http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/local/article/559793--valeriote-joins-...
"Reached Thursday, the company’s former spokesperson, Michael Daniher, said Toronto communications firm Hill & Knowlton took over media relations for Highland due to the “increasing volume and complexity” of the file."
Background on the Mega Quarry Issue:
http://rabble.ca/news/2011/06/monster-mine-plan-cuts-deep-ontario-farmland
And
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/krystalline-kraus/2011/07/activist-commu...
A little background on Hill and Knowlton:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill_%26_Knowlton
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nayirah_%28testimony%29
And
http://www.crocodyl.org/wiki/hill_amp_knowlton
"The Torturers’ Lobby
In 1992, when The Center for Public Integrity published “The Torturers’ Lobby,” a report on lobbying and PR efforts by repressive regimes, Hill & Knowlton topped the list of earnings at $14m in one year. Its client list of human rights abusing states including Indonesia (responsible for genocide in East Timor and West Papua), China, Kuwait, Israel, Egypt, and Peru. It earned $1.2m from Turkey alone from 1991 to 1992. The contract with China was accepted shortly after the Tianenman Square massacre when China needed to clean up its tarnished image."
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So far, the people against the quarry have had enjoyed pretty decent media coverage in the main stream media, and good coverage in small local papers. I have not noticed any pro quarry articles or columns. I have a feeling this is about to change.
This affords us the opportunity to see how a company like Hill and Knowlton will conduct it's war against opponents, and it will also give us an opportunity to see just what publications, reporters and editors are in their grasp.
I would appreciate help in tracking this. If you see a column, or report, or something on broadcast media supporting the mega quarry bid, please post it here.
Beyond the issue at hand with the quarry, this is a great opportunity to map out how companies like this operate to change public opinion, and just what media publications and personalities are working for this particular company.