Wal-Mart Adversary and New Yorker Magazine Expose 'Cynical Tactics'

By Donna Porter, published Mar 27, 2007
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Leading Wal-Mart adversary group, Wake Up Wal-Mart (WakeUpWalmart.com), sponsored by the food workers' union, supports the findings of New Yorker Magazine article, Selling Wal-Mart, as it exposes "the brutal truth behind Wal-Mart's multi-million dollar spin machine."

"It is now clear that every new Wal-Mart initiative -- every single one -- was just another publicity stunt by Wal- Mart's PR firm designed to fool the media, the American people, and our elected leaders into believing that Wal-Mart has changed for the better, when in fact it has not," says Communications Director, Chris Kofinis.

According to group, Selling Wal-Mart exposes maneuvers such as how Wal-Mart and Edelman, the company's public relations firm, have used a series of "cynical strategies" and tactics to try to address the company's wavering public image.

Cited as an example is Wal-Mart's use of what it refers to as "Astroturf" groups, which are allegedly fake groups, like "Working Families for Wal-Mart," and goes on to state they exist as a "front for the company." The New Yorker article refers to Wal-Mart and Edelman's strategy as a strategy of "co-option." Under the "co-option" philosophy, Wal-Mart essentially tries to 'co-opt' opposing sources and then use those same sources to change public perceptions, without real change to the actual business model.

Wake Up Wal-Mart notes that Wal-Mart recently announced that it would collaborate with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) President ,Andy Stern, to support universal health care. Yet 53 percent of Wal-Mart employees, more than 775,000 Wal-Mart workers and their families do not have company health care coverage. These same uninsured families largely oppose political candidates who do not support universal health care.

"Included in the New Yorker article are a series of insights and shocking statements by Wal-Mart officials that help expose how Wal-Mart's PR spin machine pursues a disingenuous agenda that purposefully manipulates the national media, the public, and our elected leaders in an attempt to salvage its faltering public image," reports Koninis.

Wal-Mart Adversary and New Yorker Magazine Expose 'Cynical Tactics'

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This is a great article and has enlightened me about things that I as a consumer wasn't aware of. They become a large corporation and the politcal aspect kicks in and takes over! They always seem to forget the people who put them where they are, their customers!

Posted on 05/22/2007 at 11:05:00 AM

 
I actually worked at a Wal-Mart once, for four months, years and years ago. THEY ARE HORRIBLE. A little boy almost got killed by a shelf that fell on him and cracked his head open, and I got reprimanded and nearly fired for calling an ambulance!

Posted on 05/20/2007 at 5:05:00 PM

 
I've known people who have worked and WalMart and the horror stories are unbelievable. I try to shop anywhere else to avoid going there.

Posted on 05/06/2007 at 8:05:00 PM

 
Wal-Mart's image is certainly suffering despite its PR campaigns. Interesting angle!

Posted on 04/27/2007 at 7:04:00 PM

 
Wal-Mart seems to be full of surprises latly. Being such a large company with so much value you think that could could do more, but I guess this is just corperate America for you. good article

Posted on 04/25/2007 at 2:04:00 PM

 
Great article...but the way I see it, if you think Wal-Mart is a horrible place to work, then don't work there. If you hate Wal-Mart, don't shop there. Any super-large company is going to get bashed for mis-treating the bottom of the rung employees.

Posted on 04/17/2007 at 11:04:00 AM

 
My aunt lost her house when walmart wanted to build on that little area of where she lived. The neighborhood tried to stop walmart and refused to sell their house to walmart. Walmart took them all to court and won because building walmart there would better the community. It is sad that walmart can cause homeowners to lose their homes.

Posted on 04/17/2007 at 10:04:00 AM

 
very well written article!

Posted on 04/13/2007 at 8:04:00 AM

 
I am an adament anti- Wally World activist, so I was glad to see how well done this article was.

Posted on 04/02/2007 at 7:04:00 PM

 
God Help Us. In our little hamlet of Dillsburg, PA (5 municipalities of less than 16,000 residents) Wal-Mart is trying to build a 203,000sf Supercenter that will attract 19,000 additional vehicles per day!!! Our website is CarrollCitizens.com Is there ANYONE out there who can help?????

Posted on 04/02/2007 at 1:04:00 PM

 
Wal-Mart can afford to deal with their employees in a far more effective way than to jip them out of status and monetary rewards. Of course, having been to the local "Super-Center" meaning it contains food, not referring to service, or merchandise, have to say, Wal-Mart is headed for the same "crash and burn" the Deming has pointed out happens when quality goes out the window. They were profitable for a while, but sooner or later, if a company doesn't honor it's employees (who are also customers, duh!) then it catches up with them. Always has (U.S. Steel) always will. -Dana

Posted on 03/31/2007 at 8:03:00 PM

 
Any PR firm is doing their job when they come out with things to increase the public opinion of a company and spending millions to do it is all a part of the PR game. How much does any other company spend on PR, I bet it is more than WalMart.

Posted on 03/29/2007 at 7:03:00 AM

 
One thing I don't understand about WalMart and people hatred, are they any different than all the other businesses that hire part time employees. How many businesses do hire the same way as WalMart and yet no one complains. The hiring practices at WalMart are the same as many other businesses it is just that WalMart is bigger so people think they can get something out of it. No offense to your article but I see that other businesses in my area hire people on the same terms or even with less input to things like hours and they are happy to get the work. Any business has its horror stories and they all do things that are wrong in someway or another, WalMart is no different, just a bigger chain, so more public.

Posted on 03/29/2007 at 7:03:00 AM

 
I am a Walmart shopper. Why? Because sometimes I must. I have walked out of paying 20 bucks able to feed myself for a week. Does Walmart have issues. Oh yes. I know some of the good thing they do. When Katrina hit. Walmart employees from New Orleans showed up our local store, no uniform no name tag but able to work to get themselves back on track.

Posted on 03/29/2007 at 3:03:00 AM

 
I am NOT a WalMart shopper. My community is one that successfully voted to keep a Super Walmart out. I shop sales at the local mall and grocery store and do just as well as if I went to Walmart.

Posted on 03/28/2007 at 12:03:00 PM

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