• Harper's Dismisses Tim Russert as 'Headwaiter' for U.S. Gov't Officials
Tue., Aug. 19 — Kevin McCauley
• U.S. Troops Vote With Their Money to Exit Iraq
Mon., Aug. 18 — Kevin McCauley

• Mags Will Try a Cable TV Model to Boost Circulation
Tue., Aug. 19 — Greg Hazley
• Exxon Gets 'Brand Jacked' on Twitter; Devaluing Airline Miles; Trump Saves Ed
Fri., Aug. 15 — Greg Hazley

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Rubenstein Props Up Bennigan's Franchises
Rubenstein Associates has been called in by Bennigan’s and Steak & Ale franchising company to distance its scores of eateries from the liquidation of the corporate owner of the restaurants.
Tue., Aug. 19

Sard Works Fast-Food Combine
Firm guides media for Arby’s parent in $2.3B proposed merger with Wendy’s to create 10,000 restaurant fast-food powerhouse.
Mon., Aug. 18

PR Counselor Builds Bigfoot Buzz
PR counselor Robert Barrows has helped draw widespread media coverage of today’s unveiling of an apparent Bigfoot carcass.
Fri., Aug. 15

U.S. Military in Iraq Seeks PR Help
U.S.-led military force in Iraq, currently working with the Lincoln Group, seeks proposals to hire four or more firms for PR operations out of Baghdad. Three-year budget could stretch as high as $300M.
Thu., Aug. 14

Livingston, CLS&A
Rep 'Iranian Diaspora'
A group fighting persecution in Iran hires Livingston Group and Chlopak Leonard Schechter.
Wed., Aug. 13

Abernathy, Joele Frank
Work Big Waste Fight
Two firms are working Waste Management’s more than $6 billion hostile bid for rival Republic Services, a deal which would create a titan in the industry.
Tue., Aug. 12

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Professional services firms push
ideas to ride out tough economy
CEOs of professional services firms are banking on “intellectual capital” and developing a broad array of “thought leadership” programs to guide them through tough economic times.

They say their businesses are protected against the ups and downs of the broader communications arena because PR is normally the biggest chunk of their clients’ overall marketing budget.

Andy Cooper, Principal at CooperKatz & Co., notes that clients such as the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers; National Assn. of Insurance Commissioners and Assn. of National Advertisers rely on his shop to get their insights and ideas into the marketplace. [full story]

Next Issue: Beauty & Fashion PR firms profiled in September. Contact Jon Gingerich for instructions on submitting your profile. [O'Dwyer's PR Report editorial calendar]