• Facebook Rules Christmas Eve; Vultures Get Ready for Texas Feast
Mon., Jan. 5 — Kevin McCauley
• Obama Promises New Emphasis on Science; CNN Exits Stage
Wed., Dec. 31 — Kevin McCauley
• P.T. Barnum, who believed a sucker is born every minute, is inspiration for $750B bank bailout scam
Tue., Dec. 30 — Kevin McCauley
• Maurice Levy Earns Coveted O’Dwyer Nod as Best Holiday Drinking Companion
Mon., Dec. 29 — Kevin McCauley

• Words Not to Use in Press Releases in 2009
Wed., Dec. 31 — Greg Hazley
• Tennessee's 'Valdez' Tops Tough Month for 'Clean Coal'
Tue., Dec. 30 — Greg Hazley
• Holiday Optimism from Russo Partners
Tue., Dec. 16 — Greg Hazley
• Homeland Security Prepares a PR Salvo on Broadcast TV
Wed., Dec. 10 — Greg Hazley

Commentary & Op-Ed Guest Op-Ed: Numerous Failures Marred '08 By Ted Pincus We must wake up and realize the free lunch was always a myth and emerge from this period a wiser nation. As Friedrich Nietzsche said: "What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger." Wed., Dec. 31 Thought Leader: The Shrinking Rx News Hole By Michael Durand The shrinking news hole for healthcare news will have Rx pros scrambling for '09 coverage. TV stations once boasted of own on-air doctors. News migrates to specialty pubs, 'Net. Tue., Dec. 30 Guest Op-Ed: Global Realities Usher In Change for PR By Joseph J. Honick PR firms need to play catch-up to compete with massive political and economic change on the international front due to diminished U.S. influence overseas. Mon., Dec. 29 [2] Public Relations: Review of 2008 By Jack O'Dwyer Bursting of the hyped-up financial and housing bubbles dominated the PR scene. Agencies and clients tightened their belts, newspapers continued to struggle and the public turned on Detroit. Tue., Dec. 23 [5] PR School: Avoiding Conflicts of Interest By Fraser P. Seitel Is hiring a presumably detached and objective "working journalist" to advise a client on subjects he or she may cover a prima facie, "conflict of interest?" Tue., Dec. 23 [2] Pitch op-ed pieces to: kevin@odwyerpr.com Commentary archive

Jobs Breaks Silence on Health
Apple CEO issues statement on health following withdrawal from conference and months of rumors that affected company shares.
Mon., Jan. 5

F-H Scoops Up Garden Fresh Account
Fleishman-Hillard will pitch 110-member Sweet Tomatoes and Souplantation restaurant chains in new year.
Wed., Dec. 31

Profits Come First, Says MS&L
Survey Consumers want companies to put profits before good deeds, according to a MS&L survey.
Tue., Dec. 30

Rent-A-Center Boosts Outreach
Rent-to-own giant brings in Toyota PR exec amid campaign to lure consumers hurt by credit crunch.
Mon., Dec. 29

Kekst Fills Up at Flying J
Kekst is counseling Flying J, the $16B oil company that filed for Chapter 11 protection this week amid the plummeting price of oil and credit crisis.
Fri., Dec. 26

Clinton Owes WPP $5.3M
Mark Penn’s Penn Schoen & Berland polling outfit, a unit of WPP Group, is still owed $5.3M from Hillary Clinton’s Presidential campaign.
Tue., Dec. 23

Dow Yanks Biz From Brunswick
Dow Chemical has yanked PR business from Brunswick Group in the wake of a $5M insider trading charge brought against the husband of a BG partner, who has been suspended.
Mon., Dec. 22

PR Bucks 'Ad Depression'
PR shines during "advertising depression," says media consultant Jack Myers, who believes ad agency model is broken beyond repair.
Thu., Dec. 18

PR Firm Among Dreier Creditors
Legal PR firm Van Prooyen Greenfield is among the 30 largest creditors of bankrupt New York law firm Dreier LLP. Founder is accused of bilking more than $300M from investors.
Wed., Dec. 17

H&K Scores Olympic Gold in Chicago
Hill & Knowlton is the highest paid consultant to the Chicago 2016 Olympic bid.
Wed., Dec. 17

Study: Client Churn Like '07
Twenty-two percent of clients severed ties with U.S. PR firms in 2008, on par with 2007. Western firms, tech and real estate take hardest lumps.
Tue., Dec. 16

Madoff Case Sparks PR Response
Financial entities in and out of the $50B fraud alleged perpetrated by former NASDAQ chair Bernard Madoff are working with PR firms as the story unravels.
Mon., Dec. 15 [7]