An interesting PR and advertising observation

One local, one in the national spotlight.

Local:
I've seen red/white/blue bus seats here locally that have LWAT08.com, and not much else (I'll look to get a photo). I first noticed them leading up to the November election. I was mystified -- something from the League or Women Voters? No, that doesn't fit. What the heck is it? (and, oh, yeah -- it's now 2009)

Finally punched in the URL to a browser this a.m. -- it is the local power authority, and part of a campaign called "lighting with a twist" that encourages the use of compact flourescent lightbulbs. In fact, the website -- which is not very good -- has an icon and info that they won an integrated marketing communications award for the LWAT campaign. I hope that the other pieces of this award-winning campaign were executed better than the bus seats and website.

National:
NPR had a report this morning on the latest from the Tennessee Valley Authority coal waste spill. There is information coming out that TVA ignored warnings and recommendations about the possible breach of the pond's retaining walls. Lawsuits are staring to pile up. This will remain a long-term issue for them to clean up, in many ways.

But one moment from the audio of the press conference was pretty striking - some official drinking a glass of the local water to try to allay fears about its safety.