DETROIT: The North American International Auto Show is close to
selecting a new PR agency of record. Detroit sources point to Manning,
Selvage & Lee as the likely winner. An announcement is likely to come
very soon, since preparations are already underway for the 2002 show,
which runs January 6-21.
Other agencies on the shortlist for the account, valued in the hundreds
of thousands of dollars by local PR sources, are Eisbrenner PR, John
Bailey & Associates, and Campbell & Co., all Detroit agencies with
automotive experience.
MS&L's 60-person Detroit office works primarily with General Motors.
Local shop Franco Public Relations has handled the auto show account for
the past three years, but the show plans to take more of its day-to-day
media relations work in-house. The PR firm hired will provide new
strategic PR initiatives, said Rod Alberts, executive director.
