There are a number of fundamental changes impacting our communications community concluded Capitol Communicator sponsors who attended our quarterly forecasting roundtable last week. For agencies, there was a sense that the trend toward project work, rather than on-going retainers, will continue as the pressure to show a return on investment remains unabated

Marketwire has introduced a full-service solution for eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) financial statement preparation and reporting. For companies needing to comply with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's XBRL mandate, this means that clients can take advantage of Marketwire's fully integrated solution for regulatory compliance and combine XBRL with EDGAR filing, news release distribution, and document posting to corporate websites.

Design Army reports that the trend for spring points to mixing eye-catching colors and contrasting textures for a look that's equal parts irreverent and chic. Velvety pastels mix with vibrant pops...soft and smooth mingling with rough and rowdy...this new trend separates the bold from the blah!

White+Partners adds Leigh Mayo to lead the agency’s growing grassroots/ advocacy division as VP/ advocacy marketing ... iStrategyLabs adds six ... TGD Communications adds Neha Gupta Goyal ... and, Mark Stubis has been appointed < Read More »

All-news WTOP radio was the highest ad revenue billing radio station in the country in 2010.  Chantilly-based BIA/Kelsey estimates the station billed over $57 million, while KIIS, a contemporary hit station in LA, was second with $54 million. No other station billed over $50 million in 2010.

Brian Wolak is taking over Baltimore's citybizlist coverage from Richard Rabicoff, who's now managing a broadening regional base for citybizlist.

Wolak, who has more than a decade of experience in financial-industry communications, said that, as managing editor, he’ll provide fast-breaking, exclusive stories on private and public companies; and news of acquisitions, ownerships, entrepreneurships, venture capital, and private equity.

Over the past year, Robyn Sachs, owner of RMR & Associates Inc., has encountered “an astonishing number of business leaders, from both large and small organizations, who are not maximizing their marketing budgets. She has found that many of them are mystified on how to market their businesses successfully with so many marketing channels available.” The bottom line is a new book,

A new reality TV show and movement is coming to Baltimore on Fox 45 on March 26 at 1 p.m., starring seven local entrepreneurs who, we are told, have hearts of gold. According to a release, the seven head up a MOB (Mentors of Baltimore) of ordinary citizens who will transform the city through acts of kindness and charity. The Good Fellas of Baltimore TV show’s tag line is: “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.”

An ad produced by MDB Communications for the DC Lottery was the subject of a front-page story in the Style section of Wednesday’s Washington Post. The story, titled “Eww … it’s a Lottery Ad” focused on one of the ads in the recently released campaign. The story focused on an ad that showed a sharply dressed young woman who steps “into that most feared of urban sidewalk hazards: doggie doo.”

Maryland has three “nationally significant commemorations” coming up and the state’s Department of Business and Economic Development has issued an RFP to find a small business specializing in travel and consumer lifestyle accounts that will help get the word out.

Two principals of Boston-based Brodeur Partners, Andy Coville and John Brodeur, have bought back a majority stake in the firm from Omnicom Group, which acquired the PR agency in 1993. Omnicom continues to hold an equity position in the company.

The Washington Times introduced an expanded edition Monday that, it said, restores coverage in sports, local news and the arts in a new design that showcases the newspaper’s signature content, photography and commentary. “We have learned a great deal in our history of nearly 30 years as a news organization. The Washington Times will stay a reliable voice in Washington. Through the newspaper and further through our multimedia, we’ll help readers

Everyone is familiar with the term "intervention." In an interesting creative leap, the DC Lottery has a new twist on the term; one that will infuse fun. If people are having a bad day, they want them to give themselves a "lottery intervention" to help make their day brighter.

Oakton-based Leapfrog Solutions has led a joint venture, including Ogilvy PR's DC office, that won a contract to promote the use of government-sponsored flood insurance, reports the Washington Business Journal. The joint venture also includes Greenbelt-based Blue Water Media.

Larry Parnell opens his own shop after spending the past few years building up the PR masters program at George Washington University, reports O’Dwyers, but will continue as associate professor at GWU .... David A. Payne has been named senior vice president and chief digital officer of McLean-based Gannett ... Dave Ray has joined North Bridge Communications as managing director.

