Jump to content

5W Public Relations: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
BozMo, this needs some explanation before easily reverting. There is a lot of talk in the talk page and no one is addressing it. This is NOT the only controversy and NOT the only one worth mentioning
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
{{COI|date=September 2008}}
{{COI|date=July 2008}}


[[Image:5W Logo.JPG|right]]
[[Image:5W Logo.JPG|right]]

Revision as of 09:27, 22 October 2008

File:5W Logo.JPG

5W Public Relations, also known as 5WPR, is an American public relations firm originally founded in 2003 by Ronn Torossian, within a Manhattan-based travel agency with three clients and two employees. Since its establishment, the company's business and staff list has grown, with around 80 employees currently.[1] O'Dwyer's, a PR industry trade publication, reported 2007 billings exceeded US$11.5 million,[2] and ranked the firm first among firms specializing in professional services,[3] and seventh in entertainment and cultural PR.[4] The company was listed on the 2007[5] and 2008[6] Inc lists of fastest growing companies.

Clients

According to Torossian, the firm's corporate, technology and consumer clients (such as Microsoft, VeriSign, and EDS) account for 97 percent of the company's revenue,[7] but the firm also represents entertainers, Jewish groups and politicians. [8] The firm's first clients included rapper and entrepreneur Sean Combs and his Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment company.[9]

Controversies

The company has been involved in several controversial tactics that generated media attention and peer criticism. In 2006 5W was retained by an organization that is advocating for independence for the province of Kosovo[10] from Serbia, while a year earlier, 5W was retained by a group representing Serbian President Boris Tadić[11], to help establish an image as a friendly democracy.


On November 5, 2007, following a controversial article written on the use of spam in the public relations field by Wired Magazine’s editor Chris Anderson in which 5W played a role[12], the NY Times followed up, further talking about the issues between PR firms and the media, also using 5W as a reference.[13]


In July 2008, the blog Failed Messiah discovered 5WPR sockpuppeting in the reader comment, and also impersonating critics of a 5WPR's client, Agriprocessors, a kosher meat processing company that was under federal investigation for worker abuse and hiring illegal immigrants.[14] Comments placed under the names of Hechsher Tzedek founder Rabbi Morris Allen and other Agriprocessors critics to IP address used by a senior vice president and executive responsible for the Agriprocessors account.[15] .[16][17] Over Labor Day Weekend 2008, 5W issued an apology for the incident.[18]

References

  1. ^ Samarjian, Natalie (June 26 2004). "Torossian Taking the PR World by Storm". The Armenian Reporter. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ "PR Firm Rankings - Independent PR Firms". O'Dwyer's PR Report. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ "PR Firm Rankings - Professional Services PR Firms". O'Dwyer's PR Report. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ "PR Firm Rankings - Entertainment/Cultural PR Firms". O'Dwyer's PR Report. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ "No. 153 5W Public Relations". Inc. 2007. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ http://www.inc.com/inc5000/2008/company-profile.html?id=200812370
  7. ^ "The Bad Boy of Buzz and His PR Problem". Businessweek. 2007-11-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Popper, Nathaniel (2008-07-11). "Flacks for Agriprocessors Admit Online Impersonation of Meat Company's Critics". Forward. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Popper, Nathaniel (2004-02-04). "Publicist Scores With Rappers, Right-wing Politicians". The Jewish Daily Forward. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ Blic Online (Serbian Media's English Translation Pages)"In political fight for Kosovo, only lobbying agencies in USA are sure about profit - Yesterday for Serbia, today for independent Kosovo"
  11. ^ News about 5W and Tadic
  12. ^ [ http://www.longtail.com/the_long_tail/2007/10/sorry-pr-people.html Anderson’s Blog]
  13. ^ New York Times, Things Turn Ugly in the 'Hacks vs. Flacks' War, By Andrew Adam Newman, November 5, 2007
  14. ^ Franzman, Dave. "Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Abuse, "Immigration Fees"". KCRG-TV.
  15. ^ Washkuch, Frank (2008-07-11). "5W acknowledges blog misconduct". PRWeek US. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ Harris, Ben. "Agriprocessors' PR Firm Accused of Impersonating Rabbi". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  17. ^ "PR firm faces scrutiny". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 2008-07-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ 9http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffailedmessiah.typepad.com%2Ffailed_messiahcom%2F2008%2F08%2Fbreaking-5wpr-a.html&ei=MGDzSPWDJJaKxAHKk-DHBA&usg=AFQjCNFW_q6dodBsS3ZQ5GSvw2RPe7sopA&sig2=2o6YPtYGNXRY7TaduWfTbQ 5W apologizes]