Hass MS&L

Hass MS&L describes itself as "the nation's premier automotive public relations firm" and "Michigan's only comprehensive public relations firm." [1]. Hass MS&L is owned by one of the big four communications conglomerates Publicis Groupe.

History

Hass MS&L "was created in 2002 when MS&L Detroit acquired Hass Associates. The new agency combines a company born and bred of the Internet with one with a long history of excellence in the demanding automotive public relations market."

Driving Bloggers Pro-War Coverage

The internet related division of MS&L, Hass MS&L, has been hired by the Army to provide "exclusive editorial content" to military bloggers as a response to the "mainstream media's" supposed unwillingness to report any of the good news that comes out of Iraq. [2]

"The U.S. Army has hired Manning Selvage & Lee to do outreach to pro-military bloggers," the managing director of Hass MS&L, the firm's Detroit office that focuses on "new media" and the automotive industry, told O'Dwyer's. "The blogs are viewed as a way to distribute 'good news' about Iraq." [3]

At least four bloggers have received an email from Hass MS&L, according to the Washington Post. "The Army believes that military blogs are a valuable medium for reaching out to soldiers," the email explains. "To that end, the Army plans to offer you and selected bloggers exclusive editorial content." Blogger Donald Sensing accepted the offer, saying, "I spent long enough in Army Public Affairs to know when I'm being fed baloney. ... I predict the [Washington] Post and others of the dinosaur media will ... say we are biased, as if they are not. ... I am biased, I freely admit."

The full email from account executive, Charlie Kondeck, to blogger Donald Sensing states:

From: “Charlie Kondek”

Sent: Friday, January 06, 2006 3:17 PM
Subject: Exclusive Contact from the Army
Hi, Donald. I’m writing from a PR firm on behalf of the U.S. Army. We’re contacting a few bloggers to test a new outlet for public information. The Army believes that military blogs are a valuable medium for reaching out to soldiers. To that end, the Army plans to offer you and selected bloggers exclusive editorial content on a few issues you’re likely to be interested in. If you do decide you are interested in receiving this material, whether you choose to write about what we send you is, of course, entirely up to you. (I notice you’ve been on a blog sabbatical for a while so am not sure where you stand there.)

Like I said, we’re only contacting a handful of bloggers at this time. If you are interested, please let me know, and we’ll send you further information as it becomes available. Either way, thanks for your time.

Charlie Kondek
Account Executive
Web Producer

Hass MS&L

David Binkowski from Hass MS&L is scheduled to appear on a panel "How to Create Great Corporate Blogs That Get People Talking" at the Word of Mouth Marketing Association conference in Orlando, Florida, January 20, 2006. [4]

Personnel

• Frank Guglielmi, Managing Director Troy Office
• Kelly Kolhagen, SVP, Deputy Managing Director, Troy Office
• Jud Branam, Managing Director Ann Arbor Office
• Laurie Mayers, Deputy Managing Director Ann Arbor Office

Contact details

Hass MS&L
3310 W. Big Beaver
Suite 300
Troy, MI 48084
Phone: 248-458-8600

Hass MS&L
115 W. Liberty St.
Suite 200
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Phone: 734-214-1550
Web: http://www.hassmsl.com

External links

• Donald Sensing, "US Army gets on the blog train", One Hand Clapping, January 7, 2006.
• "Army Recruits MS&L", O'Dwyers PR Daily, January 10, 2006. (Sub req'd.)
• William M. Arkin, "The Army's Buying PR", Washington Post, January 10, 2006.