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Brown Lloyd James

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Brown Lloyd James (BLJ) is a global public relations firm with offices in New York, Washington DC, London, and Doha, and strategic hubs in Ho Chi Minh City, Rome, Frankfurt, Paris, Moscow, and Madrid.[1]

History and main clients

Founded in 1997, BLJ has represented a number of high-profile, international clients, including Qatar's successful bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Bashar Assad and the Syrian government, the government of Libya under Muammar Gaddafi, Ecuador, the Kingdom of Morocco,the Qatar Foundation, the Ministry of Interior in Iraq, the People's Mujahedin of Iran, which has been classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department [2] and others. [3] [4] [5]

Public relations campaigns &reputation

The firm has been extensively condemned for their work supporting dictators - The head of the Public Relations Society of America called the work for Syria and Libya “distinctly against the ethical tenets of modern public relations.” [6]

According to records filed with the Department of Justice, their work has included work for the Assad family in Syria, and work to help Colonel Muammar Qaddafi clean up his international image. In England, BLJ promoted Qaddafi as "a fascinating contemporary world figure" and arranged for him to give a video address at the London School of Economics. http://www.motherjones.com/rights-stuff/2011/09/human-rights-logo-libya-brown-lloyd-james

In 2006, BLJ coordinated the launch of Al Jazeera English in the United States.[7] The campaign included a popular segment on Comedy Central's The Daily Show.[8]

The Washington Post stated they are the PR firm for those "Wondering how to spin those crackdowns on free speech or your propensity for jailing your critics?" [9]

Criticism

The firm has been criticized for representing controversial clients such as Asma al-Assad,[10] Muammar Gaddafi[11] and the People's Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK/MKO).[12]

In 2011, it was criticised for organising public relations campaigns for the Syrian government.[12][11][13][14] In July 2012, Ynetnews described BLJ's May 2011 email released by WikiLeaks as one of the Syria Files by stating that the email[15][16] gave advice "on how to create the appearance it is pursuing reform while repressing the uprising".[17] BLJ responded that the document was not paid for, was a "'last-ditch' effort 'to encourage a peaceful outcome rather than violence', which the regime subsequently ignored[18] and that it was sent to Asma al-Assad, the wife of President Bashar al-Assad.[17]

References

  1. ^ About BLJ, company webpage.
  2. ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/25/syria-leaks-al-arabiya-assad_n_1701352.html
  3. ^ http://www.sfgate.com/business/prweb/article/Syrian-Expatriates-Organization-Decries-the-3692869.php
  4. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/post/ecuadors-embassy-hires-pr-firm/2012/07/19/gJQAV3fXwW_blog.html
  5. ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/25/syria-leaks-al-arabiya-assad_n_1701352.html
  6. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/post/ecuadors-embassy-hires-pr-firm/2012/07/19/gJQAV3fXwW_blog.html
  7. ^ "Al Jazeera International appoints Brown Lloyd James global AOR". PR Week.
  8. ^ "Al Jazeera's Brilliant PR Move: Submitting To The Will Of "The Daily Show"". The Huffington Post.
  9. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/post/ecuadors-embassy-hires-pr-firm/2012/07/19/gJQAV3fXwW_blog.html
  10. ^ "Joan Juliet Buck: Mrs. Assad Duped Me". The Daily Beast. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  11. ^ a b Gilson, Dave, "A New Human Rights Logo, Brought to You By Qaddafi's PR Firm", Mother Jones, September 9, 2011.
  12. ^ a b Suebsaeng, Asawin, "Brown Lloyd James: Lobbying for Backers of a Terrorist Group", Mother Jones, October 3, 2011.
  13. ^ Bogardus, Kevin, "PR firm worked with Syria on controversial photo shoot", The Hill, 08/03/11.
  14. ^ Carter, Bill and Amy Chozick, "Syria’s Assads Turned to West for Glossy P.R.", The New York Times, June 10, 2012. "In March 2011, just as Mr. Assad and his security forces initiated a brutal crackdown on political opponents that has led to the death of an estimated 10,000 Syrians, Vogue magazine ran a flattering profile of the first lady. ... The [Assad] family paid ... [BLJ] $5,000 a month to act as a liaison between Vogue and the first lady, according to the firm." Retrieved 2011-06-11.
  15. ^ "Political Communications". WikiLeaks. 2011-05-19. Archived from the original on 2012-07-07. Retrieved 2012-07-07. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ Brown Lloyd James (2011-05-19). "RE: Crisis Communications Analysis". WikiLeaks. Archived from the original on 2012-07-07. Retrieved 2012-07-07. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ a b Haas, Sa'ar (2012-07-07). "WikiLeaks: Western firm advised Assad on media spin". Ynetnews. Archived from the original on 2012-07-07. Retrieved 2012-07-07. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ Rogin, Josh (2012-07-06). "Wikileaked: Lobbying firm tried to help Syrian regime polish image as violence raged". Archived from the original on 2012-07-07. Retrieved 2012-07-07. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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