Issue Dynamics

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<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Issue_Dynamics%2C_Inc">http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Issue_Dynamics%2C_Inc</a><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Issue_Dynamics%2C_Inc.">.</a>

Issue Dynamics, Inc. (IDI) is a Washington-based consulting firm that organizes PR campaigns on behalf of clients. A number of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Nongovernmental_organizations" title="Nongovernmental organizations" class="mw-redirect" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">nongovernmental organizations</a> have been partnered with corporations by IDI to advocate in support of causes that the companies support. NGOs that have participated in these arrangements have included the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Gray_Panthers" title="Gray Panthers" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Gray Panthers</a> and the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/New_York_Public_Interest_Research_Group" title="New York Public Interest Research Group" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">New York Public Interest Research Group</a>. IDI characterizes these arrangements as "win-win solutions" that bring together broad coalitions in support of the shared agendas of each of the organizations. However, its work has angered some consumer activists, who say IDI often does not disclose whom it is working for and argue that IDI's work amounts to <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Astroturf" title="Astroturf" style=" text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">astroturf</a> PR.

In April 2005, IDI "launched a formal Blogger Relations Practice and a companion website,<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.bloggerrelations.com/" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">http://www.bloggerrelations.com</a>." The firm's press release stated, "IDI Blogger Relations clients have already included Fortune 50 corporations, national trade associations, advocacy groups and political party committees." The practice includes a "robust blog monitoring service," to provide clients with "actionable intelligence." Other practice offerings include "Blogger Outreach," Blog Building" (a "simple, inexpensive way to build a community for messaging, rapid response & brand protection, fundraising, analysis, and a host of other activities"), "Training" and "Blog Advertising." <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.idi.net/proactive/newsroom/release.vtml?id=20872&PROACTIVE_ID=cecfcfc6cecccdcfc9c5cecfcfcfc5cecec8c8c9cdc9c8c8c9c5cf" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">[1]</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.idi.net/internet/blogger.vtml" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">[2]</a>

Noting IDI's new practice, journalist, author and grassroots journalism advocate <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Dan_Gillmor" title="Dan Gillmor" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Dan Gillmor</a> wrote, "As eWeek<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1759948,00.asp" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">reported</a> in February, a subsidiary of the firm issued a report denouncing municipal wireless installations without making clear that big telecom firms, which vehemently oppose municipal wireless systems, are among the firm's chief funders. (See also Glenn Fleishman's '<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://wifinetnews.com/archives/004780.html" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">sock puppets</a>' piece about this.) ... One of the imperatives in the emerging citizen journalism sphere will be to ferret out and tell readers about these techniques, in a systematic and lasting way." <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://dangillmor.typepad.com/dan_gillmor_on_grassroots/2005/04/blogger_relatio.html" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">[3]</a>

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[<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Issue_Dynamics%2C_Inc.#" class="internal" id="togglelink" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">hide</a>] </div>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Issue_Dynamics%2C_Inc.#Personnel" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">1 Personnel</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Issue_Dynamics%2C_Inc.#Clients" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">2 Clients</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Issue_Dynamics%2C_Inc.#Contact_Information" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">3 Contact Information</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-4" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Issue_Dynamics%2C_Inc.#External_links" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">4 External links</a></li>

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<h2 style=" color: black; background-image: none; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); width: auto; font-size: 19.200000762939453px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Personnel</h2>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">President <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Samuel_A._Simon&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Samuel A. Simon (page does not exist)" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(165, 88, 88); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Samuel A. Simon</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Ken_Deutsch&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Ken Deutsch (page does not exist)" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(165, 88, 88); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Ken Deutsch</a></li>

