Hamilton,

While everyone is entitled to an opinion, I must say that I strongly disagree with yours and the cowardly anonymous individuals that weighed-in about Irena Briganti in your post today.

Since I am a colleague of Irena’s and you have asked for input about her, I am happy to oblige. However, since you were obviously just looking to write a hate filled hit-piece, I am sure that you will not want to print my experiences working with her as they don’t fit your agenda. Your piece is the ultimate hatchet job and while you and others wrongfully accuse Irena of doing this, you are the only one spewing “vengeful” bias.

Here are some of my insights and observations about your piece:

* I have worked in Brian Lewis’ department for over two years as the VP of Media Relations for FOX Television Stations and have yet to see this “queen of mean persona” that you so gleefully throw around. The Irena Briganti that I know is funny, hard-working and always willing to help out a colleague-no matter how busy she is.

* The comments that you made are for no one’s benefit but your own to make yourself feel better that you were not able to write your smear profile of Irena when you were at PR Week. The fact that a reporter tipped her off doesn’t show what you have labeled as “being bullied” but rather a reporter having a good relationship with an excellent PR pro. Since you worked at PR Week, I would assume that you should know that in the media relations arena, relationships are all about give and take.

* The quotes that you selected as Irena’s “all time hits” are actually brilliant fair responses to attacks made by competing networks on FOX News and its talent. Do you understand that it is the job of good PR practitioner to defend their organizations and clients in the media? Obviously not, as you expect PR people to take unfair shots “in stride.” That would make it very easy for you to do your type of reporting, wouldn’t it?

* Your quote “Some PR people have decided not to apply for jobs at Fox—jobs they could use—solely because of Briganti's bad reputation” is news to me seeing that we receive stacks of resumes and phone calls from people clamoring to work in this department. Alas, many are turned away as they have been bullied by “reporters” like you to believe that a good PR person does not take an aggressive stance. I will be happy to send their resumes your way.

* In addition, in the October 22nd 2007 issue of PR Week, you wrote a piece about FOX Business and quoted Brian Lewis and Irena about the strategies around the network’s launch [Ed. note: that piece is behind an online pay wall, but some further quotes from the interview can be found here]. If you were so concerned with how they conduct their business with the media, why were those concerns not raised when you had them both on the phone? Is it because then you couldn’t use shadowy bias statements?

Finally, at the end of the day Hamilton , I am proud to work for a PR department that has the guts to stand up to shoddy reporting and lazy journalism. When you are good at something, there will always be those who will want to tear you down and take shots. I eagerly await your response.

Sincerely,

Erica Keane

Vice President, Media Relations

FOX Television Stations

Hamilton,

Saw your piece on Gawker. Thanks for the coverage. I wanted to reach out to you to clarify some things that may have not been clear in the WSJ piece. First, I think the term corporate control is a misnomer, given that in no case have any of these marketing partners had any influence whatsoever on the songs Greg is creating and releasing. These marketing partners, in whatever sense they're involved, are promoting existing songs, not tracks in anyway created with them in mind. Also, it is worth noting that neither Greg nor the label were paid to participate in any of these promotions, excepting the obvious case of Whole Foods purchasing CDs to sell in their locations.

As for Greg's indie cred, I've never been entirely sure what that means exactly, but for what its worth he made the entire new record in a garage, in 3 weeks, on a shoestring budget, and with a collection of pawnshop guitars, banjos, and noisemakers that would probably set you back $500 combined. What's more, Greg has been a huge supporter of independent record stores, and indie retail of Greg. He's performed instore events at indie stores across the country (Easy Street in Seattle, Fingerprints in Long Beach, Plan 9 in Richmond, CD World in Eugene to name a few), and we pressed a free bonus EP exclusively available at indie stores for the last record.

And finally, PJ Harvey was featured on the same AMC in-theatre program. Sonic Youth made a complilation for Starbucks. CSS and Feist were in Apple ads. She and Him were featured in an ad on the Urban Outfitters website. Wilco and Spoon are ubiquitous in commercial spots The Mars Volta played a "Nissan Live Set." Of course I'm not speaking for any of those artists or labels, but I will say that in today's climate, the folks at our label are simply trying to make music accessible to people, to get it heard. In short, what good is it if you don't know its there?

