Public relations case studies

Case studies of public relations campaigns and 'spun' events/issues include:

Entries on sustained campaigns should start with a description of the campaign, note the instigating authors thereof, and clearly itemize particular deceptions in the campaign. Single events, use of a single misleading metaphor or the changing of ground of a single argument, usually incidentally mentioned as part of explaining a larger issue, are italicized above. In some cases, like SARS, an initially inappropriate PR response to an event gives way to a more rational one over time. These may or may not be considered cases of propaganda, some may be a simple result of panic, and may not represent a long-term policy choice to deceive the public, but certainly demonstrate the ability of reporting or reputation to alter what news "means", or willingness of media to play along.

• A visit to the ActivistCash.com web site
• Accu-Weather's science for hire
• Alar and apples
• Attempted political campaign humour backfires: Ontario September 2003
• Defending the consumption of farmed salmon
• Philip Morris's role in defeating Clinton's health care proposal
• Decision Earth
• Dispelling the silicosis scandal
• E-voting PR on electronic voting machines; also see Selling electronic voting, E-Voting: Digital Democracy or a Cash Cow for Consultants?, and A Short but Tragic History of E-voting Public Relations
• Fuel efficiency standards and the laws of physics
• Harry and Louise ads defeat health care reform
• Hill & Knowlton goes to the Maldives
• Hustling for the Junta: PR Fights Democracy in Haiti
• Intimidating democracy - the conservative movement's campaign to defund and derail public interest groups
• Mad cow PR campaigns (U.S.)
• Move America Forward - campaign against Fahrenheit 9/11 (movie 2004) run by GOP-linked PR firm Russo Marsh & Rogers
• Nuking the Messengers
• Shell's Neptune strategy for South Africa
• Smoking as a civic duty - die young save money
• Trashing organic foods
• Fake whistleblower memos on media bias in the Iraq war
• The babies-from-incubators hoax and war in the Persian Gulf
• Toppling the statue of Saddam Hussein