Public Relations

Dead People Support Microsoft

Submitted by Laura Miller on

Earlier this year, Utah State Attorney General Mark Shurtleff received two letters from dead people requesting that the state go easy on Microsoft. As it turns out, the letters are part of the computer giant's nation-wide astroturf campaign, targeting the offices of 18 attorneys general who have joined the Justice Department's antitrust lawsuit. The Los Angeles Times reports that in recent weeks, Microsoft has been refining its letter writing strategy so that no two letters are identical. The giveaway, however, is in the phrasing.

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Main Source: 
Los Angeles Times, August 23, 2001
Topics: 
Astroturf
Corporations

Wisconsin County Hires PR For Help With E. Coli Outbreak

Submitted by Laura Miller on

As the number of people sick from E. coli strain O157:H7 in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, climbed past 150 last Friday, public officials hired the PR firm Zigman Joseph Stephenson to help with media and an anticipated crush of lawsuits. The outbreak is being blamed on children not washing their hands after visiting the petting zoo at the Ozaukee County Fair. The Ozaukee County Board's Administrative Committee approved hiring the PR firm for up to $12,000 in expenses.

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Main Source: 
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, August 17, 2001 & August 22, 2001
Topics: 
Health
Public Relations

O'Dwyer's PR Starts Awards Program

Submitted by Laura Miller on

O'Dwyer's PR launches a new awards program to "recognize outstanding efforts at educating the public about issues, products or services." "We've heard complaints for some time that certain firms have come to dominate too many of the awards programs," said publisher Jack O'Dwyer. As an example, he noted that four PR firms took 18 or 43% of the 41 Silver Anvils awarded by PRSA in June out of a field of 736 entries. Many smaller PR firms have been critical of the elaborate and expensive entry process for other PR awards.

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Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily, August 21, 2001
Topics: 
Public Relations

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Criticized For Use of PR

Submitted by Laura Miller on

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, which reported that the New York City Police Department used improper racial profiling and which found serious flaws in the Florida voting process, is now facing criticism for spending $135,000 on public relations. The Holmes Reports writes that according to a Scripps Howard story, "payments made during the current fiscal year are more than double the amount that the panel is allowed to pay to outside consultants, according to the requirements of its 2001 spending allocation from Congress."

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Main Source: 
The Holmes Report, August 20, 2001
Topics: 
Human Rights
Public Relations

Journalist Layoffs Spur PR Fence Jumping

Submitted by Laura Miller on

With fewer journalism jobs available, many reporters and editors are looking at PR jobs to pay the bills. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 31-35% increase in PR jobs, versus a 0-9% increase in journalism, which also pays less than PR. For journalists worried that flacking means selling out, PR Week advises that "many believe it's an inevitable career progression." PR Week quotes Lou Colasuonno, a former editor at the New York Post and New York Daily News before turning PR practitioner, who says, "I had accomplished all I could in [the journalism] field.

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Main Source: 
PR Week, August 20, 2001
Topics: 
Journalism
Public Relations

Wanted: Top PR Gun for NRA

Submitted by Laura Miller on

The National Rifle Association, one of the most powerful Washington lobbying organizations, is seeking a new communications director to replace out-going flack Bill Powers. Applicants for the job -- called the third-most hellish PR job by PR Week readers -- would look forward to handling PR for NRA president Charlton Heston and to presiding over one of the largest stockpiles of PR dollars. The group spent $100 million on PR and advertising last year. Former communications director Powers left the NRA to join The Mercury Group, the PR agency of record for the NRA.

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Main Source: 
PR Week, August 20, 2001
Topics: 
Public Relations

Rabin's Daughter Recruited for Israel's PR Campaign

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

Dalia Rabin-Pelossof will head a $12 million public relations offensive to argue Israel's case amid fears that Palestinians are winning the propaganda war. Her father, Yitzhak Rabin, was assassinated by a Jewish extremist in retaliation for signing the 1993 peace accords. PR advisors to Israel include Gideon Meir, Israel's deputy minister of public affairs, and the New York-based PR firm of Rubenstein & Associates.

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Main Source: 
Sydney Morning Herald, August 20, 2001
Topics: 
International
Public Relations

"The Food Police?" CSPI Got Big Bucks to Flack for GE Foods

Submitted by John Stauber on

Last year Michael Jacobson's Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI, also known as "the food police") received $200,000 from the pro-biotechnology Rockefeller Foundation to be a moderate voice in the raging debate over genetically engineered (GE) foods. CSPI has since made many statements very favorable to GE foods and recently called for government action against companies marketing non-GE foods. Ironically, CSPI's Integrity in Science Project criticizes and reveals the special interest funding and agendas of other nonprofit organizations.

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Topics: 
Food Safety
Genetic Engineering
Public Relations

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