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Home > Blogs > The Cycle
The Cycle

NY ‘Post’ issues statement in defense of dead-stimulus-authoring-chimp cartoon

Posted February 18, 2009

The New York Post has issued only a defensive statement in response to accusations that a February 18 editorial cartoon, which depicts two police officers firing on a monkey with the caption, “They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill,” is blatantly racist.

The cartoon references reports that Stamford, CT police officers shot a monkey to death on February 16 after it severely mauled a friend of its owner. Critics, including Rev. Al Sharpton, have said that the cartoon chimpanzee may mock President Barack Obama, who his stimulus plan into law on February 17 after lengthy negotiations with Congress.

The statement, attributed to Col Allen, Post editor-in-chief, contends that “the cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event, to wit the shooting of a violent chimpanzee in Connecticut.” Post rep Suzanne Halpin, an EVP at Rubenstein Communications, said the newspaper is conducting no other outreach regarding the cartoon.

“It broadly mocks Washington’s efforts to revive the economy,” Allen said in the statement. “Again, Al Sharpton reveals himself as nothing more than a publicity opportunist.”

Sharpton, referencing the long-time use of primates as racist caricatures of black Americans, said in a statement on February 18 that the newspaper should “at least clarify what point they were trying to make”.

New York Gov. David Paterson also said that the Post should explain the cartoon.

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Filed under: Corporate Communications, Crisis Communications, Financial/IR, Media, Politics

Tags:Al Sharpton, Col Allen, Congress, CT, Gov. David Paterson, New York Post, Presidet Barack Obama, Rubenstein Communications, Sean Delonas, Stamford, Suzanne Halpin

Pew Center: Foreign, niche reporters fill DC journalism void

Posted February 12, 2009

Last month, PRWeek reported that Washington bureau cutbacks by many mainstream media outlets are resulting in fewer story opportunities, less experienced correspondents, and more work for communications pros.

However, the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism explained in data released February 11 that the situation “is not so much smaller as it is dramatically transformed.”

Although the number of mainstream media reporters has shrunk, a corps of niche media journalists has grown in its place. The organization reports that online newsletter ClimateWire has more than twice as many Capitol Hill journalists as Hearst News Service, and Mother Jones has about as many Washington reporters as Time. Foreign outlets have also stepped into the void. Al Jazeera has 105 staffers accredited to cover Congress, only 24 less than CBS News, according to the report.

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Filed under: Journalism 2.0, Media, Politics

Tags:Al Jazeera, CBS News, ClimateWire, Congress, Hearst News Service, Mother Jones, Pew Research Center, Project for Excellence in Journalism, Time

NAB distributes digital TV delay, antenna PSAs

Posted February 11, 2009

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has created two public service announcements in the past week, each promoting distinct elements of a probable delay of the digital broadcasting transition.

One of the spots, available in both English and Spanish, promotes the almost-official delayed June 12 transition date. Congress has approved the delay from February 17, but President Barack Obama has yet to sign the bill. Obama supports the delay.

The NAB’s other PSA promotes the use of a proper antenna.

“The goal of the new [transition] date spot…is to let people know that the date has changed. The spot is very simple, the wording is very simple, and it says that the date has changed but there is no need to wait [to get the right equipment],” said Shermaze Ingram, NAB senior director of media relations for the Digital Television Transition. “The goal of the second is to ensure that consumers don’t miss the important piece of news that their antenna is still very relevant.”

Ingram added: “I’ve seen stories about how this is a requiem for rabbit ears, and that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

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Filed under: Media, Technology, Viral Video, Web sites

Tags:Congress, National Association of Broadcasters, President Barack Obama, Shermaze Ingram

Posted January 12, 2009

YouTube a channel exclusively for Congress today - sans ads, which keeps it aligned with previous ”franking rules.” The site comes in two portions: and . It was aptly introduced with a video montage of Congressional leaders like Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi saying they value online communications with constituents.

YouTube added, via its blog:

You’ve shown your elected officials that in order to be in contact with you, they need to come to the platforms you use most, and engage with you directly…

These YouTube channels have the potential to make Congress more transparent and accessible than ever before - but only if you continue to connect and engage with your government on the site.

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Filed under: Blogs, Media, Politics, Public Affairs, Social Media, Technology

Tags:Congress, Washington,

Health groups form FDA Commissioner Coalition

Posted December 18, 2008

Health groups, some supported by pharmaceutical companies, are concerns about the appointment of the next FDA commissioner.

The FDA Commissioner Coalition sent a letter to Tom Daschle, the new Health and Human Services Secretary who will pick Andy von Eschenbach’s successor, urging him to choose someone who is familiar with the drug industry.

Groups involved with the coalition include the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Friends of Cancer Research, the Men’s Health Network, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

The letter comes after some members of Congress requested that the FDA be staffed with agency outsiders and industry critics.

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Filed under: 2008 Campaign, Healthcare, Lobbying, Media, Politics

Tags:American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Congress, FDA, FDA Commissioner Coalition, Friends of Cancer Research, Health and Human Services, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Sard stands (sits?) by Fuld

Posted October 8, 2008

Former Lehman Brothers CEO Richard Fuld made an appearance before the to talk about the conditions at the failed investment bank before it shut its doors and how Lehman contributed to the Wall Street disaster that led to the that passed late last week. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) was particularly outspoken, calling into question the hundreds of millions that Fuld raked in (about $480 million since 2000) even while the firm floundered.

Interestingly, if you take a look at this photo of Fuld making his appearance, George Sard appears to be peeking out above Fuld’s outstretched arm. Sard Verbinnen is cited here on CNNMoney.com as the contact for Fuld’s spokesperson. So not only does PR have a seat at the table, they also seem to have a seat at the Congressional hearing.

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Filed under: Financial/IR, Politics, Public Relations

Tags:Congress, Fuld, Lehman Brothers, Sard

The financial situation in DC

Posted September 17, 2008

Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson held a press conference today in the continuing effort to shore up public confidence in the US markets, making clear no bailout of Lehman was considered, but being not so clear about whether more federal bailout money may be thrown at the various financial firms currently in touble.

Congress, meanwhile, must show it is doing something — anything — so, it thought, “Why not start by holding some hearings?” First to be called on the carpet may be the Lehman Brothers CEO, who has been invited to testify at a hearing by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee scheduled for September 25.

Watch to see who else may be added to the guest list, which likely won’t produce much in the way of practical solutions but should at least provide some good video footage for the the business cable channels.

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Filed under: Crisis Communications, Financial/IR, Public Affairs

Tags:bailout, Congress, Lehman, Paulsen

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For both journalists and communicators, the news cycle never ends. At The Cycle, PRWeek’s editorial team offers commentary and viewpoints on how the latest marketing, business, political, and cultural news impact the PR industry.

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