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Reports on the United States biotechnology industry's launch of an advertising campaign designed to dispel the public's negative perceptions of genetically modified crops. Use of soft-focus images to illustrate the benefits of biotechnology; Antiobiotech activists' concerns about the possible effects of genetic engineering on the environment; Backlash against crop engineering in Europe.

The article states that the U.S. agency the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced on August 17, 2015, that computer hackers accessed over twice as many U.S. taxpayer accounts than previously reported in May 2015. According to the article, the accounts of an additional 390,000 taxpayers were potentially accessed, which added to public relations difficulties for the IRS. The article states that the breaches occurred in the online application known as "Get Transcript." The article presents comments from U.S. representative Peter Roskam.

The article discusses efforts by financial-services firm Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to rehabilitate its image following controversy surrounding its actions leading up to and during the 2008-2009 global financial crisis. Goldman has hired a new vice-president for its investor-relations department, and has also formed a committee to reconfigure the firm's business practices.

The article discusses efforts by U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke to make the Fed more transparent to the public. Contrary to his earlier views that personalities should not be important to the Fed's public profile, Bernanke has made himself increasingly more available to the media. The central bank is reportedly considering holding regular news conferences.

The article reports on a public relations campaign which is being undertaken by the $2.6 billion scrapbook industry of the U.S. Since 1992 the industry has experienced a surge in popularity and growth among women but in 2007 sales of industry products have fallen, and in an effort to improve sales the industry has begun a campaign to attract men to the art of scrapbooking.

The article reports that, in a nod to critics and the latest move in a new White House campaign to rally public support for American efforts in Iraq, President George W. Bush acknowledged responsibility for leading the country to war partly based on inaccurate intelligence. Mr. Bush is attempting to address the debate about the war by easing American doubts and countering complaints that he has been oblivious to the problems in Iraq. He remains confident that the decision to topple Saddam Hussein from power was right. He is making efforts to be more candid and realistic with members of Congress, and has made a series of speeches about Iraq. A great deal depends on the success of the White House's new public relations effort.

Assesses the public opinion in the Gulf Coast region of the United States regarding the Salvation Army and the Red Cross in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Description of a meeting of hurricane survivors where they gave a loud round of applause for the Salvation Army; Efforts of the Salvation Army to provide relief in East Biloxi, Mississippi; Reasons why the Red Cross are not receiving the same kind of support from the public as the Salvation Army does; Assessment of the organizational structure of the Salvation Army, noting how quick they are to mobilize; Comments from one survivor, suggesting the Red Cross volunteers are not treating them well.

Focuses on the efforts of Michael Kent, hired by the city of Beverly Hills (Calif.), to improve tourism and business. Marketing ideas proposed by Kent that are being snubbed by several of Beverly Hills' high-end retailers; Impact of the television program "Beverly Hills 90210" on revenue; Kent's previous work experience with Altria Group Inc., Eastman Kodak Co. and Six Flags Inc.; Comments from several retailers along Rodeo Drive regarding the Kent's ideas to attract people to the city, including the offering of coupons, indicating Kent does not have a sense for the image Beverly Hills' retailers have created.

The article reports that U.S. President Barack Obama plans to shift his presidential strategy in 2013 to focus on job growth and strengthening the middle class, discussing Obama's frustration with partisan politics in the U.S. Congress and how congressmen feel about Obama's plan.

The article discusses the problem of finding unique proprietary names for mutual funds, noting aspects of the U.S. trademarking process and the use of names that refer to investment strategies.

The article reports on an effort by Best Buy Co. to control the public-relations damage caused by its failure to deliver the merchandise that U.S. customers purchased online in November 2011.

The article focuses on the rise in number of U.S. companies that use blogs to fulfill the tasks of spokesmen. Microsoft Corp. has sent two links to employee blog posts to answer a question from a journalist that was denied by its spokesman. Professional sports teams are also relying on player and employee blogs to access media and for public relations. A social media survey by Burson-Marsteller in 2009 found that below one-third of Fortune 100 companies have corporate blogs.

The article reports that small businesses in the U.S. are using Tweeter to address problems with customer service and public relations. Innovative Beverage Group Holdings Inc. used the social-media service to inform consumers that it is trying to fix its web site, drankbeverage.com, after it crashed due to a surge in traffic. Wine critic Gary Vaynerchuk also used Twitter after his company's web site, Corkd.com, was hacked wherein visitors are greeted with pornography.

The article reports that some companies in the U.S. are monitoring customer concerns in social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter to prevent problems with public relations (PR). Three of these companies are Ford Motor Co., PepsiCo Inc. and Southwest Airlines Co. Employees are assigned by these companies to take note of postings and blog entries regarding the organizations.

