Public Relations

British Spinners Queuing Up for Parliament

Submitted by Bob Burton on

After a year in which numerous British politicians have resigned or been publicly embarrassed by revelations over expense claims, the major UK political parties are promising new faces for the next election. However, Marie Woolf notes that "more than 50 prospective candidates chosen by the main parties are already working as lobbyists and public relations executives and are deeply enmeshed in the world of spin and politics.

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Main Source: 
The Times (UK), August 9, 2009
Topics: 
Democracy
Lobbying
Public Relations

Oil Industry Front Group Rallies for Global Warming

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

"Taking a cue from angry protests against the Obama Administration's health care restructuring, the oil industry is helping organize anti-climate bill rallies around the nation," reports Ian Talley.

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Main Source: 
Wall Street Journal's "Washington Wire" blog, August 11, 2009
Topics: 
Front Groups
Climate Change
Corporations

Increasing Scrutiny for Online Marketing

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

The National Advertising Review Council (NARC), a "coalition of advertising organizations" that recommends standards for industry self-regulation, issued its first rulings dealing with blog promotions. NARC faulted two companies for "posting 'reviews' of dietary supplements, but not disclosing that they actually own the products," or that the reviewers were paid.

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Main Source: 
PC Magazine, August 11, 2009
Topics: 
Internet
Third Party Technique
Marketing

Fake Grassroots Letters Oppose Climate Bill

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

"As U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello was considering how to vote on an important piece of climate change legislation in June, the freshman congressman's office received at least six letters from two Charlottesville [Virginia]-based minority organizations voicing opposition to the measure," reports the Daily Progress.

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Main Source: 
The Daily Progress (Charlottesville, Virginia), July 31, 2009
Topics: 
Astroturf
Front Groups
Climate Change

DCI: From Smokers' Rights to Patients' Rights

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

The DCI Group, a lobbying and public relations firm known for creating front groups for industry clients and Republican campaigns, is behind a new anti-health reform front group, the Coalition to Protect Patients' Rights (CPPR). "CPPR has been organizing lobbying efforts against health reform and publishing op-eds across the country with misinformation about the public option," reports Think Progress.

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Main Source: 
Think Progress, July 28, 2009
Topics: 
Front Groups
Health
Lobbying

Pentagon Propaganda Gets a Pass

Is there a difference between covert propaganda and secretive campaigns to shape public opinion on controversial issues? The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) apparently thinks that there is.

The GAO recently ruled that the Pentagon pundit program did not break the law against taxpayer-funded domestic propaganda. The program involved some 75 retired military officers who serve as frequent media commentators. From 2002 to 2008, the Pentagon set up meetings between the pundits and high-level Department of Defense (DOD) officials. The Pentagon's PR staff not only gave the pundits talking points, but helped them draft opinion columns and gave them feedback on their media appearances. The Pentagon also paid for the pundits to travel overseas, following carefully-scripted itineraries designed to highlight successes in Iraq and humane measures at the Guantanamo Bay detention center.

Honduras Tries for a PR Coup

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

The negotiating team representing Honduras' coup government "rarely made a move without consulting ... an American public relations specialist who has done work for former President Bill Clinton," reports the New York Times. Roberto Micheletti heads the "de facto" government of Honduras, which took power after the military coup against elected president Manuel Zelaya.

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Main Source: 
New York Times, July 12, 2009
Topics: 
International
Lobbying
Public Relations

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