public relations

America's 10 Most Hated Industries

Americans are not happy with the government. But for the first time in a long while, it is not the most hated industry in the country. That honor now belongs to the oil and gas industry as a result of climbing prices at the pumps and the BP oil spill still fresh in many people%u2019s minds.

How Americans Earn Extra Money on the Side

With unemployment high, wages stagnant and costs rising, a growing number of Americans are working a part time job -- or more than one -- to make ends meet. 24/7 Wall St. dug through the data to see which industries are the best bets for those seeking part-time work -- and some may surprise you.

Is Mark Zuckerberg's $100 Million Gift a PR Stunt?

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's $100 million donation to Newark's public schools has drawn praise, but also questions about its timing: He'll announce the gift on Oprah Friday, the same day as the premiere of a new film that portrays the young billionaire in a negative light.

Five Years After Katrina, New Orleans Tourism Rebounds

Following the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina, the numbers of tourists visiting New Orleans dropped to nothing. The city's $5 billion tourism industry slowly recovered, however, and is now once again approaching pre-Katrina visitor levels.

The Inconvenient Truth About Gore's PR Problem

Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore was a leading voice in the fight against climate change just three years ago. Now, amid accusations of sexual misconduct, he faces an image problem. Is the environment losing a key spokesman?

How Past Environmental Disasters Changed America

Corporate disasters can lead to unprecedented changes in the ways business and government operate. Think Three Mile Island, or the massive 1969 oil spill off Santa Barbara, Calif., which led to Earth Day and the environmental movement.

BP's Hayward: The Wrong CEO for
the Job Now

Before Deepwater Horizon sank, the CEO's often blunt and honest commentary was considered a plus. But now, in the cleanup, his off-the-cuff style is seen as anything but an asset.

Warren Buffett: Not Just a Shrewd Investor, He's Also a PR Genius

Warren Buffett, widely known as an investment genius, is little noted for his PR skills, yet he's a Teflon titan who attracts little whiff of scandal. He managed to run with ethics-challenged Wall Street icons Salomon Bros. and Goldman Sachs, only to emerge ever richer, with his reputation intact.

Toyota Needs to Move Fast to Save Brand

Crisis management experts say the time is now for Toyota to do everything possible to reassure the public that it's fixing the problems -- and that consumers should not lose faith in the carmaker's reputation for quality.

Finder's Fee or Bribe? A Study in Blogger Ethics

Blogging as a form of journalism is new enough that the ethics of it are still being worked out. And blog ethics can be a particularly treacherous area for those who wander into it unawares -- as one New York City publicity executive did last week.