Golin/Harris International creates a $20 million PR/PA group in the Washington, D.C. area, with Lane Bailey as the managing director. The group combines public affairs firm Weber McGinn Inc. and
lobby shop Barbour, Griffith and Rogers with G/H's D.C. office. Dan McGinn, founder of Weber McGinn, leaves to create The McGinn Group, a conflict, crisis and litigation communications practice, inside
the Allied Communications Group.
Massachusetts-based independent tech PR firm Sterling Hager Inc. acquires CommCentric Strategies, which caters to Internet-based clients. The purchase follows on the heels of SHI's opening of London
and San Francisco offices.
Omnicom's Gavin Anderson & Co. purchases Chlopak, Leonard, Schechter & Associates, a 40-member D.C.-based PA firm. Meanwhile, PA firm Alcalde & Fay buys the remnants of Capitoline
International Group, bringing its sole remaining lobbyist - Jennefer Hirschberg, former press secretary to Nancy Reagan - on board as partner.
Following the lead of competitor Business Wire, PR Newswire announces it's ending its practice of giving a 15-minute head start on news releases to the media before releasing them to the general
public. The change is likely attributable to the SEC's recent issuance of Regulation FD (PRN, Sept. 11). The move will preclude Wall Street traders who subscribe to instant e-letters from gaining
an unfair advantage in the marketplace.
