The American Assn. of Advertising Agencies has hired GolinHarris for an image campaign as the industry’s “Advertising Week” salute kicks off this week.

The PR effort, according to Advertising Age, is to burnish the industry’s image and “stave off negative headlines.” Good luck.

Unfortunately, there’s a larger problem at play here, and that’s the advertising industry’s realization that its future is in doubt in the wake of technological and media breakthroughs.

Having GolinHarris pitch trend stories and putting on a back slapping event like Advertising Week is not going to change the fact that people are watching less television and agencies are creating mediocre advertising at best. When was the last time an agency created a kick ass advertising campaign?

No, what the advertising industry really needs are smart, sharp people who get it.

Agree, disagree? Email me your thoughts.

Cheers,

Steven

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BusinessWeek readers have spoken and the magazine has published their picks for Best of the Web. No surprise, as this Best of the Web turns out to be nothing more than a popularity contest.

But what I want to know is, how many BusinessWeek readers responded and how did BW tally up the votes? I searched high and low and couldn’t find how many people responded.

If anybody knows, please post them so we can really see whether BusinessWeek’s Best of the Web really is representative of how people feel.

I hate it when publications print “Best Of ” lists and there is no explanation on how they’ve come to their conclusions.

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FYI…

TechConnect, the official newsletter for the PRSA Technology Section, is looking for contributed articles on developing effective public relations campaigns for B2B technology companies. Subjects could focus on topics such as: supplementing your media relations program with direct marketing; technology product naming — finding the right name; or tips for getting a good product lab review. Other ideas are welcome. Exclusive articles not required. Articles should be 700-900 words.

Contact Amy Fisher at afisher at psbpr.com. Deadline is 4:00 PM EST, Friday, September 29, 2006.

Cheers,
Steven

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According to Michelle Malkin, Bilal Hussein, an AP photographer in Iraq assisted terrorists against coalition forces.

Back on April 12, Mr. Hussein was captured by coalition forces in an apartment with insurgents and a cache of weapons.

It wasn’t until this past Sunday, September 17, the Associated Press finally acknowledged that Hussein was being detained.

Whether you’re against the war or for it, it should not take the Associated Press four months to admit one of their journalists got caught with an alleged al Qaeda leader and test positive for bomb-making materials.

Is it not our responsibility as PR professionals to effectively counsel our clients, in this case corporate management, to get bad news out as quickly as possible and go from there? It should not come as surprise, but the media does treat the media differently.

Either way, the Associated Press’s communication department gets devil horns for the way they handled this situation.

Agree, disagree? Feel free to call or email with your comments.

Cheers,
Steven

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Yes, the BlinnPR Report is back.

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