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[eccr] The Weekly Spin, Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Wed Jun 16 09:13:43 GMT 2004
>THE WEEKLY SPIN, Wednesday, June 16, 2004
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>The Weekly Spin features selected news summaries with links to
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>THIS WEEK'S NEWS
>
>1. Celebrate Our 10th Anniversary this Friday with Amy Goodman
>2. "Not Here" Is Right
>3. Unspinning the Web of Corporate Influence
>4. When Reality TV Is Stranger than Fiction
>5. What Advertisers Want
>6. A Bright Future (Just Ignore the Waste)
>7. "Stop Michael Moore" Campaign a GOP Front
>8. Toxic Rocket Fuel Is Good for You!
>9. Bush's Manager of Public Perception of Public Polls
>10. Disabled Rights vs Verified Votes?
>11. Wrapping Reagan in the Flag One Last Time
>12. The Diplomatic Faithful
>13. Less Punk Than You
>14. New Phew Review
>15. Congress: It's Not Just for Fat Cats Anymore
>16. One More Campaign for the Gipper
>17. Using the Pen to Obscure the Sword
>18. High-Priced Friends in Need
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>1. CELEBRATE OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY THIS FRIDAY WITH AMY GOODMAN
>http://www.prwatch.org/cmd/tenth.html
> This Friday, June 18, join us in celebrating the tenth anniversary
> of the founding of the Center for Media and Democracy. Join John
> Stauber, Sheldon Rampton and other CMD staff members for an evening
> of great food and friendship. Our featured speaker will be Amy
> Goodman of Pacifica Radio's award-winning news show, Democracy Now!
>To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
> http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1087358400
>
>2. "NOT HERE" IS RIGHT
>http://news.findlaw.com/ap_stories/other/1110/6-15-2004/20040615074501_13.html
> After three days, a billboard proclaiming "Don't Wal-Mart
> Bridgeport. Not here!" was removed from the site of a proposed
> Wal-Mart superstore near Tacoma, Washington. The Bridgeport Way
> Community Association paid for the message, because "people who
> travel this way have a right to know what's coming," said one
> association member. But the billboard owner, Clear Channel Outdoor
> (a division of radio and entertainment behemoth Clear Channel),
> took down the sign because advertisements that "alienate the
> property owner" are against company policy. Clear Channel did offer
> an alternative location, but the community association decided that
> placing the message anywhere else would be "less effective."
>SOURCE: Associated Press, June 15, 2004
>More web links related to this story are available at:
> http://www.prwatch.org/spin/June_2004.html#1087272001
>To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
> http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1087272001
>
>3. UNSPINNING THE WEB OF CORPORATE INFLUENCE
>http://www.lobbywatch.org/p1temp.asp?pid=30&page=1
> When it comes to stealthy PR campaigns, the biotech industry has
> spared no expense. For the past six years, the UK-based public
> interest group GM Watch has been tracking and documenting biotech's
> dirty tricks, learning that the PR web reaches further than just GM
> food. Encompassing a broad range of front groups, industry-funded
> researchers, and internet campaigns, GM Watch's new website
> LobbyWatch provides a who's-who of PR operators in Europe and the
> rest of the world. LobbyWatch's groundbreaking research details how
> the Living Marxism network is bringing a "Wise Use"-type
> environmentalism (read: industry friendly) to Europe, how the
> European Science and Environment Forum was founded with money from
> tobacco giant Philip Morris, and many other stories.
>More web links related to this story are available at:
> http://www.prwatch.org/spin/June_2004.html#1087272000
>To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
> http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1087272000
>
>4. WHEN REALITY TV IS STRANGER THAN FICTION
>http://prweek.com/news/news_story.cfm?site=3&ID=213528&site=3&/news/news_story.cfm
> The Showtime reality series "American Candidate," set to air during
> the lead up to the U.S. presidential election, will follow a dozen
> people as they stage and manage a "virtual" run for the White
> House. Two of the show's contestants are lefty PR professionals -
> Bruce Friedrich, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' vegan
> campaigns director, and Lisa Witter, head of Fenton Communications.
> Friedrich said the show is an "opportunity to be a face for animal
> rights, for PETA, and for compassion for all animals." Witter,
> whose firm's clients include Air America Radio and MoveOn.org, said
> she will stress "affordable healthcare for all, improving the
> economy, fair taxes, strengthening education, protecting our
> environment."
