Blog Assignment #10

Noting the top five reasons journalists visit a company Web site (see below), conduct your own usability study of five companies that interest you. On each site, search for basic PR information and note your findings in a new blog entry.

1. Find a PR contact (name and phone number)

2. Check basic facts about the company (name a top executive, and state the address of the company’s headquarters)

3. Check the company’s ‘spin’ on events (what kind of news would most affect/concern the company?)

4. Check financial information (any of the following: the company's yearly earnings/projections/budget etc.)

5. Download images to supplement a story (each company’s description on your blog must be accompanied by a representational image from the Web site)

6. The Web site address



McDonalds Website: http://www.mcdonalds.com/corp/about.html


1. Name: McDonalds Corporation
Phone Number: 1-800-244-6227

2. Address:
McDonald’s Corporation
2111 McDonald's Dr
Oak Brook, IL 60523

-Ralph Alvarez: President and Chief officer

3. News:
-Their Global Comparable sales rose 4.9% in January.
-Top management announced.
-Record results for 2006.

4. Stock value:
Current price: $44.46

.
Pepsico Website: http://www.pepsico.com/
1. PR:
Name: Wahid Hamid
Phone: (914) 253-2000

2. Address:
700 Anderson Hill Road
Purchase , NY 10577

-Steven S Reinemund: Chairman of the board

3. News:
-Pepsico reports strong sales for the forth quarter of 2006.
-Pepsico to webcast conference call.

4. Stock
Price: $62.76
Volume: 8,339,900




Time Warner Website : http://www.timewarner.com/corp/


1. PR:
Name: Keith Cocozza- Corporate Communications
Phone: 212.484.8000


2. Address:
One Time Warner Center
New York, NY10019-8016

-Richard D. Parsons: Chairman and Chief Executive officer

3. News:
-February 21, 2007 HBO and American Girl Enter Into Overall Deal That Includes Development of Theatrical Films, Series, Specials and Documentaries
-February 20, 2007 Top Warner Bros Shows to Join Virgin TV Library
-February 14, 2007 CNNMoney.com #1 Business Website of 2006

4. Earnings results for 2006:
-Revenues rose 4% with earnings of $44.2 billion.



Microsoft Website: http://www.microsoft.com/en/us/default.aspx

1.PR:
Name: Waggener Edstrom Worldwide
Phone: (503) 443-7000

2. Address:
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond , WA 98052-6399

Bill Gates: Owner/ richest man in the world.

3. News:
-They are heavily promoting Windows Vista.

4. Earnings:
REDMOND, Wash. — Jan. 25, 2007 — Microsoft Corp. today announced record revenue of $12.54 billion for the quarter ended December 31, 2006, a 6% increase over the same period of the prior year. Operating income, net income and diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $3.47 billion, $2.63 billion and $0.26, respectively.




Walmart website: http://www.walmart.com/
1. PR:
Phone: 479-273-8446
-No PR people listed.

2. Address:
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Bentonville , Arkansas 72716 -8611.

-Lee Scott: CEO

3. News:
-Wal-Mart Gives $50,000 To Repair Fire-Damaged Ochoa Park
-Wal-Mart Hosts Blue Skyways Collaborative Biannual MeetingThe Blue Skyways Collaborative, a voluntary program to reduce air pollution, visits the home of Wal-Mart for a biannual meeting and a look at successful sustainability from the world’s largest retailer.

4. Financial:
-In the fourth quarter of this year, net sales were $98.090 billion
-Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reported yesterday its fourth-quarter profit grew 9.8 per cent, beating analyst estimates, and issued a bullish forecast for the world’s largest retailer.