Wal-Mart fights image problem

[dArKeR]

NY TIMES NEWS SERVICE , NEW YORK
Tuesday, Aug 17, 2004,Page 12

A couple cycles past a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Jinan, the capital city of Shandong Province on China's east coast, on July 21. China's enormous retail market has attracted international titans, including France's Carrefour SA and Japan's Ito-Yokado Co Ltd .
PHOTO: REUTERS
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/worldbiz/photo/2004/08/17/2003146558

Wal-Mart, stung by criticism of its labor practices, expansion plans and other business tactics, is turning to public radio, public television and even journalists in training to try to improve its image.

So far this year, the company has become a sponsor on National Public Radio, where recorded messages promote its stores. It has underwritten a popular talk show, "Tavis Smiley," accompanied by similar promotional messages, on a public television station in California.

And earlier this month, Wal-Mart announced plans to award US$500,000 in scholarships to minority students at journalism programs around the country, including Howard University, University of Southern California and Columbia University.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/worldbiz/archives/2004/08/17/2003199120

[Fovea]

1. I saw one on tv a while ago

something like--
"My name is Kunta Kinte, and I love my life long Walmart job."

[WMliberal]

2. zing!

nice one

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. They have all kinds of money to spend on good will

Since they don't pay the employees anything and they buy the goods from Chinese slave labor camps. I wouldn't step foot in one of those shitty places.

[napi21]

4. To WM I say know yourself out. It won't work!

More & more cities and towns are saying NO to WM, and I keep hearing more people all the time saying they won't shop there anymore. They can do all the positive ad campaigns they want, their core customers are the same ones who either work there, or know someone who workds there, and they know the truth. Sure, there are some management people who are doing very well, but the vast majority of their employees aren't The only people who might be affected by these ads are the stockholders who probably never set foot in a WM store, and even they won't continue supporting this company when the numbers aren't there and the stock price starts to fall.

[Kimber Scott]

5. LOL! Scholarships for Journalists. Gawd.

nt

[LizW]

9. This is a tactic the right has been using

for some time. Buy and raise your own crop of journalists who will write what you want. Sounds farfetched, but it is happening. David Brock tells about it in his book.

[MichiganVote]

6. NO! to Walmart. They are sucking communities dry.

[wicket]

7. hmmmmmm....

Maybe if they would forgo taking ALL of the billions of dollars in profits and reinvest it in their works through wages and benefits, they wouldn't have such an image problem in the first place! Sheesh.

[Enraged_Ape]

8. With Republicans, it's all about image

God forbid you should spend even one cent to actually CORRECT the deficiencies in character that have given you such a shit reputation. No, no...it is far better to throw millions at advertising and public relations in an effort to bullshit everyone into thinking you're really great.

[tlcandie]

10. Right on! Image only ... to hell with real changes!!!!

In fact, it's really how our countries works anymore!! Talk, lots of talk and IMAGE...nothing truly real takes place unless it's diluted before being forced down.

[President Jesus]

11. Can't fight this: facts show the Walton family is in bed with the GOP

history of campaign contributions:
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?city=BENTONVILLE&st=AR&last=Walton