>SOURCE: PR Week, June 14, 2004
>More web links related to this story are available at:
> http://www.prwatch.org/spin/June_2004.html#1087185601
>To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
> http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1087185601
>
>5. WHAT ADVERTISERS WANT
>http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB108696905989535071,00.html?mod=mm%5Fhs%5Fadvertising
> In its "first large-scale change since 2001," Fox News is launching
> a major redesign of its website. Fox News vice-president of
> national ad sales Roger Domal said, "In addition to just freshening
> up the site and making it easier to navigate ... it's a reaction to
> what advertisers want." Fox News hopes the site "will enable it to
> become a significant competitor in the online news space. This
> month, the site doubled its advertising sales staff in New York and
> San Francisco ... The company believes the redesign will help the
> site double its advertising sales for 2004 ... and double its
> audience," according to the Wall Street Journal.
>SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, June 14, 2004
>More web links related to this story are available at:
> http://www.prwatch.org/spin/June_2004.html#1087185600
>To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
> http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1087185600
>
>6. A BRIGHT FUTURE (JUST IGNORE THE WASTE)
>http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0406130442jun13,1,5048267.story?coll=chi-business-hed
> "The once-moribund nuclear power business is undergoing a revival
> that is having a profound impact on academia and industry," reports
> the Chicago Tribune. Existing nuclear engineering programs are
> expanding, and new programs have been announced at three
> universities. Supporters claim, "Nuclear energy is the only viable
> source to produce all the electricity we will need for the future."
> But the New York Times notes, "the plan to bury nuclear waste at
> Yucca Mountain ... is years behind schedule and the Energy
> Department is facing financial penalties" for the delay. Saying
> leaks at the site are probable, a former member of the Nuclear
> Waste Technical Review Board warned, "The Department of Energy is
> rushing ahead with a defective Yucca Mountain design."
>SOURCE: Chicago Tribune, June 13, 2004
>More web links related to this story are available at:
> http://www.prwatch.org/spin/June_2004.html#1087099201
>To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
> http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1087099201
>
>7. "STOP MICHAEL MOORE" CAMPAIGN A GOP FRONT
>http://www.altpr.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=197&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
> "So desperate are Bush Republicans to kill Michael Moore's latest
> film, Fahrenheit 9/11, they have hired a public relations firm to
> set up a web site attacking Moore," the Alternative Press Review
> writes. "The site, MoveAmericaForward.com, claims to be
> 'non-partisan,' but a glance at the 'About' page of the site
> reveals the director and staff of Move America Forward are all
> diehard Republicans, anti-tax activists, and former legislative
> staffers. The PR firm is Russo Marsh & Rogers. Thanks to the
> detective work of WhatReallyHappened.com, it was revealed that Move
> America Forward's web site was registered in the name of Russo
> Marsh & Rogers. ... In short, Move America Forward's campaign is a
> Republican dirty trick designed to smear Moore and pressure move
> theater owners not to run his film." Meanwhile, Moore has hired
> Democratic political strategists Mark Fabiani and Chris Lehane "to
> fire off rapid responses to the conservative attacks," according to
> Salon.com.
>SOURCE: Alternative Press Review, June 13, 2004
>More web links related to this story are available at:
> http://www.prwatch.org/spin/June_2004.html#1087099200
>To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
> http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1087099200
>
>8. TOXIC ROCKET FUEL IS GOOD FOR YOU!
>http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-perc12jun12,1,502364.story?coll=la-headlines-california
> A report for the Urban Water Research Center at the University of
> California at Irvine (which is "funded in part by contributions
> from water utilities and other private sources," writes the Wall
> Street Journal) concluded that the rocket fuel chemical perchlorate
> is not as dangerous as previously thought. The Council on Water
> Quality, a perchlorate industry group, praised the findings.
> Perchlorate, which affects the thyroid, has contaminated water
> supplies in 22 states. Richard Bull, an environmental-risk
> consultant and former Lockheed Martin consultant, co-authored the
> industry-friendly report. After its release, Bull resigned from a
> National Academy of Sciences panel studying perchlorate's health
> effects. He said he understood concerns that "I was associated with
> an opinion that put the NAS in an awkward position."
>SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, June 12, 2004
>More web links related to this story are available at:
> http://www.prwatch.org/spin/June_2004.html#1087012801
>To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
> http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1087012801
>
>9. BUSH'S MANAGER OF PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF PUBLIC POLLS
>http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/12/politics/campaign/12campaign.html
> "Matthew Dowd, President Bush's chief campaign strategist, is not
> just the man who conducts the president's polling. He also works to
> control public perceptions about where the presidential race
> stands, perhaps more aggressively than many other campaign aides in
> his position. ... 'I just want to make sure people have a realistic
> view,' said Mr. Dowd, whose official title is 'chief strategist,'
> in an interview Friday. 'There are highs that are going to go down,
> there are lows that are going to go up. I'm not just trying to
> argue with news that is perceived as bad - I'm trying to argue
> against wrong news, good or bad, like a newspaper journalist
> might.' Underlying the strategy is the belief among political
> strategists with both parties that poll results can become
> self-fulfilling prophecies, contributing greatly to the direction
> of a campaign by causing enthusiasm or demoralization."
