The News Review:
- Tibet Could Sap Coke’s Olympic Zing
- Obama’s informal adviser in Raleigh
- South Africa: Social Media Marketing Needs a New Name
Tibet Could Sap Coke’s Olympic Zing
BusinessWeek – Mar 27, 2008
They’re also worried about other groups such as those critical of Beijing’s support for the government of Sudan and its campaign against separatists and civilians in Darfur. Risk analysts have been reaching out to Tibetan activist groups to try to gauge how much of a public relations disaster the riots in Tibet will be for their corporate clients. But the corporate sponsors must tread carefully to avoid making China lose face before the Olympics, especially if they want to continue doing business in China. China is hoping to use the torch relay (introduced by Adolf Hitler’s Nazi propaganda machine to glorify the Third Reich during the 1936 Berlin Games) to usher in what organizers call the "magnificent celebration" of the 2008 Games. China is hoping the relay, with its "Journey of Harmony" theme, will highlight "Chinese people’s aspiration for a harmonious world with lasting peace and universal prosperity," Games organizers said in a statement for the opening of the torch relay. After a six-day tour through Greece, the Olympic flame will arrive in Beijing on Mar.
Obama’s informal adviser in Raleigh
News & Observer – Mar 27, 2008
Its revenue has grown from $4 million in 2001 to $6. 3 million last year, according to PR Week, a national trade publication. The growth of such large PR firms troubles those who view it as the further Washingtonization of Raleigh. "The fundamental issue is that the system of influencing legislators has moved to where big money dominates," said Chris Fitzsimon, of NC Policy Watch, a nonpartisan organization that monitors issues in Raleigh. "It means the average person in North Carolina has even less opportunity to have his voice heard. "But Eudy says a broad range of interests are turning to PR firms to get out their message, and he notes that Capstrat has worked for environmental causes. "It's not just large and powerful corporations," Eudy said… "The fundamental issue is that the system of influencing legislators has moved to where big money dominates," said Chris Fitzsimon, of NC Policy Watch, a nonpartisan organization that monitors issues in Raleigh. "It means the average person in North Carolina has even less opportunity to have his voice heard. "But Eudy says a broad range of interests are turning to PR firms to get out their message, and he notes that Capstrat has worked for environmental causes. "It's not just large and powerful corporations," Eudy said. For decades, Raleigh has had a thriving influence business. Battalions of lobbyists roam the halls of the legislature, blue-chip law firms help corporations navigate the regulatory agencies, and numerous consulting firms keep the political machinery greased. The city is dotted with trade and professional associations and expense-account steakhouses.
South Africa: Social Media Marketing Needs a New Name
AllAfrica.com – Mar 27, 2008
?So, why use social media for PR? Well, let’s agree on one thing – traditional PR isn’t going anywhere. In fact, I personally don’t want it to go anywhere, as many of my previous and current successes have been through PR collaborations. That said, social media is also not going anywhere. So, how do the two work hand-in-hand?The answer, I think, boils down to integrating social media with traditional PR, in an effort to give it ammunition. And, in an almost harmonic manner, feed the offline strategies to bring a new level of life to public relations.
Related: South Africa: Social Media Marketing Needs a New Name