The article reports on the public relations initiative called Tell Fritz to be launched by General Motors Co. (GM) chief executive order (CEO) Frederick Henderson in July 2009 in the U.S. The said initiative was implemented after the automaker got out of bankruptcy on July 10, 2009. It is noted that Henderson is planning to conduct media interviews and meet with dealers and customers.

The article reports on the public relations affairs of President Barack Obama during his first 100 days in office. His administration reportedly resorted to nontraditional media outlets to market him and his agenda. These included interviews with television host Jay Leno and "People" magazine. Through human-interest stories, the administration has hoped to advance the agenda of the president, notes the author.

The article reports on the plan of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to hire five public relations firms to promote its products and capitalize on its sales strength during the recession and maintain the gains when the economy recovers. According to the author, the strategy is becoming more common in the advertising industry as businesses attempt to control marketing budgets and spur creativity among advertising agencies.

The article reports on the efforts of nonbelievers in the U.S. in reaching out to the public. It says that these people have started a very public campaign to win broad acceptance using billboards, and bus advertisements, radio commercials and the Internet. According to the organizers of such efforts, they aim to make the public more comfortable with the concept of atheism and give a sense of community to fellow nonbelievers.

The article reports on a test of the communication skills of the U.S. Federal Reserve. It notes that the reaction of the Treasury market to the meeting of the Federal Reserve about rate-setting will serve as the verdict on the communication skills of the agency. It adds that the agency was able to convince market practitioners that the key rate is expected to end 2008 closer to its current value. It mentions that amid the actions of the agency, investors are ready with a policy statement that focuses on inflation risks.

The article reports on the efforts of U.S. Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean to soften his image. He announced on June 11, 2008 that he is making an effort to tone down his language as he realized that the tone of political conversation was probably turning away certain segments from the Democratic Party. He said that the party needs to open its doors and comments that the party's initiatives have been successful with the evangelical committee in recent years.

The article discusses the policies of U.S. presidential candidates Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama on lobbyists. It explains that from a public relations (PR) perspective, while McCain's policies are more rigid, Obama is ahead because he set his rules in place from the beginning of his campaign. Another advantage for Obama is that he does not allow lobbyists to raise funds for his campaign while McCain welcomes lobbyists as fund-raisers.

An interview with Cammie Dunaway, executive vice president of sales and marketing of Nintendo of America, about the challenges posed by the marketing of the Wii Fit exercise video game is presented. Dunaway asserts that the reports of shortages of Wii in the U.S. did not impact the Wii brand and assures that the same issues will not arise with Wii Fit. She explains the reason why the largest part of advertising of the Wii Fit is the public relations effort.

The article focuses on perennial U.S. presidential candidate Lyndon LaRouche and his obsession to disseminating his ideas through the printed words, based on an article by Avi Klein which appeared in the November 2007 issue of "The Washington Monthly." LaRouche has established PMR Printing to serve as a public relations and fund raising machine. He also used the printshop to promote his political ambitions. After declaring the insolvency of PMR, the LaRouche organization has decided to launch Internet initiatives.

The author contends that former U.S. President John F. Kennedy's years in office and the decades-long public-relations campaign that followed it have helped wreck the Democratic Party. Kennedy's decision to surround himself with a staff of Harvard men and Cambridge intellectuals, the author opines, was made to supply him with unrelenting public relations build-up. The author adds that the Democrats were no longer the party of the little man and of the underdog.

The author ponders on special-interest legislation in the U.S. He contends that when special interest talk, politicians listen and the rest of the people suffer. He explains the reason behind the majority's approval of policies that hurt the majority. He points out the futility of public relations campaigns.

Reports on a proposal to have an ethics code for investment bankers not unlike the physician's Hippocratic Oath. Idea which comes from the book "Restoring Trust in American Business," complied by a group which includes Felix Rohatyn, Marty Lipton and John Reed among others; Reaction from several investment banks which has been positive to the idea; What the code would cover; Some who believe it is nothing more than a public relations ploy.

Discusses the possibility that the relief effort undertaken by the United States to aid the Indonesian victims of the tsunami will improve the image of America among the world's 1.3 billion Muslims. Resistance of officials in the administration of President George W. Bush to associate the relief effort with a public relations bid; Description of the aid offered by the United States to tsunami victims.

Reports that military leaders have begun holding carefully controlled tours of the Guantanamo Bay camp for reporters and select others as part of a public-relations offensive. Pentagon, which has acknowledged it employed harsh techniques on two Guantanamo Bay prisoners, including hooding them and interrogating them for as long as 20 hours; Recent investigation of detention camps in Iraq and Afghanistan, which turned up 94 instances of soldier misconduct, including 20 deaths, with evidence suggesting tactics were imported from Guantanamo Bay; Softer interrogation tactics, which are being put to effective use on Guantanamo Bay.

