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THIS WEEK'S NEWS
1. No More Beers for America
2. Hot Flash, Cold Cash
3. Feed a Flack, Bomb Iraq
4. Unleashing "Shock And Awe" At Home & Abroad
5. Star Wars
6. Psyops in Iraq
7. Words vs. Deeds
8. Swallow This
9. Marching on Washington for Peace - Virtually
10. Grassroots PR for Nuclear Power
11. Pentagon Denies That Depleted Uranium Keeps On Killing
12. MSNBC Cans Donahue
13. US Radio Station Alter Playlists for War on Iraq
14. TV Networks Censor Anti-War Ads
15. Media Questioned Over War Protest Coverage
16. Bush Faces Increasingly Poor Image Overseas
17. Bogus "Consumer Group" Stripped of Domain Names
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1. NO MORE BEERS FOR AMERICA
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/04/international/middleeast/04BEER.html?pagewanted=print
"Charlotte Beers, the former advertising executive who has been in
charge of the Bush administration's global campaign to enhance the
image of the United States among Muslims, resigned today for what
she said were health reasons," reports Steven Weisman. Under Beers'
supervision, the U.S. State Department produced videos, pamphlets,
booklets and other materials, but her efforts were largely seen as
ineffective. Most of the comments on the O'Dwyer's PR web site
celebrated her departure, saying "Good riddance!" and "About time!
She was horrible and the U.S. has lost all post-9/11 support."
SOURCE: New York Times, March 4, 2003
More web links related to this story are available at:
http://www.prwatch.org/spin/March_2003.html#1046754000
To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1046754000
2. HOT FLASH, COLD CASH
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2001/0301.mundy.html
"Last April, several hundred black-tie and couture-clad worthies
crowded into the ornate ballroom of the Washington Ritz-Carlton for
one more dinner on the spring charity circuit," writes Alicia Mundy
- namely, the annual gala of the once-respected Society for Women's
Health Research (SWHR), a Washington, DC-based nonprofit
organization whose stated mission is "to improve the health of
women through research." In recent years, however, SWHR has become
increasingly dependent on corporation contributions from
pharmaceutical companies. Last year's gala was underwritten by
Wyeth, which makes Prempro, the drug most widely used in
hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) for post-menopausal women. The
event celebrated HRT, complained one participant, "like they were
doing an ad for Wyeth." Worse yet, SWHR has attacked research by
the National Institutes for Health showing that Prempro increases
women's risk of heart attacks, stroke, blood clots, and breast
cancer.
SOURCE: Washington Monthly, February/March 2003
To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1046742022
3. FEED A FLACK, BOMB IRAQ
http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0303get_iraq_over_with.htm
"Let's have this damn war and get it over with it," said Doug
Dowie, a senior vice president at the Fleishman-Hillard PR firm.
Speaking at a Los Angeles meeting of the Public Relations Society
of America, Dowie complained that uncertainty connected with the
Iraq war has paralyzed client spending. "The sooner we get there
the better off most of us are going to be," he predicted.
SOURCE: O'Dwyer's PR Daily, March 3, 2003
To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1046667600
4. UNLEASHING "SHOCK AND AWE" AT HOME & ABROAD
http://www.laweekly.com/ink/03/15/on-powers.php
"[O]n the first day of Gulf War II: Die Harder, the Pentagon
reportedly intends to launch 300 to 400 cruise missiles at targets
in Iraq -- more than during the entire 40 days of the first Gulf
War. '[Y]ou have this simultaneous effect, rather like the nuclear
weapons at Hiroshima, not taking days or weeks but in minutes,"
says Harlan K. Ullman, who ... did co-author the 1996 book that
defined the strategy that the U.S. military will be following.
