Industry Briefs

On the Radar Screen

Univ. of Md. To Abolish Undergrad PR Studies

The University of Maryland College of Journalism has decided to eliminate its undergraduate PR course sequence and a groundswell of concern has erupted both internally and from outside PR execs.

Based on a decision by an internal committee, the university's College Assembly in a recent 10-to-9 vote, decided to nix the university's specialized PR program on the undergrad level. The 20-person assembly is comprised of students, staff and faculty members.

The decision will be reviewed in the Fall by the university's Senate Committee, according to Dr. Lauri Grunig, one of the two key professors guiding UM's PR degree program.

In a conversation with PR NEWS last week, Grunig said the assembly's vote has spawned concern from faculty members and students (there are about 200 students in the program each year) as well as from outside PR execs. She is hopeful that the backlash will trigger a reconsideration of the decision.

The undergraduate PR studies would be replaced by specializations in business and science journalism as well as other fields such as children and family issues and race and class. There would also be an increased focus on online media.

Several members of the Commission on Public Relations Education have written letters indicating their concern with the decision. Ketchum PR's John Paluszek has sent a letter to Mike Miller, president of the Maryland Senate, stating:

"Even as I urge you to use your influence to see that the status quo is retained on this undergraduate PR program, in fairness, I also applaud Dean [Reese] Cleghorn's plans to increase emphasis on graduate studies in this field." (Grunig 301/405-2431)

Business Moves

Boston-based First Call Corp., a division of Thomson Financial Services, has teamed with the Japanese IR firm General Solutions Inc. to develop Corporate Direct, a service that gives companies entree to the Japanese business world. CD will first be available over Research Direct on the Web, http://www.firstcall.com, which allows clients to electronically access more than 540,000 equity research reports. The new CD service provides annual reports, earnings announcements, press releases and corporate profiles. (First Call, 617/856-2208)

LaBreche & Murray, Minneapolis, has severed its affiliation with ad agency J. Patrick Moore & Partners Inc. The agency, which is located within J. Patrick Moore & Partners offices, will relocate within the year, but its name will remain the same. All of L&M's 16 employees will remain with the new independent company. (L&M, 612/338-0901)

The MWW Group, East Rutherford, N.J., has acquired a majority ownership in Stone America Marketing LLC, a global brand extension licensing and niche sponsorships firm. (MWW, 201/507-9500)

Pete Wentz has been appointed principal and manager of the Chicago office of The Dilenschneider Group Inc. Wentz succeeds Kathleen Fitzgerald, who died two weeks ago. (Dilenschneider, 312/553-0700)

Fleishman-Hillard Inc. has established a practice group to help clients deal with the onslaught of the Year 2000 bug.

The group will help companies deal with strategic corporate positioning, issues management, investor relations, crisis management, employee communications and various other disciplines as they apply to streamlining Year 2000 solutions. (F-H, 314/982-1700)

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