News Monitor - PRNEWS

From the Top Down

Exec Moves at Chrysler Include Changes on PR Side

Recent shifts in Chrysler Corp.'s executive tiers - including the much-awaited announcement of new President Thomas Stallkamp - have resulted in some changes on the communications front as well:

Steven J. Harris, formerly executive director of PR, was named to VP of communications. He continues to report to James Holden, executive VP of sales and marketing, who was also named general manager of Minivan operations.

In other PR functions, Rita McKay, director of corporate PR, adds director of media relations to her title, taking on the additional task of working on communications surrounding the Chrysler Historical Museum which opens next year; conference center activities; and meeting placement.

Mike Morrison remains as executive director of (internal) corporate communications, Chrysler also will continue to rely on its primary PR firm Golin-Harris to provide project PR and strategic counsel. (Steve Harris, 810/576-5741)

RESOURCES

IABC Releases Manual On Transformation Communication

The International Association of Business Communicators has released a manual, "Transformation Communication: The Communicator's Guide to Organizational Change." The book, penned by Paul Sanchez, global director of Watson Wyatt's Communications and Educational Consulting Practice, focuses on communication programs that are based on affecting employee attitudes during mergers, acquisitions, restructurings and downsizings. The manual is $150 for IABC members and $175 for non-members. Advice includes a chapter on implementation, an examination that shows that communication programs in transitional times hinge on:

A wide gamut of internal activity, ranging from interpersonal one-on-one communication to mass communications; and

That spectrum must be based on the premise that this kind of communication is inherently linear - meaning people have to grasp and understand a concept before they actually make behavioral changes. The book outlines several ways to ease the process, including team building, posters, CEO speeches on video and Q&A sessions. (IABC, 800/776-4222)

MEDIA TRENDS

Dailies' Circulation Declines But Public Wants Its Freebies

PR based on grassroots and regional endeavors is likely to be the driver of media/community relations in the future if a just-released Editor & Publisher survey, about readers turning more frequently to weeklies and shoppers as a mainstay of their information/entertainment diets, holds true. The study reveals that although the U.S. daily newspaper industry is in a downswing, readers are increasing their reliance on other kinds of newspapers.

Combined national weeklies circulation (including paid; free; and papers that provide both free and paid content) went from 45.9 million as of Sept. 1, 1996, to 47.3 million as of Sept. 1, 1997. Circulation for shoppers grew from 54.4 million to 58.2 million during that same period, according to E&P spokesperson Ian Anderson. (E&P, 212/675-4380)

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