Ketchum's New Tune
National Public Radio (NPR) chose New York-based Ketchum PR to promote the 20th anniversary of Morning Edition last week. The Washington, D.C. office of Ketchum vied for the PR spot and won against finalists APCO Associates and Ogilvy Public Relations.
Ketchum will not be involved with any other NPR shows or in the programming of Morning Edition, says Keith Poston of Ketchum. Although he hopes this is the beginning of a long relationship with NPR, Poston says this contract is only for a year.
The promotional effort includes looking back at the news, industry trends, politics and people that shaped morning edition. Host Bob Edwards might also take the show on the road, so to speak, and travel across the country for a special anniversary interviews. (Poston, 202/835-9477)
Business Moves
- Proof that alliances can grow into acquisitions: Burson-Marsteller acquires The Direct Impact Company, Washington, D.C., which it first partnered with in 1997.
The firm specializes in grassroots education and campaign mobilization. Founders John D. Brady and Thomas M. Herrity stay on board, with Brady continuing as chairman and CEO and Herrity remaining as president. (BM, 212/614-4082)
- More buzz about the Y2K bug: Micky Long, VP of technology at Duffey Communications, Atlanta, is appointed to the Atlanta/Southeast Region Y2K Solutions Center. It's a nonprofit collaboration of government, business and tech leaders massaging publics to raise interest among small and mid-sized businesses. Part of the group's philosophy is that Y2K isn't a technology issues - it's a supply-chain issue, and companies have to stay on their vendors about preparedness. (Duffey, 404/266-2600)
- Marjorie Strayer, who served as director of incumbent retention for two years with the National Republican Congressional Committee, joins Powell Tate, Washington, D.C., as VP of the firm's grassroots and ally outreach practice. (Powell Tate, 202/434-8524)
- Executive swapping: Edelman/Atlanta snags Meredith A.C. Roth as VP from Ogilvy in Washington, D.C. She'll head the expanding technology practice for the Atlanta office, which handles clients such as Eckerd Corp., Home Depot and Children's Wish Foundation International. At Ogilvy, she worked for a range of companies, including Ford Motor Co. and Oracle. (Edelman, 770/431-6200)
- Howard I.B. Charbeneau will be honored posthumously as the 1999 annual Foundation Lifetime Friend at the International Association of Business Communicators' "The Rewards of Effective Supervisory Communication" June 22 at the international conference in Washington, D.C. Charbeneau is credited with spearheading the "Friends" program to raise IABC funds throughout the membership. He died in October 1997 after an extended illness. (IABC, 800/776-4222)
- AVT Corp. selects KCSA Worldwide, New York, for national corporate communications and media relations brand-strengthening programs. KCSA is both a PR and IR firm. (KCSA, 212/682-6300)
- Fleishman-Hillard, St. Louis, and JM Lafferty Associates Inc., Chicago, are among the latest allies in the string of partnerships cropping up in PR. Lafferty provides PR council to publicly held companies in the areas of shareholder returns, valuation, capital structure and institutional shareholder management. (FH, 314/982-1700)