>SOURCE: New York Times, June 12, 2004
>To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
> http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1087012800
>
>10. DISABLED RIGHTS VS VERIFIED VOTES?
>http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/11/opinion/11FRI1.html
> The New York Times editorializes, "Voters should have complete
> confidence about their ballots' being counted accurately and ...
> everyone, including the disabled, should have access the polls."
> Citing important security and accuracy concerns with electronic
> voting, the Times faults "a handful of influential advocates for
> the disabled, who complain that requiring verifiable paper records
> will slow the adoption of accessible electronic voting machines."
> But the paper inaccurately characterizes the settlement reached
> when the National Federation of the Blind sued ATM and electronic
> voting machine manufacturer Diebold under the Americans with
> Disabilities Act as a "troubling ... $1 million gift," which it
> insinuates may have influenced the NFB's pro-electronic voting
> stance. Our next issue of PR Watch (coming soon to subscribers'
> mailboxes!) contains an in-depth look at e-voting PR.
>SOURCE: New York Times, June 11, 2004
>More web links related to this story are available at:
> http://www.prwatch.org/spin/June_2004.html#1086926402
>To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
> http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1086926402
>
>11. WRAPPING REAGAN IN THE FLAG ONE LAST TIME
>http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0611-01.htm
> "The seemingly endless media adulation and myth-building
> surrounding the drawn-out death and funeral of Ronald Reagan is in
> keeping his media-savvy teflon-coated presidency. For all the
> conservative squawking about liberals dominating Hollywood, it is
> the right-wing that has excelled at putting actors into office."
>SOURCE: CommonDreams.org, June 11, 2004
>To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
> http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1086926401
>
>12. THE DIPLOMATIC FAITHFUL
>http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usabus113845499jun11,0,1246482.story?coll=ny-nationalnews-headlines
> FaithfulAmerica.org, which describes itself as "an online community
> of people of faith who want to build a more just and compassionate
> nation," will run commercials on the al-Jazeera and al-Arabiya
> Arabic language networks apologizing for the torture of Iraqi
> detainees by U.S. servicepeople and military contractors. The ad
> states, "As Americans of faith, we express our deep sorrow at
> abuses committed in Iraqi prisons." FaithfulAmerica.org
> spokesperson Bishop Melvin Talbert is an ecumenical officer of the
> United Methodist Church, to which George Bush belongs. A State
> Department spokesperson would not comment on the ads, but former
> ambassador to Syria Edward Djerejian said they "could be harmful
> ... [if they are] an attempt to criticize the current
> administration," but if they just "say torture is contrary to our
> religious beliefs, then that I think would be helpful."
>SOURCE: Newsday, June 11, 2004
>More web links related to this story are available at:
> http://www.prwatch.org/spin/June_2004.html#1086926400
>To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
> http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1086926400
>
>13. LESS PUNK THAN YOU
>http://counterpunch.org/evans06102004.html
> Punk Voter is "a coalition of over 130 bands and about 30
> independent record labels" seeking to register and mobilize punk
> rock fans for the 2004 U.S. presidential election. But will the
> effort "serve to strengthen the very political system that punk has
> made its reputation attacking?" Scott Evans would say yes. He
> writes: "Last March [political punk band] Propagandhi withdrew from
> Punk Voter's Rock Against Bush Vol. 1 compilation after [Punk Voter
> founder Mike] Burkett requested that they remove a jab at
> billionaire George Soros from their song contribution. ... Although
> he acknowledged that Soros was involved in selling weapons of war
> and had 'screwed a bunch of countries to make his money', Burkett
> also noted Soros was bankrolling 'many great organizations such as
> MoveOn.org and America Coming Together, and these organizations
> help support us.'"
>SOURCE: CounterPunch, June 10, 2004
>More web links related to this story are available at:
> http://www.prwatch.org/spin/June_2004.html#1086840002
>To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
> http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1086840002
>
>14. NEW PHEW REVIEW
>http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/10/politics/10air.html
> The environmental group Clear the Air asked the same research firm
> that the Bush administration used to analyze its plan to reduce
> coal plant emissions, the "Clear Skies Act," to compare Bush's plan
> to two other proposals before Congress. The resulting report found
> "Clear Skies" to be the weakest of the three. The report estimated
> that, under current policies, 24,000 people die annually due to
> power plant emissions. "Clear Skies" would reduce that number by
> 14,000, but a bipartisan Senate measure would save 16,000, and
> independent Senator Jeffords' more aggressive plan would save
> 22,000 lives. Scott Segal of the industry group Electric
> Reliability Coordinating Council said the report was simply "the
> environmentalists repackaging the same old arguments."
