in New York City three months after the attacks, is unabashedly sentimental.

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Wired, December 17, 2001

Arabs Skeptical of Bin Laden Video

by Sheldon Rampton — December 16, 2001 - 12:00am

The United States faces an uphill battle in using the latest videotape of Osama bin Laden to influence public opinion in the Arab world, where Washington's support for Israel over the Palestinians dominates news coverage and the public tends to regard the fight to dismantle Al Qaeda as something of an American problem. Jamal Khashoggi, deputy managing editor of the Arab News daily in Jidda, Saudi Arabia, says he has no doubt that the tape is authentic. Nevertheless, he warns, "If the Americans think that by releasing this tape they will win the hearts and minds of the Arabs, they won't."

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New York Times, December 16, 2001

Osama's Video a Powerful PR Weapon Against Him

by Laura Miller — December 13, 2001 - 12:00am

O'Dwyer's PR Daily reports that "U.S. State Department public diplomacy head Charlotte Beers intends to incorporate the Osama bin Laden tape into her propaganda efforts, according to her spokesperson Richard Boucher. 'We may make it available to people around the world via our promotional materials, website or at embassies,' he said." O'Dwyer's also links to the video transcript.

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O'Dwyer's PR Daily, December 13, 2001
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