Best,

Stephen T. Brower

[Pic via Graffiti.org]

Wake up at Gansevoort breakfast includes water, cereal and fresh fruit. Simply perfect. Everyone that served had something that I call sunshine...a nice smile. Lunch at Four Seasons was a small filet and I asked for a small salad but add a ton of shrimp on it. No problem. Perfect lunch and perfect service. For dinner I took my $2500 " date" from Zurich to Papaya King. We brought the food back to the hotel and I watched Marta stick it up her Swiss twat.The only thing Bruni would review would be the hot dog not how Marta prepared it and served it to herself. No this isn't a Playboy or Forum story its my life. ANYWAYS. Enough with dancing mushrooms and asparagus parfaits. I like fine food and great presentation but if you travel all the time meat loaf,potato salad or a good BLT hits the spot. Momofuku can blow me. If I can get an appointment for my daughter to see possibly one of the top brain cancer doctors in the world but I can't get into this noodle joint they should change their name to Momofuku kaka.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

I believe Gawker owe's ACSH a correction with regard to: http://gawker.com/380338/whole-foods-environmentalists-support-cockroach-invasion

Very much like the Harvard School of Public Health, ACSH is funded by a diverse mix of corporations, foundations and individuals.
We have individual donors around the country who believe that the Ralph Nader inspired activist groups do not have a monopoly on
what is in their best interest.

We are very up-front that we accept no strings attached donations from a wide range of corporations. Our scientific advisory board, nearly 400
strong, serve as volunteers. Together with our board of trustees, http://www.acsh.org/about/pageID.7/default.asp
the advisors http://www.acsh.org/about/pageID.89/default.asp we are led by an impressive group of scientists, physicians, and policy advisors. Our reports go through two peer-reviews: internal (advisors)
and outside- where they are published in independent scientific journals. We have a 30 year history of going where the science takes us- even when that science runs counter to the interest
of our funders.

We are concerned that reporters often ask about funding only when some if it may come from industry. Reporters often fail to ask who funds groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council-
and how those funding sources may introduce biases as well (i.e. from a foundation whose stated mission is to remove more chemicals from the market.)

Interestingly, in the cases when we say something "anti-business" — they never ask who funds us :-)

And we are only called "conservative" when we aren't supporting stem cell research, opposing cigarette smoking, and promoting the use of Gardasil.
Thanks
Jeff

Hey guys, Dov is our neighbor and that is indeed his view, but the picture seems kind of old — he has a fence now. We aren't in the Hollywood Hills, we are in Echo Park... a pungent mix of skinny jeans hipsters and old Mexicans and Thai people who hate us.

Other joys of being his neighbor? Endless supply of small boobed, wide
hipped brunettes delivering things; the time he lost his dog HedKayce,
and seeing him on the portable phone with one hand down his pants,
scratching and talking and pacing like a skinny, OCD Burt Reynolds
without the sexy appeal.

Yeah, let that HedKayce thing sink in. It was a chihuahua likely eaten
by our local coyote.

Also, he's not home much.

Dov, please write us at once to defend your dog care skills!

Dear Gawker:

Last night I, and another senior manager of 5W, sat with Hamilton Nolan, because we wanted to speak with the person who harbored such venom for my firm. To say the recent blogs are mistruths are a huge understatement. It's virtually impossible that there are few, if any, on- the-record sources, and I am now certain that Nolan is harboring a vendetta armed with "unsubstantiated" and "Anonymous" posters comprised of evidently jealous individuals.

First off, it is imperative for everyone to understand the origin of Nolan's animosity. It started in 2004 when he was a reporter at PRWEEK. Hamilton was assigned to cover Ronn Torossian on a story about self promotion with in the PR industry. Nolan then decided it was his right to start contacting 5W clients for comment. That is and was completely unacceptable behavior from an industry trade reporter, and Ronn refused any additional comment. Let me know which PR firm CEO would stand idly by and let a reporter contact clients without permission. This was the origin and now we jump to the present. On an almost hourly basis we read about the monster that is Ronn Torossian and 5W house of horror.

