Special Delivery: Despite a shrinking media budget with a reported $15.9 billion annual loss, the U.S. Postal Service has selected Interpublic Group of Cos’ UM as its media agency. At a time when Americans are more budget conscious than ever—particularly where our government is concerned—the folks at Interpublic Group clearly have their work cut out for them.

The Morris + King Company announced that it has been retained by BUZZMEDIA, which always appears in all CAPS, because that’s how they roll. As agency-of-record, MKC will develop and execute a comprehensive public relations campaign on behalf of BUZZMEDIA that will tap MKC’s diverse strengths in both the technology and business sectors. BUZZMEDIA draws on original editorial content, deep audience engagement, and knowledge of the young adult audience to provide customized, innovative marketing and advertising solutions across its branded properties.

Spin the Agency in Aisle 9: Target (pronounced tar-jey, just so you know) has selected LatinWorks as its U.S. Hispanic account and will serve as the retail brand’s primary strategic partner, though LatinWorks may have to sort through some conflict of interest issues as it also represents TJX Companies’ Marshalls.

Last week the Interpublic Group announced the promotion of PR firm Weber Shandwick‘s former president, Andy Polansky, to the position of CEO. Polanksy had served as president of Weber Shandwick since 2004; he replaced outgoing CEO Harris Diamond (who in turn became chairman and CEO of “ad agency network” McCann Worldgroup).

Polansky has worked for Shandwick and its predecessor firms in various capacities for approximately 30 years; he is a member of the Arthur W. Page Society who currently sits on the Board of Trustees for the Institute for Public Relations, and he has also served as chairman of the Council of PR Firms for the past two years.

On Friday we had the opportunity to get Polanksy’s thoughts on a changing PR industry; we’ve reprinted our exchange below.

I’ve been with Weber Shandwick and its predecessor firms for nearly 30 years, so of course the change has been quite dramatic! Over the past few years we’ve seen significant shifts in how people consume and share information. We’ve also seen a heightened focus on the changing context of go-to-market approaches, with public policy and reputation considerations now playing a larger role in how organizations shape strategies. Public relations firms increasingly play a lead role in the fast-changing environment. It’s an exciting time to be in this business.

There seems to be a consensus around social media and the data/analytics explosion exerting a great influence on the PR industry of the future. What is your take on this subject?

Social media’s rise has transformed our industry, as companies focus on new ways to engage with their customers.  Whether you’re a B2B company, dealing with a reputational issue or crisis or launching a new consumer product, social media is front and center – a nexus for everything we consider now for any type of communications program. There has been an explosion of data available to formulate insights, to inform strategy, and to create pathways to breakthrough creative thinking.

How do you see the relationship between PR, marketing and advertising changing?

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Social@Ogilvy–a new Ogilvy & Mather practice created to connect the agency’s global social media experts and deliver solutions across all areas of business–appointed Peter Fasano as senior vice president and head of Social@Ogilvy Atlanta. Reporting to Ogilvy Public Relations (Ogilvy PR) Atlanta managing director Mickey Nall, Fasano leads a growing team dedicated to developing and implementing cutting-edge social business strategies and solutions for clients. (Release)

VPE Public Relations announced the hiring of Veronica Rodriguez as account director as the organization expands its East Coast operations. In her new role, Rodriguez will oversee the Verizon Wireless account and expand the agency’s business on the East Coast. She will be based in New York. Rodriguez previously served as a senior PR and social media manager at Hispanic PR and advertising agencies in New York. (PRWeek)

MillerCoors has appointed Rudy Rodriguez senior director for multicultural marketing. Mr. Rodriguez comes to MillerCoors from General Mills, where he spent nine years as director for multicultural marketing. According to a MillerCoors memo, Rodriguez will be responsible for “leading our multicultural team to acquire more volume and share among Hispanic, African-American and LGBT audiences.” (AdAge)

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Interpublic Group, home to Weber Shandwick, GolinHarris, and other PR and advertising agencies, reported first quarter revenue of $1.51 billion, an increase from $1.47 billion in 2011. Organic growth was 2.8 percent.

The company’s operating loss was $39.4 million, a decrease year-over-year from $45.3 million, showing improvement. Net loss was $45.9 million versus $48.1 million in 2011. The Wall Street Journal reports that  ”in February Standard & Poor’s raised its rating outlook on Interpublic to positive from stable, citing the company’s progress toward improving profitability and credit metrics.”