</ul>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Alliance for Competitive Communications</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Alliance for Consumer Rights</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Alliance for Public Technology</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">America Online</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">American Express</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">American Heart Association</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">American Social Health Association</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">American Strategies</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">American Telemedicine Association</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Ameritech</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Amnesty_International" title="Amnesty International" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Amnesty International</a> USA</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Associated Credit Bureaus</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Association of America's Public Television Stations</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Bank of America</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Bell Atlantic</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/BellSouth" title="BellSouth" class="mw-redirect" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">BellSouth</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Bill Bradley for President</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Blue Cross Blue Shield Association</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Business Coalition for US-China Trade</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">California Teachers Association</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">CDR Associates</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Center for Marine Conservation</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Citizens Educational Foundation</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Clear the Air</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Coalition for Affordable Local and Long Distance Service (CALLS)</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Communications and Policy Technology Network (CAPTN)</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Corning</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Crounse Malchow & Schlackman</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Defenders_of_Wildlife" title="Defenders of Wildlife" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Defenders of Wildlife</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Dontblowit.org</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Edelman" title="Edelman" class="mw-redirect" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Edelman</a> Interactive</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Edison Electric Institute</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Education and Libraries Networks Coalition (EdLiNC)</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Emergency Committee on American Trade (ECAT)</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">endgridlock.org</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Epilepsy_Foundation_of_America&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Epilepsy Foundation of America (page does not exist)" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(165, 88, 88); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Epilepsy Foundation of America</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Fannie Mae</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Fireman's Fund Insurance Co.</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Fleishman-Hillard" title="Fleishman-Hillard" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Fleishman-Hillard</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">George Washington School of Political Management</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">George Washington University - Virginia Campus</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Georgia Early Learning Institute (GELI)</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Greater Washington Board of Trade</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">GreenCar.org</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Gun Free Kids, a project of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Hewlett-Packard_Company" title="Hewlett-Packard Company" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Hewlett-Packard Company</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR)</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Human_Rights_Campaign&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Human Rights Campaign (page does not exist)" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(165, 88, 88); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Human Rights Campaign</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">iAdvance</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Inova Health System</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">International Campaign for Tibet</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">International Food Information Council (IFIC)</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Internet Alliance</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Internet Public Policy Network (IPPN)</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Juno Advocacy Network</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Kelsey-Hayes</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Leadership_Conference_on_Civil_Rights" title="Leadership Conference on Civil Rights" class="mw-redirect" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Leadership Conference on Civil Rights</a> (LCCR)</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/M%26R_Strategic_Services" title="M&R Strategic Services" class="mw-redirect" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">M&R Strategic Services</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Mark Warner 2001</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Metricom</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/NAACP" title="NAACP" class="mw-redirect" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">NAACP</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">National Association of Realtors</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">National Association of the Deaf</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">National Biosolids Partnership</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/The_Campaign_for_Tobacco-Free_Kids" title="The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">National Center for Tobacco Free Kids</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=National_Community_for_Latino_Leadership&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="National Community for Latino Leadership (page does not exist)" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(165, 88, 88); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">National Community for Latino Leadership</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">National Consulting Strategies</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/National_Council_of_La_Raza" title="National Council of La Raza" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">National Council of La Raza</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=National_Environmental_Trust&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="National Environmental Trust (page does not exist)" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(165, 88, 88); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">National Environmental Trust</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">National Latino Telecommunications Task Force</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/New_Millennium_Research_Council" title="New Millennium Research Council" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">New Millennium Research Council</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">New York State Democratic Party</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Novartis" title="Novartis" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Novartis</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Open Access</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Optimum Public Relations</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Organizations Concerned About Rural Education</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Ozone Action Corporation</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Pacific Bell</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Pacific Gas & Electric</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Personal Communications Industry Assoc.</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Public_Affairs_Council" title="Public Affairs Council" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Public Affairs Council</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Qualcomm" title="Qualcomm" class="mw-redirect" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Qualcomm</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Qwest</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Repeal the Tax on Talking</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Salestar</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">San Francisco Giants</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">SBC Communications</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Southern Environmental Law Center</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Sprint" title="Sprint" class="mw-redirect" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Sprint</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Techrocks</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Telecommunications Research & Action Center</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Teligent, Inc.</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">The Global Telemedicine Group</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">The Justice Project</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">The NOAH Group</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=The_TransAfrica_Forum&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="The TransAfrica Forum (page does not exist)" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(165, 88, 88); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">The TransAfrica Forum</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">The US Internet Industry Association (USIIA)</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">United States Telecom Association (USTA)</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Verizon</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Verizon Wireless</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Virginia Center for Innovative Technology</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Virginia Secretary of Technology</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Virginia Power</li>

</ul>

Issue Dynamics, Inc.

918 18th Street N.W., 10th Floor

Washington, DC 20006

phone: (202) 263-2900

fax: (202) 263-2960

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">"<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nclnet.org/simonchair.htm" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">Issue Dynamics' Sam Simon Named New Chair of National Consumers League</a>" (news release), National Consumers League, December 17, 2002.</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Christopher Stern, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A14490-2003Jun19?language=printer" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">WorldCom Opponents In Sync</a>," Washington Post, June 19, 2003.</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">"<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/06_02_03_pressrelease.html" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">Gray Panther Ads Targeting WorldCom Funded by IDI</a>," Corporate Crime Reporter, June 2, 2003.</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Fred Goldstein, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ionary.com/ion-astroturf.html" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">ILECs and Their Amazing Astroturf Machine</a>, Ionary.Com, October,. 2004</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">"<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ucctruths.com/" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">United Church of Christ Stooge for the Baby Bells?</a>," UCCTruths.com</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Dan Gillmor, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://dangillmor.typepad.com/dan_gillmor_on_grassroots/2005/04/blogger_relatio.html" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">'Blogger Relations' - or More Spin?</a>," April 26, 2005.</li>