Euphemistically known as 'Shock and Awe,' the plan is designed to
cow those Iraqis it doesn't blow up into immediate submission. A
similar strategy has been employed here at home. ... Seeking to
unite the republic with fear, the government has cranked up the
scare tactics -- orange alerts, anti-aircraft missiles on the Mall,
talk of Iraqi drone planes dropping biochemical weapons on American
cities. Meanwhile, in an infuriatingly circular bit of reasoning,
Vice President Dick Cheney has argued ... that we must use our
troops precisely because we've committed them -- if not, we'll seem
weak." It might shock some to learn that Mr. Ullman himself is
rather skeptical of Bush's pending attack on Iraq. The St.
Petersburg Times reports that "Having fought wars, studied them and
written about them, he's not convinced that this one, at this time,
makes sense."
SOURCE: LA Weekly, St. Petersburg Times, March 2, 2003
More web links related to this story are available at:
http://www.prwatch.org/spin/March_2003.html#1046581202
To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1046581202
5. STAR WARS
http://www.usatoday.com/life/2003-03-02-stars-war_x.htm
The conservative organization Citizens United has teamed with Fred
Thompson, the former U.S. Senator turned actor on NBC's "Law and
Order," to produce and air a TV commercial supporting war on Iraq.
Citizens United president David Bossie says his ad is necessary to
"combat the left-wing propaganda" he says has come from such stars
as Martin Sheen, Susan Sarandon and Janeane Garofalo. Other
celebrities who have expressed anti-war sentiments include Sean
Penn, Ed Norton, Spike Lee, Martin Scorsese, George Clooney, Dustin
Hoffman and Richard Gere.
SOURCE: USA Today, March 2, 2003
More web links related to this story are available at:
http://www.prwatch.org/spin/March_2003.html#1046581201
To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1046581201
6. PSYOPS IN IRAQ
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/news/5300247.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
The U.S. has already launched psychological warfare operations in
Iraq, including "leafleting, radio and TV broadcasts, even personal
phone calls and e-mails, as well as secret techniques the public
knows little about," reports Michael Kilian. "Since Jan. 18, U.S.
psyops planes have made no fewer than 10 runs over southern Iraq,
dropping as many as 480,000 leaflets at a time." Other psyops
planners are discussing strategies such as sending misleading text
messages to the cell phones of Iraqi commanders, hacking computers,
jamming radar, and disrupting bank accounts.
SOURCE: Contra Costa Times, March 2, 2003
More web links related to this story are available at:
http://www.prwatch.org/spin/March_2003.html#1046581200
To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1046581200
7. WORDS VS. DEEDS
http://www.house.gov/appropriations_democrats/caughtonfilm.htm
Democrats on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee have produced
a web page titled "Caught on Film: The Bush Credibility Gap," which
contrasts statements by George W. Bush at various photo ops around
the country with his actual deeds.
To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1046357694
8. SWALLOW THIS
http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0227ephedra.htm
PR Watch has reported previously on the dietary supplement
industry's successful campaign to evade federal safety regulations.
Now O'Dywer's PR Daily reports that the Ephedra Education Council
(EEC), a PR front created by the PR firm of Aker Partners, is
"handling crisis PR to counter a media firestorm following the
death of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler." A coroner's
report suggested that Bechler's death could be linked to ephedra,
and the Food and Drug Administration has reports of at least 100
deaths and thousands of adverse reactions linked to the supplement.
The EEC has been trying to suppress or attack scientific studies
critical of ephedra, including a study last year that found it was
"by far the most dangerous herbal product on the market."
SOURCE: O'Dwyer's PR Daily, February 27, 2003
More web links related to this story are available at:
http://www.prwatch.org/spin/February_2003.html#1046322000
To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1046322000
9. MARCHING ON WASHINGTON FOR PEACE - VIRTUALLY
http://www.winwithoutwarus.org/html/new.html
The burgeoning US anti-war movement is showing a sophistication for
grassroots lobbying normally only used by major corporate PR
efforts. Today, for instance, hundreds of thousands of US citizens
are participating in "a massive march on Washington without leaving
your living room. The Virtual March on Washington is a
first-of-its-kind campaign from the Win Without War coalition.
