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5W Public Relations, also known as 5WPR, is an American public relations firm founded in 2003 by Ronn Torossian. PR industry trade publications reported 2007 billings exceeded US$11.5 million. The company was listed on the 2007 Inc list of fastest growing companies..

5WPR has primarily represented corporations such as Microsoft, VeriSign, and EDS. Clients also include non-profit organizations, entertainers, political figures and organizations including Snoop Dogg, Pamela Anderson, the Israeli government, the Prime Minister of Serbia and Pastor John Hagee.

History

5WPR began in a small office within a Manhattan-based travel agency with three clients and two employees. Since its establishment, the company's client list has grown more rapidly than any firm in the U.S., and expanded along with its staff size.The firm's first clients included rapper and entrepreneur Sean Combs and Combs' Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment. Shortly after starting a mom and baby division, the firm secured "one of the most important product placement opportunities in the world" when a shirt from one of their clients, Belly Maternity, was sent to Angelina Jolie. The shirt was later seen on Jolie and Brad Pitt's daughter Shiloh when she was featured on the cover of People magazine in 2006. The agency is known for having top notch celebrity relationships with many celebrities, including Paris and Nicky Hilton, who attended the firms’ Sundance events, Kim Kardashian, who attended Torossian’s LA birthday party in 2007, and Nick Cannon who has hosted multiple 5W events.

Additionally, 5W coordinated Vitali Klitschko's run for mayor of Kiev, and Rudy Guiliani's visit to Ukraine. The firm also represents Rinat Akhmetov, a Ukrainian business man and Europe's richest man.

Clients

According to Torossian the firm's corporate, technology and consumer clients account for 97 percent of the company's revenue, the firm also represents entertainers, Jewish groups and politicians. In December 2006, the Foreign Ministry of Israel worked with 5WPR and Elias Buchwald, one of the founders of PR firm Burson-Marsteller to train Israel's top spokespersons on Western media and communications methods , and in 2005, The Lebanese American Council for Democracy retained 5W Public Relations for "strategic counsel and media relations."

Growth

In 2007, 5W Public Relations netted $11,581,939 in fees, an increase of 24.3% from 2006 figuresO'Dwyers PR Report ranked the company #21 in earnings among their top 182 ranked PR companies, and ranked the firm eighth out of the top forty entertainment PR firms.

Agriprocessor controversy

In July 2008, the author of the Failed Messiah blog accused 5WPR of sockpuppeting in the reader comment section and impersonating critics of a client, Agriprocessors, a company that is under federal investigation for worker abuse and hiring illegal immigrants. The blog traced the comments placed under the names of Hechsher Tzedek founder Rabbi Allen and other Agriprocessors critics to IP address the executive responsible for the Agriprocessors account. The firm later issued a statement saying, “A senior staff member failed to be transparent in dealing with client matters."

References

1. ^ "PR Firm Rankings - Independent PR Firms". O'Dwyer's PR Report. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
2. "No. 153 5W Public Relations". Inc. 2007. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
3. Kurutz, Steven (2005-02-20). "Brash P.R. Guy Grabs Clients, Ink". The New York Times. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
4. Samarjian, Natalie (June 26 2004). "Torossian Taking the PR World by Storm". The Armenian Reporter. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
5. Popper, Nathaniel (2004-02-04). "Publicist Scores With Rappers, Right-wing Politicians". The Jewish Daily Forward. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
6. Goldberg Goff, Karen (2008-06-22). "Celebrity product placement". The Washington Times. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
7. http://video.aol.com/video-detail/5w-escape-mansion/851984596
8. http://www.openentrance.com/2007/06/28/kim-kardashian-attends-5w-pr-summer-soiree/
9. http://www.jessicastyle.com/js/viewtopic.php?t=176152
10. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,324525,00.html?sPage=fnc/entertainment/celebrity/hilton
11. http://www.eonline.com/gossip/partygirl/detail/index.jsp?uuid=55f45670-37e0-4015-9fe2-e963c7b335f4
12. "Giuliani Partners, LLC to Provide Policy Advice to Kiev Mayoral Candidate Vitali Klitschko and His Team" (Press release). 5W Public Relations. 2008-05-07.
13. "New Richest Man in Europe Aims to Better Ukraine's Economy" (Press release). 5W Public Relations. 2008-07-01.
14. "The Bad Boy of Buzz and His PR Problem". Businessweek. 2007-11-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
15. Popper, Nathaniel (2008-07-11). "Flacks for Agriprocessors Admit Online Impersonation of Meat Company's Critics". Forward. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
16. "Staying on Message, Whatever the Question". The Jewish Week. 2007-01-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
17. Indymedia.com, Emotions and Political Assassination
18. "Entertainment PR". O'Dwyers PR Report. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
19. Franzman, Dave. "Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Abuse, "Immigration Fees"". KCRG-TV.
20. ^ Washkuch, Frank (2008-07-11). "5W acknowledges blog misconduct". PRWeek US. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

• 5W Public Relations

1. www.ronntorossian.com - CEO blog

• Public relations