-Caveat Lector- -----Original Message----- From: International Justice Watch Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Dr Peter Hall Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2001 12:06 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: PR war in the US Public relation firms are working to ensure the 'correct' spin goes out on all news from the MIddle East Since early February, public relations firms Rubenstein Associates and Morris, Carrick & Guma have been working for the Foreign Ministry to enhance Israel's image. They are working for an undisclosed sum on a three-month trial basis, dealing with media placement and monitoring media coverage of events in Israel. "We're assisting them in telling their story throughout the US," said Steven Rubenstein, executive vice president of Rubenstein Associates. Peter Hall ============================================= WAGING THE PR WAR IN AMERICA By Melissa Radler JERUSALEM POST - NEW YORK (March 9) - The Foreign Ministry and American Jews are waging a war for public opinion here, using public relations firms, pollsters, and think tanks instead of guns, tanks, and combat helicopters. Since early February, public relations firms Rubenstein Associates and Morris, Carrick & Guma have been working for the Foreign Ministry to enhance Israel's image. They are working for an undisclosed sum on a three-month trial basis, dealing with media placement and monitoring media coverage of events in Israel. "We're assisting them in telling their story throughout the US," said Steven Rubenstein, executive vice president of Rubenstein Associates. At MCG, which worked on the campaigns of New York Sen. Charles Schumer, Josh Isay offered little more insight into the project. "The Foreign Ministry and the consulates do a tremendous job, and we are just here to help when needed," he said. According to an official at the consulate here, the firms are in close touch with it, sometimes speaking on the phone three or four times a day. "It's a study in progress," he said. "We expect to see the results within the next two to four weeks." Daniel Seaman, acting director for the foreign press at the Government Press Office, said that the money being spent on the firms would be better spent on his understaffed and underfunded office. "Came October, we were completely unqualified" to cope with the media onslaught, he said Seaman, adding that he needs an additional six employees, for a total of 15, to adequately monitor the media and deal with the estimated 1,200-1,400 foreign journalists in Israel. Seaman was appointed acting director in January, three months after his predecessor left. For the past month, he has been on reserve duty, and he noted that the staffer in charge of translations has been called up for a month of reserve duty in April. "If we're given the resources, the money they spend on the companies in the US, if we could give it to people here for better salaries, with more people, I don't see why we can't do as good a job," said Seaman. Consul-General in New York Alon Pinkas is in charge of coordinating the PR efforts in the US. Although he refused to comment for this article, in January he said the Foreign Ministry was looking into "professionalizing our media, communications, and PR efforts, especially because of the last three or four months." He added that he was attending media training lessons twice a week to improve his TV appearances. In 1993, Pinkas, then an adviser to foreign minister Shimon Peres, abolished the foreign PR office after Peres invoked a new policy. "If you have good policy, you do not need PR. And if you have a bad policy, PR will not help," Peres said at the time. Though Pinkas declined to answer questions on the evolution of his stance on PR, an official at the consulate said, "Reality changes and we have to be smart enough to change with the times. We are currently engaged in a conflict with the Palestinians, and engaging in a successful PR campaign is part of winning the conflict." Other PR efforts underway include a proposed think tank, which is to be led by Philadelphia philanthropist Leonard Abramson and includes Birthright backer Michael Steinhardt, World Jewish Congress president Edgar Bronfman, and Tel Aviv University. In addition, ideas of establishing New York-based Jewish radio and TV networks are also being floated. The force behind the idea is Zev Brenner, head of Talkline Communications Network, a Jewish network in the US with 30 hours a week of radio and TV air time. "One of the problems with the media is that, unlike other ethnic communities, the Jewish community does not have a full-time Jewish radio and TV station," said Brenner, who said he is talking to private investors about acquiring additional TV and radio networks. "For other communities, when there's a crisis, there are not only members of the community who tune in, but other media pick up the cue for what's being reported." Also in progress is a national poll, commissioned by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, on the attitudes of Americans toward Israel, the Middle East, and the peace process. The results of the poll, which was conducted by Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates, are being analyzed and are to be released soon. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
