Michael J. London & Associates

Auto Body Association of Connecticut

Attorney General Robert Blumenthal speaking to the media about anti-steering laws

A media relations program can be used to supplement a lobbying effort on the local, state, or national level. For the Auto Body Association of Connecticut, Michael J. London & Associates initiated a strategic media relations program targeting state senators and representatives to encourage passage of important consumer legislation. Through a series of press conferences and media events, every Connecticut television station broadcast numerous stories; daily news papers carried many features; and, elected officials at all levels of state government offered support.

The issue: currently, some auto insurance companies attempt to coerce consumers into repairing their vehicles at the auto body shop the insurance company prefers. These 'preferred' shops may cut corners on the repairs to meet insurance company budgetary dictates, sometimes leaving the cars unsafe to drive. To draw attention to legislation to halt such 'steering,' one media event included a 'Honk Fest.'

Richard Blumenthal More than 75 tow trucks and similar vehicles circled the state Capitol, blasting air horns and waiving signs, drawing the attention of legislators and the news media. Stories were aired on all Connecticut televisions stations.

To further draw the attention of 'opinion leaders' we successfully placed articles authored by directors of the Association on op-ed pages of the of the Hartford Courant, The Day (New London), and the Waterbury Republican-American.

NEON

Michael J. London & Associates created a comprehensive communications program for Neon, the long distance fiber optic telecommunications company. We served the company from start up until just prior to its $260 million acquisition by RCN Metro.

Our work included production of annual reports, marketing brochures, and media relations. We also created and placed advertisments in publications such as Telephony, America's Network, and tele.com. News placements were in such publications as The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, and Reuters. The company image was further reinforced by the design of a new logo and website.


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