ON THE RADAR SCREEN
Slow News Days An April Fool's Opportunity
The PR folks at Sun Microsystems, typically in the news for some sort of Java-related development, put its tongue in its cheek on April 1 announcing "a company initiative that bans the use of acronyms."
In the two-page release, Sun noted that acronyms have become so cumbersome for scientists, engineers and marketers that the company felt it was time to make a "paradigm shift." Not to be satisfied with a quick prank, Sun's press release goes on to note that it is providing counseling to employees "who may experience disorientation, memory lapses, anxiety, panic attack, antisocial behavior...as a result of withdrawal from acronyms." It recommends that employees "wait ten minutes and then ask yourself if you really need that acronym."
We got a kick out of this release, which BTW (by the way) didn't mention at the end that the release was JAJ (just a joke). Imagine journalists getting this release from the wire on April 3 and attempting to run it as a real story. Hopefully they'll do some fact-checking, so that the story hits the copy desk DOA.
ACQUISITION, INDUSTRY BUZZ
Snyder Buys Arnold
Snyder Communications [SNC] of Bethesda, Md., expects to reap cross-selling benefits and increase its direct-to-patient consumer pharmaceutical marketing capabilities with the acquisition of Boston-based Arnold Communications.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed and the acquisition will be accounted for as pooling of interests. Arnold has offices in Boston, Richmond, Va., and Washington, D.C., and offers integrated services including direct marketing through the Arnold Direct Division and new media services through its interactive division. It was named AdWeek's New England Agency of the Year for the past three years. (Clay Perfall, Snyder, 301/571-6270)
Association Sets Goals, Fees
The American Association of PR Firms has yet to confirm its name will but set out some guidelines for membership and purpose last month. The New York-based association will take members with net fee income above $1 million and at least five full-time staff members. Membership dues will be based on fee income, capped at $50,000 a year for the largest firms, but as low as $2,500. Additionally, the group plans to elect a board and appoint a search committee to find a president and full-time staff. The 38 founding members have established six key issues including:
- evaluation measurement;
- development of best management practices;
- recruitment;
- building and promoting stature of PR;
- government relations; and
- competition from other professional services businesses. (David Drobis, Ketchum PR, 212/448-4201)
MOVES
Pam Agnew has been appointed chief operating officer for the Wolf Group Public Relations firm in Toronto. Agnew spent 13 years in corporate communications and investor relations in South Africa, Asia and North America.
She has done work for companies such as, E*Trade, IBM, Impala Platinum, Mutual Fund Direct and Sun International. (Kelly McCarthy Class, Wolf, 216/479-2346)
The corporate communications and investor relations divisions of General Instrument Corp. [GIC] have moved from Chicago to the company's headquarters at 101 Tournament Dr., Horsham, Pa. 19044. (Dick Badler, VP, corp. Communications, 215/323-1618)