BIG PR FIRMS GREW IN 2008

By Jack O'Dwyer

March 9, 2009


The ten biggest independent PR firms reporting 2008 figures for the O’Dwyer ranking were either up or about even. Minus signs and flat years were reported by many of the medium-sized and smaller firms.

Fifty of the 190 firms ranked last year refused to provide figures, some saying the 2008 figures were just too dismal to report.

But fifteen firms, although hit with double-digit percentage declines, reported their figures anyway. Seventeen firms joined the list, which totals 157 for 2008.

Joining the list were Paul Werth Assocs., Columbus, Ohio, reporting $5,794,000 in fees, up 17%, and Singer Assocs., San Francisco, with $5,624,881 in fees, down 9%.

Other double-digit gains on the list were:

Hager Sharp, Washington, D.C., up 20% to $6.5M;
GMYR, D.C., up 18.9% to $5.5M;
Atomic Communications, San Francisco, up 42% to $7.6M;
Consensus Planning, Los Angeles, up 19% to $4.6M;
Launch Squad, S.F., up 42% to $4.2M;
Matter Communications, Boston, up 20% to $4M;
Lambert, Edwards, Grand Rapids, Mich., up 22% to $3.7M;
Dukas Public Relations, New York, up 47% to $3.4M;
Walek & Assocs., New York, up 10% to $3M;
Roman/Peshoff, up 62.6% to $2,770,290;
HLB Communications, Chicago, up 12.9% to $2.7M;
Peritus PR, Louisville, Kentucky, up 40% to $2.7M;
Dodge Communications, Roswell, Ga., up 49% to $2.4M;
Hope-Beckham, Atlanta, up 27% to $2.1M, and
Roman/Peshoff, Holland, Ohio, up 62% to $2.7M.