The Spin Within

If I say you’re about to learn about a news embargo that was broken 67 years ago you’re likely to head immediately for your second favorite blog (after The Spin Within). But you’d be missing a good story — one I can imagine everybody’s favorite campaign fundraiser George Clooney turning into a Hollywood thriller.

This is a story that has been resurrected in news accounts this month. In the closing hours of World War II in Europe, Germany surrendered to the Allies at a French schoolhouse at nearly 3 o’clock in the morning on May 7, 1945. The first American reporter … Continue Reading

Is it worth $38 to get in with an initial share of Facebook? You might be better off waiting a couple of quarters unless you can handle the volatility of a new tech stock and stomach a potential total loss. The initial price is enticing enough but look what’s happened after IPOs for other popular tech companies in recent months.

According to Hibah Yousuf of CNNMoney, Groupon opened last November at $28 but the stock is currently trading at 40% below that IPO price. Similarly Zynga surged 15% beyond its … Continue Reading

Hold on. Are you saying a pair of shoes won't make you look like this?

Skechers USA has agreed to pay $40 million in refunds after the Federal Trade Commission charged them with deceptively advertising their Shape-up toning shoes.

Shape-ups feature a rounded sole, which Skechers claimed provided faster weight loss and more effective muscle toning/shaping than flat-soled gym shoes.

Brooke Burke and Kim Kardashian were both spokesmodels for the shoes, but one of the more eyebrow-raising endorsements came from a chiropractor, Dr. Steven Gautreau, who conducted an “independent” … Continue Reading

On a recent trip to a popular local pottery shop – the kind of place where everything is made on the premises by hand – I was faced with an unexpected dilemma: Which two of the ceramic birds should I choose as Mother’s Day gifts?

The issue was not bird species or price – they are all the same bird, same price, same size. But the same bird came in three colors, each decorated in three distinct designs. Nine different birds.

I joked with the owner about how lucky we are … Continue Reading

Two big hellos…

We’re pleased to announce the addition of two new talented members to the JZMcBride and Associates team:

Stephanie A. Creech

Beginning Monday, May 14, Stephanie Creech joins us as Manager of Public Relations (yes, we’re replacing Stefanie with a Stephanie). Stephanie will serve as our specialist in media cultivation, media relations, content and social media. A former Cincinnati Enquirer reporter, Stephanie has more than two decades of experience in public relations and marketing. Most recently she held positions as public relations manager for … Continue Reading

Congratulations to Justin Bieber on the dubious achievement of high school graduation! I’ll admit I first thought, “What’s the big deal? So he got his GED equivalent (according to Canadian education standards).” However, in Hollywood gaining an official high school degree is not as commonplace as it may seem.

Check out a few famous names of those who apparently never graduated from high school:

• Julie Andrews
• Christina Applegate
• Lucille Ball
• Brigitte Bardot
• Roseanne Barr
• Drew Barrymore
• Humphrey Bogart
• Marlon Brando
• Charles Bronson
• Piere Brosnan
• Raymond Burr
• Ellen Burstyn
• Neve Campbell
• … Continue Reading

It seems that Spirit Airlines has seen the error of their ways. But it’s not really helping their case.

Laura blogged last week, detailing the colossal PR blunders (yes, that’s plural) Spirit Airlines made in what had to have been, for them, the Longest. Week. Ever. If you missed it, do go back and read it. I promise you’ll be shaking your head as hard as I did.

They are in the news again this week, but fortunately it’s with better news. (Sort of.)

But first, a quick background: Jerry Meekins is 76-year-old veteran who is dying of cancer. He booked a … Continue Reading

A recent Twitter campaign designed to highlight McDonald’s relationships with the farmers that grow its ingredients turned into a public relations nightmare in less than a day, illustrating the chain’s challenges as it works to convince U.S. consumers to view its food differently and how social media has caused brands to lose control of their messaging.

For years, critics and health-conscius consumers have been taking on McDonald’s.  The most famous assault on the company’s reputation was probably Morgan Spurlock’s “Super Size Me,” the 2004 Oscar-nominated documentary that suggested a … Continue Reading

When we think of the fastest-growing merchants in the country, the usual suspects come to mind: Walmart, Target, even Bed, Bath & Beyond.

But it turns out none of these major players are among the 15 fastest-growing retailers over the past five years – that would be through the recession. According to the trade site RetailSails, lululemon, Michael Kors and True Religion are among the leaders in sales growth, all experiencing double-digit gains.

Of course, it is difficult to consistently generate double-digit gains when you are a giant merchant with sales in the double or triple billions, but it’s nice to … Continue Reading

Spirit Airlines defines itself as a company that “empowers customers to save money on air travel by offering ultra low base fares with a range of optional services for a fee, allowing customers the freedom to choose only the extras they value.”

I can’t speak for everyone, but I would imagine that most travelers value the ability to take clothes and personal belongings with them when they travel.

So beginning November 6, passengers will have the optional service of paying for a carry on bag at the boarding gate for a cool $100. Each … Continue Reading