Another chapter in the long, sundry case of Penn State and Jerry Sandusky further emphasizes the challenges faced by Edelman PR, La Torre Communications and the institution itself as all work to restore the school’s previous reputation for greatness in both sports and academics.

Unfortunately, this latest update will undoubtedly inflict more damage on the school: it concerns staff attempts to cover up, deny or, at the very least, minimize the scandal. Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly just announced charges of perjury, obstruction of justice, endangering the welfare of children, and failure to report suspected child abuse against former University President Graham Spanier.

That’s quite a list–and we didn’t even mention the additional charges brought against the school’s former athletic director and vice president of business and finance, both of whom await trial in January.

Spanier’s greatest offense? After stepping down, he claimed that no one had ever mentioned the possibility of ongoing child abuse during his time at Penn State–but the email trail told a very different story.

Penn State’s board members and PR reps have been wishing Spanier would slink away and disappear for some time: first they argued over whether he’d resigned on his own volition after “going rogue and altering a press release that had been a collaborative effort”, and then he participated in this very ill-advised interview for some unknown reason.

Penn State and its PR organizations will never have to defend Graham Spanier again. Unfortunately, the law is far from done with him–and his case will expose the public to yet another angle on a tragic tale that can never be untold.

In somewhat surprising and discouraging news, an international study conducted by Adobe and Edelman Berland found that the public values the work of marketers less than the work of bankers and politicians. Sigh.

The worst part about the study (and its handy infographic PDF)? A quarter of its participants were themselves marketing professionals—and they were twice as likely as members of the general public to name their own profession as “least valuable”! Why did Edelman choose to arrange the sample in this way? They must have had a hunch that marketers don’t think too highly of themselves.

Other revealing/contradictory findings:

• Despite the fact that 53% of participants call marketing “a bunch of BS”, well over 90% also say it’s “strategic to business” and “paramount to driving sales”. So the public hates it but agrees that it is both necessary and effective? Those are some conflicting emotions right there.
• The public’s favorite place to view ads is “in their favorite magazines”–and their least favorite place seems to be “on their favorite TV shows”. Way to screw with the dominant business model, guys.
• A majority of participants call online ads “annoying”, and a paltry 3% like to see paid spots on social media. Oh and, yes, Facebook “likes” almost never drive them to buy stuff.

See, but here’s the thing that really irks us most about this poll…

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The nation’s leading PR firm Edelman turned 60 today, and in honor of the occasion the organization and its CEO, Richard Edelman, released a package of materials elaborating on the history of the PR industry, its current state and its future. Content includes a letter from Mr. Edelman on the history and purpose of the company his father founded 60 years ago, a blog post , and an infographic laying out ten basic “rules to live by” for PR pros.

Hill + Knowlton Strategies announced that it is promoting chief operating officer Andy Weitz to co-chair of the agency’s global corporate advisory practice alongside co-chair Andrew Laurence. In his new role, Weitz will focus on managing corporate efforts for H+K’s US clients while Laurence will handle international accounts. (Release)

Global Capacity, a leading telecommunications information and logistics company, announced today that company co-founder and CEO Patrick Shutt will transition to a new position as vice chairman of the board. COO Jack Lodge will serve as the company’s new president. In his new role, Mr. Shutt will continue to help guide the strategic direction of Global Capacity, while also pursuing new entrepreneurial ventures in the Cloud space. Mr. Lodge, who joined the company in 2006 through the acquisition of CentrePath, has acted as COO since 2008. He will now assume responsibility for all aspects of the strategy and execution of the Global Capacity business. (Release)

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In a surprise get, Ogilvy PR announced today that Susan Peters has joined the agency’s Chicago office as executive vice president of consumer marketing after a stint at Edelman.

Peters began her new role on Tuesday, September 4, reporting to executive vice president and consumer group director Liz Van Lenten. The part she plays in company operations will be twofold: She will provide counsel to existing clients while seeking “new business development opportunities.” She will also expand the “agency’s Midwest presence in the consumer space.”

Peters, of course, has a long history in the PR industry: Read more

Edelman announced today that it has hired Michael J. Berland of WPP’s Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates to act as CEO of a newly-formed research and analytics business known as Edelman Berland.

The new company will be integrated with StrategyOne, Edelman’s existing market research firm, but the StrategyOne brand will live on with current CEO Steve Lombardo working under a yet-to-be-announced title.

In announcing the hire, company CEO Richard Edelman said, “I have known and admired Mike Berland’s work for close to a decade. When it comes to fully integrating research with PR programs and partnering with both account teams and clients, he is simply the best.”

Berland, an acclaimed author and veteran strategic adviser to political figureheads like Hillary Clinton and Michael Bloomberg, most recently served as president of Washington, D.C. based PSB, where he put his market research experience to use in serving clients in politics and other fields around the world.

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Today Edelman announced that Mark “Don’t Call Me Marky” Wahlberg, actor, producer and co-founder of an aspiring burger chain, will be the newest spokesman for GNC.

Wahlberg’s primary role will be to serve as the public face of MARKED™, a new line of “performance nutrition products” supposedly developed by “leading GNC scientists and wellness experts” in order to meet Mark’s own exacting standards for physical performance.

The Oscar-winning star of films like “The Fighter,” “Boogie Nights” and the Reese Witherspoon showcase “Fear” guarantees fans and fitness buffs that his line of multi-vitamins, powders, protein bars and other supplements will provide a needed edge to both dedicated athletes and weekend warriors who aspire to achieve their sky-high fitness goals.

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Internet security provider Norton has chosen Edelman as global AOR for the company’s Symantec Consumer Business unit. The firm has been working with Norton since 2008 on awareness efforts that focused on cybersecurity. Edelman’s work on the account will span 35 countries across EMEA and the Americas. The firm’s technology and consumer practices are handling the business.

Edelman has restructured its management team and employee lineup in Russia, prompting push back from Russia’s Solidarity trade union.

The firm’s Moscow office will now focus on practice areas including technology, consumer, and healthcare. Kerry Irwin, who’s worked in the Russian PR industry for more than a decade, has been appointed general director of the Moscow office. Irwin takes over from Veronica Moihseeva, who sold her firm Imageland to Edelman in 2008 and had been working there ever since.

Natalya Malyova has been hired as SVP in charge of the tech and digital practices. And Svetlana Plotnitskaya, who has been with the firm for 14 years, has been named SVP.

The office has also laid off 11 of its 55 staffers.

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Edelman vet Nancy Turett is stepping down from her position as chief strategist of the Health and Society group to launch her own consultancy and serve as a part-time senior advisor for Zeno Group. She’s been with the firm for 23 years and was the founder of Edelman’s global health practice in 2000.

During the course of her career with the firm, she’s worked in London, Paris, and New York; led the health group in New York; helped with the company rebrand in 2002; and was a chairperson for Canada and Latin America. More recently, Turett hosted a health event at the Edelman New York HQ in March tied to the firm’s most recent Health Barometer. (We tweeted about it. Be sure to follow us!)

Kym White took on the role of global chair of the health division back in March. She had previously been with Ogilvy PR for 16 years.