Called "Most Honest PR Event Ever"

Here's a funny twist: As you recall, we teasingly suggested that last week's "Play of the Week" was a potential Silver Anvil award winner. Well, that led to one avid fan giving us a tip. Turns out that at least one 2007 Silver Anvil is a lock.

What's a Silver Anvil? In the language of spinspeak, here's the Public Relations Society of America's definition: "The Silver Anvil is annually awarded to organizations that have successfully addressed a contemporary issue with exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness. Silver Anvil Awards recognize complete public relations programs and must meet the highest standards of performance in the profession. By elevating 'best practices' and increasing the visibility of professional role models, the Society strives to encourage the highest standards of practice and public service." In plain English, it's PR for PR; it's the "Oscar" for puffery and unadulterated poo.

Well, this year, apparently real poo is a sure winner in the Special Event category. The Miami Metrozoo now has on display a 5,000-square-foot exhibit on excrement titled "The Scoop on Poop," which invites visitors to explore the science of dumpum.

According to the Associated Press, "Meadow muffins, guano, caca... the words for poop are endless, but the zoo has added another term to the list: educational. The exhibit is filled with photos of animals in some of their most indelicate moments. Stool sample models abound: haylike football-sized balls (elephant), kidney-bean-looking pellets (porcupine) and coallike lumps coated with fur (black bear)."

For the record, our source tells us that the decision by PRSA did not come without a lot of internal wrangling. Some argued adamantly that poop could be considered for a number of categories: Community Relations, Reputation Management, Public Service, Marketing Consumer Products, Marketing B2B, Global Communications, Crisis Communications, Internal Communications and Investor Relations. Butt in the end, as is with the industry in general, the literal minds won out.

Howard Haberman, APR, President of Haberman Communications Strategies, said, "Every so often something comes along that leaves others behind. All I'm gonna say is that this has got to be the most honest event ever. In the age of transparency, it sets a standard for love and service all of us."

Last year, the Silver-Anvil winners in this category were:

- Dome HK for "Chicago For Everyone" (for General Motors);
- Edelman for "The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum Opening" (for the Illinois Bureau of Tourism);
- Carmichael Lynch Spong for "Uniting Guns and Greens to Improve Minnesota's Environment" (for Rally for Ducks, Wetlands and Clean Water);
- Carmichael Lynch Spong for "Beds, Celebs and a Better Night's Sleep" (for Select Comfort);
- Ketchum for "Digital Trailblazing" (for Eastman Kodak Company);
- Fleishman-Hillard for "A Ticket to Work" (for the Social Security Administration).

The poo exhibit is scheduled to close at the Metrozoo in January. The Poo PR road show will then make stops in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Redding, California.

END NOTE

The Early Bird Deadline for this year's Silver Anvil entry is February 16, 2007. March 2, 2007 is the final deadline for entries.

STORY UPDATE 11-21-06

It's been brought to our attention that we did not include the word "shooshoo." We apologize for the oversight.