Harris Diamond, the CEO of IPG’s Constituency Management Group (CMG), housing the company’s PR firms, says its figures were strong with organic revenue at 8.6 percent and overall growth at 10 percent.

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Interpublic Group reported its Q4 2011 and full-year earnings numbers this morning, with the company’s Constituency Management Group, the division that houses PR firms including Weber Shandwick and GolinHarris, showing organic growth of 9.8 percent for the year. CMG revenue for 2011 totaled $1.12 billion; revenue for the quarter totaled $321.1 million. In 2010, revenue for the year total $1.04 billion.

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Interpublic Group announced its Q3 earnings this morning, reporting 11.1 percent revenue growth in Q3 for a total of $1.73 billion. Organic revenue growth was 8.7 percent — 10.1 percent in the U.S. and 6.7 percent abroad. Operating income for the quarter was $173.2 million versus $100.2 million for the same time in 2010.

For the first nine months, revenue totaled $4.94 billion compared to $4.5 billion for the same period in 2010. Organic revenue increase was 7.5 percent and operating income was $301.9 million. Operating income was up from $218 million compared to the same time last year. Adweek credits the investment in Facebook for the results, which were better than expected.

IPG’s PR firms include GolinHarris, Weber Shandwick, and DeVries Public Relations. We spoke with Harris Diamond, CEO of the Contingency Management Group that houses the PR firms, which saw 10.8 percent organic growth for the quarter and 8.8 percent year-to-date organic growth.

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Interpublic Group has acquired majority control of S2Publicom, a top Brazilian firm that was formed last year by the merger of two PR firms, S2 and Publicom. The firms have a 20-year history in the country.

S2Publicom was an affiliate of Weber Shandwick and GolinHarris, and will continue to aid with regional growth plans for those two firms.

S2Publicom will continue to be led by CEO José Luiz Schiavoni with the other founding partners, Luciana Gurgel and Aldo De Luca, remaining in their positions as senior strategists and counselors. S2Publicom specializes in media relations and media training, crisis comms, and digital work.

Interpublic Group, home to advertising agencies like McCann Erickson Worldwide and PR firms including GolinHarris, Carmichael Lynch Spong, and Weber Shandwick, has sold half of its stake in Facebook for $133 million. The company first invested in Facebook in 2006.

“Facebook has since become a part of daily life for hundreds of millions of people around the world. Its ubiquity has meant the strategic value of our initial investment has moderated, while the financial value of that stake appreciated significantly,” IPG CEO Michael Roth said in a statement.

The same press release also announced a share repurchasing program. IPG stock closed on Friday at $8.64 per share.  Our colleagues at AllFacebook also have details about the sale.

Interpublic Group reported second quarter revenue of$1.74 billion, up from $1.61 billion for the same period in 2010. Organic growth was 4.7 percent; 4.2 percent in the U.S. and 5.5 percent around the world.

Operating income for the quarter was $174 million, which is actually down from $177.2 in 2010. For the half, operating income was $128.7 million versus $117.8 million in 2010.

For the first half, revenue totaled $3.22 billion, up from $2.95 billion in 2010 with organic revenue growth of 6.8 percent for the half. Organic revenue growth was 6.3 percent last year. For more detail about IPG’s earnings, click here.

IPG’s Constituency Management Group (CMG), which houses the PR firms, also continued on the positive path. IPG PR firms include Weber Shandwick, GolinHarris, and Carmichael Lynch. Organic growth for the company’s PR unit was 9.5 percent for the first six months of 2011 and 9.6 percent for the second quarter. Harris Diamond, CEO of the CMG, told us that even with these good results, the situation in Washington has him a little wary.

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Interpublic Group keeps the positive earnings trend going with 9.3 percent organic growth reported in Q1 2011. Revenue totaled $1.47 billion for the quarter, a 10.3 percent increase year-over-year.

According to Harris Diamond, CEO of IPG’s Constituency Management Group, it was a “terrific quarter” for IPG’s PR firms (a sentiment expressed during this morning’s earnings call). The company’s PR agencies include Weber Shandwick, GolinHarris, and Carmichael Lynch. There was year-over-year organic growth of eight percent, with, according to Diamond, “strength in the U.S. and Asia.” He also said things were “turning positive” in Europe.

Overall, IPG reported 8.8 percent organic growth in the U.S. and 10.2 percent internationally.

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