The Herald Group
The Herald Group, LLC, a "public affairs, strategic communications and advocacy consulting firm founded in September 2005 and located in Washington, D.C., was founded by Taylor Gross, the former White House spokesman, who coordinated Republican media coverage during the 2000 presidential election ballot recount in Florida; Matt Well, a Republican activist in the 2002 campaign and who was previously Director of Public Affairs with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; and Doug McGinn, a former congressional adviser and former Assistant Vice President for Dittus Communications.
Contents
Philosophy
According to its corporate website, the firm views public affairs as "an integrated communications process that conditions the environment for business, legislative and political success." [1] It assists in the required "shaping of perceptions held among key political decision makers, business leaders and the public on a variety issues" and leverages its "network of relationships among today’s key decision makers and the media" on behalf of clients." [2]
The firm counsels that it is "imperative to positively influence potential legislative and regulatory outcomes." To do this a company must:
- define the issue
- recruit critical allies
- reach the right people
- communicate the most effective message.
It uses the "tools and tactics of a modern campaign." It specializes in "making complex issues understandable and politically potent." [3]
Personnel
Projects
- Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund [4] re Hurricane Katrina
Collateral network
The firm maintains a network of "legislative, grassroots and grasstops professionals based in virtually every state." [5]
It also uses a creative team and strategic partners to produce materials for target audiences. [6]
General experience
The principals state that they have developed and implemented:
- programs for Fortune 500 companies
- industry associations
- coalitions
- issue advocacy groups
- political candidates
- elected officials
Issues
The principals of the firm state that they have been involved in the following issues: [7]
- campaign management/political affairs
- corporate governance/responsibility
- energy
- financial services
- healthcare
- homeland security/defense
- intellectual property
- technology
- telecommunications
- tort reform
- trade
- transportation
Services
Public affairs and issues management
- strategic planning
- strategic counsel
- campaign strategy
- campaign management
- independent Expenditures
- issue advocacy
- ballot initiatives
- grassroots mobilization
- grasstops mobilization
- coalition development
- strategic alliances
- federal government relations
- state government relations
- public opinion research
- fundraising
- political action committee development
Strategic communications
- public relations planning
- public relations counsel
- media relations
- corporate communications
- crisis management
- perception management
- litigation communications
- shareholder campaigns
- proxy contests
- corporate citizenship program development
- editorial services
- speechwriting
- media monitoring
- media analysis
Creative services
- media production
- media planning
- media placement
- direct mail campaigns
- phone campaigns
- web development
- internet strategies
- advertising
- collateral design and production
Clients
Contact details
The Herald Group
1331 H Street, N.W.
Suite 701
Washington, D.C. 20005
Phone (202) 347-7947
Web: http://www.theheraldgroup.com/home.htm
Initial Version: Herald Group, LLC
The information for the initial version of this article was adapted from an article at Wikipedia under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Herald Group," as of March 1, 2006, whose sole author at that time was Beth Wellington.
Information on the company is from the The Herald Group, LLC Corporate Website (accessed March 1, 2006) [8];[9];[10]; [11]; and [12].
Related SourceWatch Resources
External links
- Judy Sarasohn, "PR Group to Strive for a 'Campaign Mentality'," Washington Post, September 29, 2005. (Scroll down to title line.)
- "Secret Wal-Mart Memo Exposes Wal-Mart Front Group," WakeUpWalMart.com, 2005.
- Lynda Edwards, "Wal-Mart chipping in for advocate," Arkansas Democrat Gazette, December 22, 2005.
- Michelle Pilecki, "Wal-Mart Astroturf Campaign Employs Former Bush 'Attack Dogs'," The Huffington Post, December 23, 2005.
- Jerry Zremski, Former vets with GOP ties boost war effort in blogs, Buffalo News, June 25, 2006.
- John Stauber, "Pro-War 'Vets for Freedom' Tied to Bush's PR Team", Center for Media and Democracy, June 25, 2006.
- John Stauber, "Kill The Messenger? Pro-War Advocates Should Blame Themselves for the Mess in Iraq," Center for Media and Democracy, July 11, 2006.
