The Edelman PR firm has been conducting seminars driven by the realization that "Non-governmental organizations affect business like never before. From the WTO protests in Seattle to the battle over genetically-modified organisms and food, NGOs have become the new 'super brands' in global governance. As NGOs increase their visibility and credibility, trust in business continues to decline." The Edelman website includes seminar transcripts and webcasts, in which company CEO Richard Edelman and other speakers address topics such as, "NGOs--Why They Are Winning," "What the World Agrees On--NGOs Are Most Credible Source on Environmental, Social Issues" and "How to Tackle Hostile NGOs."

ABC's John Stossel attempted to defend himself by describing his critics as "brainwashed." Stossel appeared yesterday on Fox News Channel's "O'Reilly Factor." Responding to criticism by the Environmental Working Group, Stossel said, "I call them the totalitarian left. They want to silence people who criticize them." See earlier postings on Spin of the Day for the complete story on Stossel's media debacle.