>SOURCE: New York Times, June 10, 2004
>More web links related to this story are available at:
> http://www.prwatch.org/spin/June_2004.html#1086840001
>To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
> http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1086840001
>
>15. CONGRESS: IT'S NOT JUST FOR FAT CATS ANYMORE
>http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/10/opinion/10THU5.html
> The New York Times editorializes today in favor of a little known
> reform that might have a revitalizing affect on the US political
> process. Candidates can now draw a salary running their own
> campaign for Congress. "The victory of a Democratic lawyer,
> Stephanie Herseth, in the race last week for an open House seat in
> South Dakota had some intriguing implications. Ms. Herseth is the
> first successful Congressional candidate of either party to take
> advantage of a change in the campaign finance rules that allows
> federal candidates to pay themselves salaries from their campaign
> treasuries. ... It remains to be seen, of course, how the
> commission's new salary rule will play out in other states. But the
> dearth of competitive contests for the House, in a Congress that
> increasingly resembles an exclusive millionaires' club, has us
> rooting for this experiment in leveling the playing field."
>SOURCE: New York Times, June 10, 2004
>To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
> http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1086840000
>
>16. ONE MORE CAMPAIGN FOR THE GIPPER
>http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/06/09/campaigns_seize_on_reagans_legacy/
> After a "72 hour stretch of glowing remembrances" of Ronald Reagan,
> "Republicans and Democrats began crafting statements" about the
> late president "that suited their political goals." Bush-Cheney
> campaign manager Ken Mehlman told the New York Times, "In many
> ways, George W. Bush and the policies that he put forward stand on
> the shoulders of Ronald Reagan." The Bush-Cheney campaign website
> also features a "living memorial" to Reagan. (Interestingly,
> then-Congressman Dick Cheney implored President Reagan to "really
> cut defense" and faulted Reagan for "tolerating a decision-making
> process ... that lacked integrity and accountability," according to
> Misleader.org.) Democrats "are praising Reagan for qualities they
> often say Bush lacks." John Kerry said, "President Reagan ...
> taught us that there is a big difference between strong beliefs and
> bitter partisanship," and praised Nancy Reagan for her stem-cell
> research advocacy.
>SOURCE: The Boston Globe, June 9, 2004
>More web links related to this story are available at:
> http://www.prwatch.org/spin/June_2004.html#1086753603
>To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
> http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1086753603
>
>17. USING THE PEN TO OBSCURE THE SWORD
>http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-fg-terror9_jun09,1,7491026.story?coll=la-home-headlines
> "The State Department is scrambling to revise its annual report on
> global terrorism ... amid charges that the document is inaccurate
> and was politically manipulated," reports the Los Angeles Times.
> The most recent "Patterns of Global Terrorism" report, which
> claimed terrorist attacks declined 45% and minor terrorism events
> declined more than 90%, was touted by the Bush administration as
> proof that America's winning the "War on Terrorism." At its
> release, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage called the
> report "clear evidence that we are prevailing." The corrected
> report will likely show an increase in significant terrorist
> incidents, according to experts. One State Department official
> called the errors "clerical," and likely due to the recent transfer
> of responsibility for the report from the CIA to the new Terrorist
> Threat Integration Center.
>SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, June 9, 2004
>More web links related to this story are available at:
> http://www.prwatch.org/spin/June_2004.html#1086753602
>To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
> http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1086753602
>
>18. HIGH-PRICED FRIENDS IN NEED
>http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB108668620500131454,00.html?mod=world_news_whats_news
> Russian oil company OAO Yukos has seen hard times since the arrest
> on tax evasion and fraud charges of its former chief executive,
> Mikhail Khodorkovsky. The company "is trading at a fraction of its
> value at the time of Mr. Khodorkovsky's arrest," and owes $3.4
> billion in back taxes, according to the Russian government.
> "Company executives say Yukos could be driven out of business,"
> writes the Wall Street Journal. The Hill reports that Yukos hired
> BKSH & Associates, the lobbying arm of PR giant Burson-Marsteller,
> to keep "U.S. policymakers and administration officials informed
> about current issues" it faces "in Russia and abroad."
> Khodorkovsky, one of Russia's most famous "oligarchs," will stand
> trial on June 16.
>SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, June 9, 2004
>More web links related to this story are available at:
> http://www.prwatch.org/spin/June_2004.html#1086753601
>To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
> http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1086753601
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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