The DC Ad Club presented its 2011 ADDY® Awards, recognizing advertising creative excellence, Tuesday evening at the Almas Temple in DC. This annual reception and awards presentation was attended by over 350 area advertising and media professionals. The theme of the evening’s celebration was the Festival of St. Bernardine, the patron saint of advertising and public relations. The awards show kicked off with Read More »

What are the tools you can't to ignore now? What tools should you not worry about? What developments in digital marketing are on the horizon that you need to be mindful of? What's the next big thing that could be a game changer? You’ll get the answers April 6, at 3 p.m., during this r2integrated webcast.

The Technology Marketing Alliance, billed as the definitive invitation-only forum for the top B2B and B2G technology marketers in the D.C. area, announced a new board of advisors for 2011-2012. The TMA board volunteers its time to the community of senior-level technology marketers, and contributes valuable insight into speaker selection, membership development and promotion.

The Washington Post unveiled a new website design which, according to a release, is intended to "further reader engagement and discussion around Post journalism and showcase more multimedia content. A major part of the new design is an enhanced comments system that ensures that thoughtful, on-topic comments around Post reporting receive special prominence—allowing readers and Post writers to easily view and participate in more meaningful conversations."

Times are tough for charitable nonprofits, but the Public Relations Society of America’s National Capital Chapter (PRSA-NCC) did its part to ease the burden by sharing public relations strategies, tactics and tools to a capacity crowd of more than 100 metro D.C. nonprofit leaders, representing 80 small and mid-sized charities, who participated in PR Day for Charitable Nonprofits.

DC-based LivingSocial, which is billed as the online source for people to find handpicked experiences at a great value, acquired Reston-based InfoEther, Inc. LivingSocial said that pairing its tech team with InfoEther's expertise “enhances LivingSocial's ability to innovate more effectively as a whole, strengthening the company's continued aggressive market expansion and realm of products.”

Design Army recently got a summons for jury duty - and it was the ultimate industry honor. Design Army’s creative director, Pum Lefebure, was asked to judge one of the most prestigious design shows in the world: The One Show in New York City. As the show profoundly displayed, design is no longer a luxury, it’s a lifeline. It’s not a decoration, it’s a declaration. When done right,

Since its first show in 2008, “Midday with Dan Rodricks” has received numerous accolades, earned prestigious awards and increased its audience. Now, the news and public affairs talk show on WYPR, Baltimore’s NPR station, expands to five-days-a-week - including a two-hour show every Friday beginning March 18 with a weekly news review and rotation of second-hour programs.

John Seng, founder and president of the healthcare public relations firm Spectrum, will be honored with the Art of Reporting Award during the upcoming Genetic Alliance 25th Anniversary Annual Conference.

Sports PR legend Charlie Brotman pitched us with a story that he’s looking for fellow communicators to team up with him on season’s tickets for the Washington Nationals. Brotman told us he has two of the best box seats at Nationals Park for the 2011 baseball season – seats Brotman has held since 2005. The seats are located on the lower level, a few rows directly behind the Nationals dugout – they are in Section 129, seats 9 & 10.

Philadelphia's "With Love, Philadelphia XOXO®" campaign has taken over the advertising in D.C.'s Union Station with a campaign designed to reach the 350,000 people expected to pass through the station this month. Last summer, Philadelphia was the first advertiser to dominate Union Station.

Ted Leonsis and his SnagFilms production/distribution enterprise has partnered with D.C.’s Office of Motion Picture and Television Development to promote local filmmaker talent, and give worldwide exposure to at least two locally produced films, reports the Washington Business Journal.

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Washington, DC, is different; “you just have to look at the side of a bus to see that”, the Wall Street Journal reported. 

The story by Thomas Catan, "To Understand Washington Ads, You've Got to Be a Code Breaker," stated:

Gibraltar Associates has acquired TheWadeGroup, Inc. (TWG), a D.C.-based communications firm. According to a release, the acquisition“ builds on GA's strategic vision by immediately increasing the firm’s top line while also bolstering its public affairs capabilities with senior talent that will serve as a key driver of future growth.”

MGH added two advertising and marketing accounts: Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) and Bozzuto Homes, a D.C. area-based homebuilder. Warschawski has been selected by TATE Global, LLC, to create a new logo, website and marketing brochure to launch the risk mitigation services company.