Public Relations

More Alarm at Plummeting U.S. Image

The United States must drastically increase and overhaul its public relations efforts to salvage its plummeting image among Muslims and Arabs abroad, says a panel chosen by the Bush administration. "Hostility toward America has reached shocking levels," states a new report by the United States Advisory Group on Public Diplomacy for the Arab and Muslim World. The report recommends a new White House office for foreign propaganda.

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PR Plan For National Zoo

"While officials at Washington D.C.'s National Zoo are trying to keep the public's focus on the positive, behind the scenes they've begun a massive public relations campaign to manage the fallout from the rash of unusual, and unnatural animal deaths," CBS News' Sharyl Attkisson reports. The zoo has hired PR giant Hill & Knowlton to help shape its response to Washington Post stories scrutinizing it.

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Qorvis Covers For Kingdom

"Saudi Arabia is denying a published report that it is interested in developing a nuclear weapon, according to a statement released by its PR firm, Qorvis Communications," O'Dwyer's PR Daily reports. The UK's Guardian, citing unidentified sources, reported that top officials in Riyadh are considering acquiring nuclear capabilities as

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Nike Settles Sweatshop Labor Suit, PR Stays Muted

"Nike said today that although it has settled the suit brought against it by California consumer activist Mark Kasky, it still intends to curtail its corporate PR efforts, including the continued suspension of its social-responsibility reporting initiative," PR Week reports. "Despite the settlement, which was announced this morning, Nike said it does not plan to ramp up the PR activities that had been curtailed because of the pending lawsuit. ...

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Spinning the Death of Spin

The British government is setting up a new "Department of Truth" in an effort to end damaging publicity about the role of politically appointed "spin-doctors." The rumored brain behind this strategy, however, is Peter Mandelson, the former Labour Party communications director who is credited with being the first of the new wave of spin-doctors when he worked for the party in the 1980s. "He is the one advising Tony Blair," said a government insider. "The King of Spin is in charge of the death of spin."

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UK's Top Spin Doctor Resigns

Alastair Campbell, the top spin doctor for British Prime Minister Tony Blair, has announced his resignation amid continuing controversy over his role in building the case for war with Iraq. Nicknamed England's "real deputy prime minister," Campbell said his family had paid a heavy price for the "real and intense" pressures of his job.

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Lumber Company Launches Greenwashing Campaign

"Pacific Lumber, the Northern California redwood logging giant whose clear-cuts have made it among the most vilified companies in the West by environmental groups over the past 15 years, is getting a makeover," the San Jose Mercury News writes.

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