• Crisis PR is Not Enough for NYC Congressman 'Vino Vito' Fossella and his 'Love Child'
Thu., May 8 — Kevin McCauley
• Reality Check Needed for Clinton as Michigan, Florida Votes are Not Enough to Win
Wed., May 7 — Kevin McCauley
• Plans for Disneyland-like Park in Baghdad Prove Truth is Stranger than Fiction
Tue., May 6 — Kevin McCauley

• Papa John's Fosters 'Pizza Insanity' and Reaps Rewards in Ohio
Fri., May 9 — Greg Hazley
• Grand Theft is PR, Sales Blockbuster; But Was Reporting Restricted in Exchange for Access?
Thu., May 8 — Greg Hazley
• AOL Grab Would Exorcise Ballmer's Demons from Failed Yahoo Bid
Tue., May 6 — Greg Hazley

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L+F Supports Hit Game Launch
Laforce + Stevens worked the blockbuster launch of Take-Two Interactive’s “Grand Theft Auto IV.”
Fri., May 9

Anthony

NBA Star Taps Firm
For Foundation
Carmelo Anthony, the young and talented NBA forward, has brought in a firm for his charitable foundation a month after a DUI arrest.
Thu., May 8

Buddendeck Motors to Nissan
Senior corporate PR exec at Motorola to take over VP role at Nissan North America.
Wed., May 7

Health Ranking Expands to 89 Firms
Edelman, newcomer WeissComm Partners, Healthstar, Schwartz Communications, Capstrat, French/West/Vaughan and Coyne are among firms showing major growth, based on the O'Dwyer rankings.
Tue., May 6

PR Class Was for Sale, Professors Say
Profs say a PR course featuring Coach handbags was forced on a class in return for $10,000. Paul Werth Assocs., headed by Sandra Harbrecht, APR, sent a 34-page kit and a professor allegedly was ordered not to vary from it. Werth is a member of the Council of PR Firms.
Mon., May 5 [3]

Haas Joins Podesta
Ellen Haas, a leading nutrition expert, has joined Podesta Group in Washington, D.C., to counsel its newly formed food, nutrition and agriculture policy practice.
Fri., May 2

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Net Neutrality Returns to Washington as Top Broadcast
News Issue of 2008
Wrestling for control over the Internet has become a top-tier issue for telecom companies and consumers, if recent rumblings from tech experts, advocacy groups and bills currently making their way through Congress are any indication.

Video’s move online is perhaps the biggest impetus for the struggle. With some experts foreseeing online broadcast capabilities rivaling cable’s within five years, big phone and cable companies have stepped into the ring with consumer advocate groups to secure their stake in the ’Net’s future.

This is the notion of Net Neutrality, which in its broadest terms seeks to keep the Internet an egalitarian playground, available for equal access by everyone. Telecom companies like AT&T, Comcast, Time Warner and Verizon have repeatedly lobbied to kill Neutrality since it first appeared in the House two years ago. Supporters say Neutrality legislation would keep telecom companies from becoming Internet “gatekeepers” over what information is allowed in cyberspace. [full story]

Next Issue: Firms participating in the O'Dwyer rankings will be profiled in May. Contact Jon Gingerich for instructions on submitting your profile. [O'Dwyer's PR Report editorial calendar]