At 5W, we read these posts, all negative of course, and we have tested the source. Yes Hamilton , we have sent numerous posts, responses and few to none ever make it up on the "comment" section. Go figure! At the restaurant last night Hamilton said, I welcome your letter... well here it is.

In the post regarding working at 5W, which all those anonymous people say is so bad, you have nothing but blatant lies.

Per Gawker on March 11... "Among the feedback we've gotten:"

* 5W's turnover may be even higher than Gawker's. Some employees like to refer to "Fired Fridays." The turnover rate at the junior level, especially, is described as "ridiculously high." One former employee says "having a child would have been more pleasant" than her time at 5W.

Turnover is in fact the opposite as posted; with promotions, bonuses and raises bestowed to staff with incredible frequency. In fact, three years in a row, The Holmes Report named 5W one of the best firms in the country to work for. It's interesting with "all" of the supposed criticism there isn't any employee (or former) employee of 5W who has gone on the record. Many staffers, including myself and most of the firm's Sr. Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents have been on board for years.

* Those who sit close to Ronn's office are subjected to overhearing "many rants and arguments."

There is no yelling and screaming at the firm. We don't allow it nor do we tolerate it. Ronn, in fact, assigns management improvement reading to his senior staff. The most recent book distributed was "The No Asshole Rule" which discusses how management must be decent.

* Ronn forced his staff to endure "Q&A sessions" in which he "would simply talk about himself."

I never thought breakfast with CEO for new staffers was a punishment. The fact that once a month Ronn takes new employees to breakfast is trait that should be mimicked and not frowned up. That he introduces himself and offers a history of the firm is expected.

* On business trips, some employees were asked to stay with friends to save the company the cost of a hotel room.

A complete and utter lie! I would never - unless there were absolutely no rooms available in the hotel - ask employees to share rooms. Some staffers have volunteered to stay with family or friends because they might live close by, but they would never be asked to do anything that creates discomfort. I deem it inappropriate.

* Although reporters frequently complain about being driven crazy by PR spam from 5W, the company management's strategy has been articulated as: "bcc the shit out of everyone."

The last remark is directly attributable to me, and it had absolutely no reference to the media... it referenced Ronn and myself, and our request to be copied on emails. This is so that we as managers are able to stay in the loop on all accounts. Furthermore, we constantly discuss the need to be focused and targeted with our media outreach - even to the point of specifically sending staff notes about NOT spamming or mass emailing to media lists.

* 5W does not pay overtime to low-level employees, in violation of labor law; that Ronn has docked employees for a full day's pay, or a vacation day, for being 15 minutes late to work, causing several people to resign; and that employees don't get proper comp time after working 7 days in a row or more.

5W has one hourly employee, everyone else is salaried. We are in full compliance with Federal, State and City labor laws. No one has ever been docked for being 15 minutes late to work, not even an hour. No one has resigned ever due to being docked pay. As for comp time - no one works seven days in a row, and when someone has to work late for a client, they are permitted to come in later or take equal time off.

So let's review the facts... 5W Public Relations has grown from 1 person to 85 people in five years. If Ronn was such a pariah, then he would never have made PR WEEK 40 under 40, Adage 40 under 40, or asked to speak at all the prominent PR industry trade events. Just last week, the firm was named the 21st largest independent PR firm in the U.S. and we maintain incredible media relationships, with the exception of this one blogger!

We at 5W Public Relations secure top-notch media coverage for our clientele on a daily basis. We work with emerging brands to Fortune 100 corporations. We are an INC 500 Company. Our employees are the most important component of the firm and their enthusiasm and work ethic are what drives our success. Yes we work hard and yes we are not the easiest place to work, but if you are invited to join this firm you will certainly grow and prosper.

Sincerely

Adam Handelsman

Executive Vice President, Partner

5W Public Relations