Working together, we will direct a steady stream of phone calls --
about one per minute, all day -- to every Senate office in the
country, while at the same time delivering a constant stream of
e-mails and faxes. Our message: Don't Attack Iraq. To register to
send a free fax and make phone calls to Senate offices and the
White House, visit: MoveOn.org"
SOURCE: Win Without War
More web links related to this story are available at:
http://www.prwatch.org/spin/February_2003.html#1046267447
To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1046267447
10. GRASSROOTS PR FOR NUCLEAR POWER
http://www.reformer.com/Stories/0,1413,102%257E8862%257E1205372,00.html
"Less than a week before a Town Meeting Day vote on the future of
Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant, a David-and-Goliath-style
public relations war is heating up between the multibillion dollar
corporation that owns the plant and a small group of volunteers who
want the plant closed in 2012," writes Eesha Williams. "Nuclear
Free Vermont, the citizens' group, is spending about $2,000 to
distribute 'Vote Yes' yard signs to supporters, mail literature,
and possibly air a handful of radio ads. Meanwhile, the
Entergy-funded Coalition Against Shutting Down Vermont's
Electricity Options is in the midst of a $200,000 public relations
blitz that includes mass-mailings, newspaper ads, and 'Vote No'
radio ads featuring the voice of a former Vermont governor."
SOURCE: Brattleboro Reformer, February 26, 2003
More web links related to this story are available at:
http://www.prwatch.org/spin/February_2003.html#1046235600
To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1046235600
11. PENTAGON DENIES THAT DEPLETED URANIUM KEEPS ON KILLING
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/5258148.htm
"If war again comes to Iraq, depleted uranium munitions will be a
mainstay of the American arsenal. For years, the Pentagon has
discounted reports that the shells and bullets, made of solid
nuclear-waste byproduct and used for the first time on a large
scale in the Iraq war, bore calamity. ... 'There just isn't any
scientific foundation to draw a connection between exposure and the
incidents of leukemia, other cancers or birth defects,' said
Michael Kilpatrick, deputy director of deployment health support at
the Pentagon. ... Last month, the Bush administration, intent on
launching those munitions again if war breaks out, accused Iraq of
tricking the media into reporting on false links to depleted
uranium arms and cancer deaths. ... Dr. Doug
Rokke...worked...securing depleted uranium depots for the army.
Today, Rokke ... has become an opponent of depleted uranium arms .
All of the soldiers assigned to the cleanup in Iraq have suffered
chronic health problems, he said. ... 'When you go to war, you go
to kill. The problem with (depleted uranium),' he said, 'is that it
keeps on killing.' "
SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, February 25, 2003
More web links related to this story are available at:
http://www.prwatch.org/spin/February_2003.html#1046149201
To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1046149201
12. MSNBC CANS DONAHUE
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/25/business/media/25CND-PHIL.html?pagewanted=print
MSNBC has abruptly cancelled the Phil Donahue show. To fill his
slot, the network is expanding the news show that precedes him on
the air, "Countdown: Iraq." Although the network cites poor ratings
as the reason for the cancellation, the New York Times reports that
Donahue "was actually attracting more viewers than any other
program on MSNBC, even the channel's signature prime-time program
'Hardball with Chris Matthews.'" According to an internal NBC
report, however, Donahue was axed because he presented a "difficult
public face for NBC in a time of war. ... He seems to delight in
presenting guests who are anti-war, anti-Bush and skeptical of the
administration's motives." The report went on to outline a possible
nightmare scenario where the show becomes "a home for the liberal
antiwar agenda at the same time that our competitors are waving the
flag at every opportunity." A source close to Donahue says, "It's
not a coincidence that this decision comes the same week that MSNBC
announces it's hired Dick Armey as a commentator and has both Jesse
Ventura and Michael Savage joining the network as hosts. They're
scared, and they decided to take the coward's road and slant
towards the conservative crowd that watches Fox News."
