The Department of Education has called for an
investigation into its PR contract with conservative commentator
Armstrong Williams after a Senate committee asked for records of
the department's publicity deals. The move comes after it was
disclosed earlier this month that, in 2003, Omnicom Group's
Ketchum public-relations firm, as part of its work for the
Dept. of Education, paid Williams $240,000 to promote the "No Child
Left Behind" school-standards law on his syndicated TV show in 2004
and in his syndicated newspaper column (which has been
cancelled).
Lorraine Thelian, senior partner - North America for Ketchum,
says, "Williams should have disclosed the fact that he had a
contract with the Dept. of Education. It's also important to note
that Williams has clearly stated he is not a journalist but pundit
and commentator." More on the Ketchum debacle in next week's PR
News.