Public Relations

Obfuscation, Obfuscation, Obfuscation

Most public relations practioners will tell you that PR is about good communication between an organization and its public. But the Guardian's Mark Borkowski finds a different kind of public relations being practiced by political and corporate institutions. To deal with objections to their actions, these institutions "create smokescreens of confusion and perplexity to enable them to do exactly what they want, regardless of the wishes of the people they are supposed to serve," Borkowski writes.

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PR Flacks Protected Under Attorney-Client Privilege

"Litigation public relations discussions involving lawyers and public relations professionals are protected under attorney-client privilege, according to a ruling last week by U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan," PR trade publication the Holmes Report writes. "The ruling was hailed by public relations professionals as conferring new credibility on their role and acknowledging a reality of today's legal work.

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Saudi Arabia Markets Itself As 'Modern Nation'

"Saudi Arabia breaks ads in the top 25 U.S. markets this month to give Americans a 'better perspective' of the Kingdom, and highlight its 'steadfast commitment' to fighting terrorism. The ads also depict Saudi Arabia as a 'modern nation' with 'normal people' who are struggling against the scourge of terror," O'Dwyer's PR Daily reports. The Kingdom paid its PR firm Qorvis Communications $1.4 million during its latest six-month reporting period, according to the company's Justice Dept. filing.

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U.S. PR Office In Baghdad Barely Functioning

"Journalists and government officials complained last week that the Bush administration has virtually abandoned its public affairs operation in Baghdad," PR Week reports. "Moroccan ambassador Margaret Tutwiler was sent to oversee the operation in April after major hostilities ended. But according to administration sources, she returned to Morocco within a month.

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PRSA Hands Out Silver Anvils

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) announced the winners of its top award, the Silver Anvil. The Best of Silver Anvil award went to co-winners the U.S. Postal Service and the Presidents Council of State Universities of Michigan. U.S. Postal Service with Burson-Marsteller won for their campaign to restore public trust and confidence in the U.S.

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Rendon Group Works For Joint Chiefs of Staff

The Rendon Group, a secretive PR firm whose government clients have included the Pentagon, the CIA, and USAID, has gone to work for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, trade publication O'Dwyer's PR Daily reports. The Washington D.C.-based firm is providing "strategic communications counsel, media analysis and consultation support services" to the Joint Chiefs, combatant commanders and top military advisors.

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Former Hill & Knowlton Chair Calls PR 'A Game'

"Public relations was a game," former Hill & Knowlton chair Dick Cheney (no relation to the vice president) told the New York Times' Geraldine Fabrikant. "It was a fun game, but it was really just a game," said Cheney, who left PR to become a psychoanalyst. Cheney worked for H&K, one of the world's largest PR firms, on business takeovers between 1960 and 1993. Comments on the O'Dwyer's PR Daily website take issue with Cheney's career move.

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