Focuses on Nucleus Research, a consulting company in Wellesley, Massachusetts, which attempts to provide technology investors with a rigid numerical analysis of the return on investment (ROI) they could expect from a big purchase. Criticism of the company, which has been accused of extortion; Way that the company questioned the "reference customers" of a number of big technology companies, after which it spread the results in news releases; Report from Nucleus that Siebel Systems Inc. customers were losing money with the software made by Siebel; Efforts of ATG Inc., a software company, to discredit Nucleus before it could be reviewed; Observation that public relations companies such as PAN Communications often tailor their messages to suit clients.

Discusses the role of Vice President Dick Cheney in counseling U.S. President George W. Bush in the war against Iraq. Use of diplomacy by Bush to ask the United Nations Security Council for new resolutions calling for Iraq to peacefully disarm; Plan for invasion of Iraq which is favored by Cheney; Press conference of Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar, which communicated that without U.N. action the military operation would become the only option; Idea that Cheney reinforced doubts of Bush about the effectiveness of diplomacy.

Reports that the U.S. government is ending a TV advertising campaign aimed at winning the support of the world's Muslim and Arab populations. Resistance to the propaganda by a number of allied nations; Development of the ads by Charlotte Beers for Cann-Erickson Worldgroup; Social tolerance which is described in the ads; Decision of the U.S. State Department to emphasize public relations rather than TV and print ads in Muslim countries.

Discusses a lawsuit brought against Nike Inc. by Marc Kasky, who claims that Nike public relations assertions about its employment practices in and worker conditions in its overseas factories are false advertisements. Ruling in this case before several courts; California Supreme Court ruling that Nike's public relations statements are actually commercial speech; Significance of this case; Possibility that it will be reviewed by the United States Supreme Court.

Focuses on public relations problems at United Airlines related to its possible bankruptcy filing. Its efforts to protect the United brand image following the rejection by the United States government of its application for a loan guarantee based on its unsound finances; Details of its advertising strategy to retain customer confidence; Damage control issues; Value of employees in easing customer and public relations.

Discusses the issues on the creation of the U.S. Office of Global Communications that will deal with the image problem of the country.

Presents news briefs on the advertising industry in the U.S. as of March 11, 2002.

Reports on the plan of the United States Department of Defense to create a special office to coordinate the dissemination of information about the country's military operations to foreign news outlets.

Reports on public relations companies and their activity following terrorist attacks on the United States. How many public relations firms have opted to avoid making any pitches to journalists; PAN Communications and their policy to stop all outward operations; Perception that some firms are attempting to profit from tragedy.

Focuses on the public relations efforts that convinced Boeing to move its Seattle, Washington headquarters to Chicago, Illinois. How Chicago overcame its reputation for miserable winter weather; Ploys used by the Chicago Department of Tourism to lure visitors to the city; Example of others who relocated to the city.

Comments on the efforts taken by United States presidential candidate Al Gore in line with his expectations on the Florida Supreme Court's ruling regarding the results of the 2000 presidential elections. Political public relations strategy of Gore; Action taken by Gore's runningmate Senator Joseph Lieberman.

Focuses on the move of the Republican Party, through the campaign of United States presidential candidate George W. Bush, to attract minorities into its fold. Comments from Tom Cole, chief of staff at the Republican National Committee; Proof that Republican's move could also attract young African-Americans; African-American leaders of the party.

Discusses the mistakes on public relations and advertising industry in the United States in 1998. Information on the case of Abercrombie & Fitch; Taxation consequence faced by sports fans.

Comments on the changing technology in public relations. Operations of older versions of fax machines; Description of a press release from filmmaker George Lucas; Developments in press releases; Examples of free press items from companies.

Provides information on Project HomeSafe, a gun-industry public relations campaign in the United States (US), which focuses on firearm safety. Features of the campaign; Implication of the program; Cities in the US which filed lawsuits against the gun industry.

Highlights a public relations plan introduced by the Microsoft Corporation in 1998, designed to generate favorable news articles and information, in some of the states where Microsoft is under investigation for possible antitrust violations in the United States. Why this public relations strategy has embarrassed the company; Description of investigations involving the company; Comments from Microsoft spokesman Greg Shaw.

Focuses on the work of Linda Mysliwy Conlin, director of travel and tourism in New Jersey, with protecting the image of the state. The ridicule directed at the state; Examples of advertisements that have made fun of New Jersey; Background information on Conlin; History of New Jersey's identity problem. INSET: Take New Jersey...please!.

Discusses the United States Olympic Committee's hiring of Andrea Kirby Coaches of Atlanta to provide media training for US Olympic athletes in time for the 1996 Olympic Games. Image-making efforts for athletes.