SOURCE: New York Times, February 25, 2003
More web links related to this story are available at:
http://www.prwatch.org/spin/February_2003.html#1046149200
To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1046149200
13. US RADIO STATION ALTER PLAYLISTS FOR WAR ON IRAQ
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/24/business/24RADI.html?ex=1047624093&ei=1&en=4831937ce4eb754f
"After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, listeners denounced many
radio stations for playing songs insensitive to a nation in
mourning. Now, program directors are planning to adjust their
playlists if the United States goes to war with Iraq. Expect to
hear more patriotic tunes, and songs that appear right for the
moment. ... Music stations will also increase their news reports if
war breaks out. Because radio has become so segmented in the last
15 years, news had vanished from many music stations. But since
Sept. 11, stations have added feeds at the top of every hour.
'We're certainly stepping up our news coverage,' said Gabe Hobbs,
vice president of news for Clear Channel Radio, part of Clear
Channel Communications, which owns 1,200 stations. 'We have all
sorts of plans and they vary from market-to-market. But overall,
we're prepared to offer news twice an hour on our music stations.'
"
SOURCE: New York Times, February 24, 2003
To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1046062803
14. TV NETWORKS CENSOR ANTI-WAR ADS
http://www.adage.com/news.cms?newsId=37202
"The political battle over the Bush administration's planned war in
Iraq is filtering down to impact the U.S. media and advertising
industry. A growing number of groups opposed to the war allege
cable networks are censoring citizens' political views by refusing
to accept placements of their anti-war TV ads. Some peace groups
are thwarting the networks' rejection by buying local time in major
cities for the same anti-war ads. One set of spots seen last week
in Washington feature Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, co-founders
of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, and were produced for
TrueMajority.org by Too Much Media. Mr. Cohen, who has been active
in efforts by True Majority and the Business Leaders for Sensible
Priorities, expressed dismay last week that CNN would not allow
True Majority to buy time on Larry King Live. He said one spot that
was rejected by CNN features actress Susan Sarandon asking former
U.S. Iraq ambassador Ed Peck, 'Before our kids start coming home
from Iraq in body bags and women and children start dying in
Baghdad, I need to know what did Iraq do to us?' "
SOURCE: Ad Age, February 24, 2003
More web links related to this story are available at:
http://www.prwatch.org/spin/February_2003.html#1046062802
To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1046062802
15. MEDIA QUESTIONED OVER WAR PROTEST COVERAGE
http://www.usatoday.com/life/columnist/mediamix/2003-02-24-media-mix_x.htm
"Did the media stumble on Iraq, downplaying opposition to war with
Saddam Hussein until the USA's recent confrontation with Germany
and France in the United Nations and worldwide protests gave them
no choice?" asks Peter Johnson. New York Times columnist Paul
Krugman writes, "For months both major U.S. cable news networks
have acted as if the decision to invade Iraq has already been made,
and have in effect seen it as their job to prepare the American
public for the coming war."
SOURCE: USA Today, February 24, 2003
More web links related to this story are available at:
http://www.prwatch.org/spin/February_2003.html#1046062801
To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1046062801
16. BUSH FACES INCREASINGLY POOR IMAGE OVERSEAS
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A55326-2003Feb23?language=printer
"The messages from U.S. embassies around the globe have become
urgent and disturbing," reports the Washington Post. "Many people
in the world increasingly think President Bush is a greater threat
to world peace than Iraqi President Saddam Hussein."
SOURCE: Washington Post, February 24, 2003
To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1046062800
17. BOGUS "CONSUMER GROUP" STRIPPED OF DOMAIN NAMES
http://www.cspinet.org/new/200302201.html
The Center for Consumer Freedom, a front group for the restaurant,
alcohol and tobacco industries, has been forced to give up the
domain names of two web sites used to attack the Center for Science
in the Public Interest (CSPI), in what CSPI called an "Orwellian"
effort to create confusion among Internet users looking for CSPI's
websites. CCF, part of a "shadowy trio of tax-exempt front groups
run by Washington lobbyist Richard Berman" has been involved in
several other failed attempts to impersonate web sites owned by
health, consumer and enviromental groups.
SOURCE: CSPI news release, February 20, 2003
More web links related to this story are available at:
http://www.prwatch.org/spin/February_2003.html#1045717202
To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1045717202
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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