O’Dwyer’s has published the 2011 version of its independent PR firm rankings, with nearly half of the top 50 firms on the list showing double-digit growth.

Topping the list is Edelman, which is up 15.9 percent to $604.7 million in net fees for 2011. Rounding out the top three are APCO Worldwide with $120.7 million in net fees, up 6.4 percent; and Waggener Edstrom, up 3.5 percent from 2010 to $115.8 million in net fees. The full table is available here.

According to the feature story accompanying the table, 24 of the top 50 firms experienced double-digit gains with the biggest leap coming from Jones Public Affairs, a D.C.-based firm that was up 149 percent for the year to $4.2 million.

Absent from the list is IMRE, which previously raised objections to a request from O’Dwyer’s for an ad purchase of $3,000. In an email sent to us and included in that link, Jack O’Dwyer, the publisher and EIC on the site, said, “Firms that benefit from our rankings must support the $500,000 website on which the ranking reside[s].”

IMRE’s fees for the year would have placed them among the top 30 of the list.

Read more

O’Dwyer’s is currently working on its ranking of PR firms, requesting documents in order to list agencies according to net fees and other categories.

Maryland PR firm IMRE sent O’Dwyer’s its info to be included. According to emails PRNewser received from both O’Dwyer’s and the firm, IMRE was then asked to advertise with O’Dwyer’s. The firm agreed to a $600 ad package. O’Dwyer’s then told IMRE it would have to advertise at a higher rate to be on the list.

“Thanks for your entry and congratulations on your great year ($10 million) but it’s not going to be used if you’re only going to do $600 worth of business with us,” reads an email O’Dwyer’s sent to IMRE, which was then forwarded to PRNewser.

“You can’t go into an expensive restaurant with white tablecloths and just order a cup of coffee,” that same email goes on to say. “Firms that benefit from our rankings must support the $500,000 website on which the ranking reside[s].”

Instead, O’Dwyer’s wanted a $3,000 ad purchase.

Read more