| Whistleblower legislation being readied
At least two lawmakers are working on a drafts for the next legislative session to address the state's protection of its whistleblowers.Rep. Tracy Potter, D-Bismarck, submitted a draft of a bill to the Legislative Council in an effort to better define the winding path a state employee must go down when reporting perceived violations in the workplace.Rep. Pam Gulleson, D-Rutland, also is drafting a bill that "ensures the law is meaningful in terms of providing protection ..."Currently, a state employee is ensured protection under the North Dakota Century Code, chapter 34-11.1, the public employees relations act; the act says an employee may report, without fear of reprisal, in writing to the employee's respective agency head, a state's attorney, the attorney general or an employee organization a job-related violation or misuse of public resources.For doing so, an employer should not retaliate against an employee.But the law seems to provide little by way of protection, perhaps only leaving an employee who may have been a victim of retaliation to follow up with a civil suit or to wait to see if the complaint of retaliation will be investigated and prosecuted.Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem and Burleigh County State's Attorney Richard Riha have cited conflicts of interest with at least one agency that's seen the most recent eruption of whistleblower requests - Workforce Safety and Insurance.Five employees have filed for whistleblower protection from WSI, the state's workers' compensation agency, citing concerns of retaliation for reporting a myriad of issues.One, Jim Long, chief of support services, was put on paid administrative leave shortly after sending a 30-page document, which outlined perceived violations, including open meetings circumvention and disclosure of confidential information, among others, to the North Dakota Highway Patrol.Another whistleblower, Todd Flanagan in the special investigations unit, was fired in early December.Shortly thereafter, Stenehjem requested a highway patrol investigation into whether there was evidence of retaliation; that investigation, along with Long's 30-page document, was given to Grand Forks' State's Attorney Peter Welte.Welte, who was at the North Dakota State's Attorneys Association conference in Mandan this week, said his office has just begun reviewing the investigation."We haven't had time to completely review it, but we're in the process of doing that,"he said.Afurther section of North Dakota employment law, NDCC 34-01-20, provides only for private employees, ultimately allowing for civil action or mediation by the Department of Labor; however, the Department of Labor has no authority to investigate or enforce a complaint, only to act as a mediator between the company and the employee, said Lisa Fair McEvers, commissioner of the Department of Labor.The department does, however, investigate retaliation in relation to other complaints, but not for whistleblowers, she said.The two bills would seek to change the Department of Labor's role.Potter's bill would actually require the employee report the initial violation to the state auditor's office, which would be given the authority to investigate the claim.
Dukas Public Relations Expands Technology Practice 60 Percent With Six ...
NEW YORK, Jan. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Dukas Public Relations (DPR) announced today that it expanded its technology practice by more than 60 percent in the fourth quarter 2007 after being retained by six innovative technology companies including Auctionblip, buy at, Inc., Sepaton and Zeta Interactive, among others. "The DPR tech team's explosive growth is a testament to our strong commitment towards providing superior client service and consistent media results," said Todd Barrish, senior vice president and head of the agency's technology practice. "We have a dedicated team with passion for our work. We make it our business to become an integral part of our clients' organizations, thereby helping them to achieve their goals and objectives. It's this dedication that allows for continued success and growth, both for our clients and for DPR itself." Auctionblip, a Web site "created by collectors for collectors," is an international auction network delivering personalized auction information to collectors on a limitless variety of collectibles from elite auction houses.
The Sears Wish Book Catalog Inspires its Holiday Marketing Campaign
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Millions of Americans remember the Sears Wish Book catalog with excitement -- and the hours they spent poring over each page, circling the gifts they wanted both to give and to receive during the holidays. Now, this year's return of the historic catalog has inspired Sears' new holiday marketing campaign, which launched November 4. Led by the tagline "Don't just give a gift, grant a wish," the integrated marketing campaign features an expanded, more diversified, multicultural media mix, including national television and radio spots, magazine insertions for jewelry and tools, and increased online media, plus new sears.com functionality, Wishing Hours sales promotions and sweepstakes, direct mail, circular, public relations and, of course, catalogs.
Is your TV old? If so, and you love free TV through antenna, take ...
There are 392 days of conventional analog TV broadcasting left. On Feb. 17, 2009, all TV is going digital. That means people who use analog sets with antennas have 392 days to find an alternative way of receiving the digital signals. The countdown clock has been ticking since 1996, when Congress passed a law requiring the conversion from analog to digital broadcasting, said Rosemary Kimball, director of media relations with the Federal Communications Commission. "The analog spectrum is being reclaimed and will be given over to public safety uses like fire, police and ambulance service," she said. "Digital is a much more efficient use of the spectrum, and it offers a better picture quality. It also allows the opportunity for multicasting. Each station can offer several channels of programming at the same time." Longview-Kilgore Cable TV already is receiving and transmitting digital signals, said Chuck Launius, regional vice president of the company.
Faked wildfires briefing costs US official his job
A US administration official has been left without a job after a fake press conference staged in response to the California wildfires. John Philbin, who was chief of public relations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), held a televised news briefing last Tuesday at which questions were posed by junior agency staff, rather than journalists. He had been due to take over as media chief for the US's top intelligence official yesterday, but he has lost his new job before even taking office, the New York Times reported. Reporters had been invited to the Fema press conference, but they were given just 15 minutes' notice and could only access the meeting by a telephone line, which allowed them to listen in but not ask questions. .
'Mormon' term often misused
It seems like just when the mainstream LDS Church gets some accurate media attention, another "Mormon" story blasts onto the scene, spawning a flurry of sound bites that often confuse those who live outside Utah. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for years has waged a vigorous public relations battle to gets its message across with award-winning TV commercials and well-received interviews of President Gordon B. Hinckley by such television personalities as Mike Wallace, Tom Brokaw and Larry King. Then comes something like this week's arrest of Warren Jeffs, the leader of a secretive polygamist sect that in no way is connected to the LDS Church but considers itself the true standard bearer for the beliefs set forth by LDS Church founder Joseph Smith. Jeffs, who has been on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list, faces criminal charges in Utah and Arizona that center largely around his alleged insistence on presiding over "marriages" between underage girls and older men who practice polygamy.
MWW Group Promotes Tom Biro Vice President of Digital Media
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- MWW Group (www.mww.com), one of the nation's top ten public relations firms, today announced the promotion of Tom Biro to vice president of Digital Media. Biro has more than 10 years of experience in creating innovative social and digital media programs for clients across many industries. In this role, Tom will expand his leadership role as head of MWW Group's DialogueMedia team and continue to guide clients on the newest and most effective ways to reach their audiences on via the Internet. Since joining MWW Group in August 2005, Biro helped create the top digital media practice in the public relations industry. Creating breakthrough programs and innovative use of technology, Biro has advised clients on many strategies and tactics, ranging from search engine optimization and weblogs to wikis, social networks, online gaming and podcasts.
Rita Sharma: England's richest Asian woman entrepreneur
Rita Sharma should be a public relations delight. She scripts like the perfect heroine of any number of minority success stories. She's just 47, the richest woman Asian entrepreneur in Britain, a successful mother and CEO, the college dropout who built up her business from the classic garage.
To a level that now puts her worth, according to the Asian rich list, at an estimated GBP 100 mn - around Rs 820 cr last year. Besides, she can give any ramp model a run for her photo shoots. But Britain's richest Asian woman entrepreneur is elusive. Like most successful women, she'd rather be taken seriously for her work than as a poster girl for any cause.
Described as one of the richest women in London in a rare interview with Telegraph, UK, Rita's stayed out of media buzz, and isn't one of the usual suspects who march in the pravasi success parade.
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