</ul>

</div>

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<li style=" margin: 0.125em 0px; display: inline-block; line-height: 1.25em; border-left-style: none; padding: 0px 0.5em 0px 0.25em; zoom: 1;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Category:Tobaccowiki" title="Category:Tobaccowiki" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Tobaccowiki</a></li>

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==

In April 2005, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Issue_Dynamics" title="Issue Dynamics" class="mw-redirect" style=" text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none;">Issue Dynamics</a>, Inc (IDI) "launched a formal Blogger Relations Practice and a companion website, <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.bloggerrelations.com/" style=" text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none;">http://www.bloggerrelations.com</a>." The firm's press release stated, "IDI Blogger Relations clients have already included Fortune 50 corporations, national trade associations, advocacy groups and political party committees." The practice includes a "robust blog monitoring service," to provide clients with "actionable intelligence." Other practice offerings include "Blogger Outreach," Blog Building" (a "simple, inexpensive way to build a community for messaging, rapid response & brand protection, fundraising, analysis, and a host of other activities"), "Training" and "Blog Advertising." <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.idi.net/proactive/newsroom/release.vtml?id=20872&PROACTIVE_ID=cecfcfc6cecccdcfc9c5cecfcfcfc5cecec8c8c9cdc9c8c8c9c5cf" style=" text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none;">[7]</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.idi.net/internet/blogger.vtml" style=" text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none;">[8]</a>

Noting IDI's new practice, journalist, author and grassroots journalism advocate <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Dan_Gillmor" title="Dan Gillmor" style=" text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none;">Dan Gillmor</a> wrote, "As eWeek <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1759948,00.asp" style=" text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none;">reported</a> in February, a subsidiary of the firm issued a report denouncing municipal wirelessinstallations without making clear that big telecom firms, which vehemently oppose municipal wireless systems, are among the firm's chief funders. (See also Glenn Fleishman's '<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://wifinetnews.com/archives/004780.html" style=" text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none;">sock puppets</a>' piece about this.) ... One of the imperatives in the emerging citizen journalism sphere will be to ferret out and tell readers about these techniques, in a systematic and lasting way." <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://dangillmor.typepad.com/dan_gillmor_on_grassroots/2005/04/blogger_relatio.html" style=" text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none;">[9]</a>

...With its innocent-sounding name and barely concealed pro-industry agenda, the Location Privacy Association is a classic example of an "Astroturf" group, Beltway slang for pseudo-grassroots organizations. Though telecom issues have yet to generate much public debate, companies are sponsoring a variety of groups to suggest that Americans are clamoring for deregulation. One of the most visible is the Alliance for Public Technology, whose board members are frequently quoted in the media as crusaders for the public interest, especially for rural and minority consumers. According to the group's 1989 application for nonprofit status, its mission is to "educate the general public about new technology" and "bridge the gap between technology providers and special-need consumers."

Other filings, however, reveal that the alliance operates out of the offices of Issue Dynamics, a consulting firm often hired by the Bells; in 1999, the group paid Issue Dynamics $140,000 in "management fees." On its Web site the alliance lists four corporate sponsors -- AOL Time Warner, BellSouth, SBC, and the U.S. Telecom Association -- and it regularly provides press statements and congressional testimony in support of its backers' goals. When a broadband deregulation bill co-sponsored by Rep. W.J. "Billy" Tauzin (R-La.) and Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) came under fire from consumer advocates, alliance representative Don Vial emerged to praise the measure before the House Commerce Committee: "There can never be enough broadband to serve the increasing needs of our technology-driven economy and society."

To mobilize, or at least imply, real public support, corporations have used massive ad campaigns, often targeted at the Washington media market. The Tauzin-Dingell bill, for example, has spurred a flood of commercials from Keep America Connected, a Bell-funded group that says it represents "older Americans, people with disabilities, rural and inner-city residents, people of color, low-income citizens, labor and local telephone companies." The organization lists a bevy of affiliates, including the American Beekeeping Federation, the Delta Waterfowl Foundation -- and the Alliance for Public Technology. Another Bell lobbying group, Connect usa, has been saturating the D.C. airwaves with ads assuring viewers that Tauzin-Dingell "guarantees high-speed access to inner cities and small towns, making sure that no one is left behind."

As the broadband controversy shows, corporations aren't shy about asking Congress to get involved in FCC matters. Big Media's influence on Capitol Hill is legendary -- the National Association of Broadcasters once moved Newt Gingrich to declare, "The practical fact is, nobody's going to take on the broadcasters." Along with the standard millions in campaign spoils, the communications industry offers some of Washington's most enticing perks, including events that a House telecom aide who has attended one of them describes as "professional bribery sessions.... You go down to Palm Springs where [an industry group] is having a convention, or SBC takes you to the Gulf of Mexico. They wine and dine you. It's ridiculous. Everyone goes."

Issue Dynamics

Attachments