THE BILL GATESâ⢠brand is being embellished further. The more it's worth, the more lobbying power it has. According to this new report from PR Week, it's not enough for Gates to just have numerous external PR agencies working on his image full time. He wants more, he wants everything. This latest report suggests that another PR firm will use its "global reach" to indoctrinate the world and tell each citizen of Earth that the world's richest person is also most lovable (never mind his crimes that gave him money in the first place).
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation expanded its work with Weber Shandwick, awarding the firm its global communications business after a competitive bid.
The firm began work on the account June 1. Melissa Milburn, deputy director of media relations for the foundation, said by e-mail that Weber Shandwick was selected because of the firm's "global reach."
“It's about brand power and it also helps Microsoft, based on a recent survey of public opinion.”Journalists need to be given only the opportunity to tell one side of this story, based on Gates' vision. He sincerely believes he's doing the right thing. Our previous post showed similar practices being used to sell Office 2010; in this case, the product is Bill Gates and the investment portfolio he is boasting.
Further to last week's example from Nigeria we have this PR piece which neglects to mentioned Gates' investments that increase polio too. That's what we call one-sided coverage. They repeat what Gates' PR agencies tell them and never reach out for all the facts. Charm pieces are being spread in many languages, which breeds consent among the population with limited access to information.
It is not news that the Gates Foundation insists on secrecy (except the PR facet). A survey has just found that the Gates Foundation has "overwhelmingly negative" feedback from the respondents.
A survey of more than 1,500 organizations receiving grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation shows numerous frustrations and challenges in working with the world’s largest philanthropy.
Last year, the Gates Foundation hired the Center for Effective Philanthropy to survey 1,544 of its grantees. Although respondents indicated strong ratings for the foundation’s positive impact on knowledge, policy and practices, responses were overwhelmingly negative.
Organizations complained about inconsistent communications, a lack of responsiveness, unclear goals, strategies and decision-making processes.
The Gates Foundation received lower than average ratings in many aspects of its relations with grantees, CEO Jeff Raikes disclosed in a letter today.
The results were disclosed following a survey of more than 1,500 non-profits who received grants from the Gates Foundation over the last year. Raikes said the foundation worked with the Center for Effective Philanthropy to measure the perceptions of its grantees.
"They say we are inconsistent in our communications, and often unresponsive," he wrote.
The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) argues that this is indeed the case. The project financed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is lobbying for the enrichment of foods destined for the dinner tables of children and adults across Africa.
Comments
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2010-06-21 23:06:03
No further investigation is required for real charity to avoid the B&M Gates Foundation. Mr. Gates' continued attacks on the sharing of knowledge is enough to disgrace anyone associated with him. Gates has argued that copyright law is adequate justification for censorship in Communist China. It should come as no surprise that his foundation is as unresponsive, corrupt and bullying as the People's Republic. Mr. Gates has done more than his fair share of damage to the free flow of information in the world and should be shunned. Paywalls, intellectual monopolies and all the other stuff promoted by Gates result in ignorance, poverty and death.
Needs Sunlight
2010-06-22 08:06:28
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2010-06-22 18:01:25
Dr. Roy Schestowitz
2010-06-22 18:16:15