Fleishman-Hillard Partners with evolve24 on Integrated Media Measurement and Reputation Management Solution

November 5, 2009

The partnership enables comprehensive collection and analysis of traditional and social media, informs real-time communications management

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Fleishman-Hillard International Communications today announced a selective co-marketing and product development agreement with evolve24, a business analytics and research firm with leading capabilities in the measurement of perception, reputation and risk. This agreement will drive science-based advances in communications planning and reputation management that are shaped by both traditional and social media.

One key element of the partnership is providing clients with powerful web-based analytical software called The Mirror that delivers data in near real-time to the desktop. The Mirror integrates both traditional media content and social media coverage, including conversation on Twitter, blogs and forums, trade publications, journals, wires, television, radio and news releases. It captures the continuous stream of information across all channels and categorizes and analyzes it by a wide range of metrics such as stakeholder, topic, concept, sentiment, share of voice, influence and reputation impact.

The Mirror can be customized to collect and present data in ways that meet the needs of diverse clients. It provides an easy-to-use, self-search capability for reviewing content and receiving analysis by region, publication or psychographic categories, and translates content from multiple languages into English. It also can provide dashboards that enable management of reputation, risk and stakeholder relations.

The result is a complete, accessible and immediate view of the full spectrum of conversation that provides a clear picture of the emerging issues and opportunities a company faces.

"evolve24, with its leading-edge technology, understanding of the global communications environment and commitment to excellence in client service, is an ideal partner for FH," said Dave Senay, president and chief executive officer of Fleishman-Hillard. "Together, we are enabling our clients and account teams to measure and manage communications in a more informed, timely and effective way across the entire spectrum of conversation. The Mirror also provides a forward-looking picture of clients' communications landscapes and enables us to anticipate issues, seize opportunities and actively manage reputation. The predictive nature of this technology acts like an early warning system, giving us the head start we need to anticipate and act."

"By partnering with Fleishman-Hillard, we can push forward the state of the industry in managing global communications and its impact on reputation," said Anthony M. Sardella, chief executive officer and founder of evolve24, LLC. "We believe The Mirror advances the state of the art in managing communications by integrating monitoring, measurement across very powerful metrics and outreach to key voices. It tells not only what people are saying, but what they believe about a brand. It provides the whole story. By evaluating data across the spectrum of online conversation, clients get an intimate understanding of the influencers, the followers, and the bystanders, while continually monitoring the ebb and flow of current belief, and engaging as needed."

This partnership and new integrated media monitoring and measurement system complement and add depth to Fleishman-Hillard's research capabilities that include surveys and polling; brand research and message testing; executive interviews; communications audits; focus groups; stakeholder personas; competitive intelligence; media segmentation and targeting; and news distribution and content optimization.

About Fleishman-Hillard

Fleishman-Hillard Inc., one of the world's leading public relations firms, has built its reputation by using strategic communications to deliver what its clients value most: meaningful, positive, and measurable impact on the performance of their organizations. The firm is widely recognized for excellent client service and a strong company culture founded on teamwork, integrity, and personal commitment. Based in St. Louis, the firm operates throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, South Africa, and Latin America through its 80 owned offices. For more information, visit the Fleishman-Hillard Web site at www.fleishman.com.

Fleishman-Hillard is a part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com). Omnicom is a leading global advertising, marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, interactive, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to more than 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

About evolve 24

Formed in 2004, evolve24 is a business analytics and research firm specializing in the measurement of perception, reputation and risk. The firm analyzes traditional and social media to determine their clients' overall information landscape and provide quantitative metrics that let clients measure and report the value of their marketing and communications efforts. With this information, clients are able to identify ongoing topics and risks that could become issues without management attention, or could become opportunities if approached correctly. evolve24 is the unique provider of a fully integrated solution based on scientifically peer-reviewed methodology that analyzes existing issues, predicts changes in those issues and identifies the emergence of new issues early in their life cycle.

SOURCE Fleishman-Hillard Inc.