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<DIV class=storyheadline><FONT size=6><STRONG>PR firm admits it's behind
Wal-Mart blogs</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=storysubhead>Sites that appeared to be grass-roots support for
retailer revealed to be backed by Edelman employees.</DIV>
<DIV class=storytimestamp>October 20 2006: 11:44 AM EDT</DIV>
<DIV class=storytext>
<P>NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- <FONT color=#0000ff>A public relations firm has
revealed that it is behind two blogs that previously appeared to be created by
independent supporters of Wal-Mart.</FONT></P>
<P>The blogs Working Families for Wal-mart and subsidiary site Paid Critics are
written by three employees of PR firm Edelman, for whom Wal-Mart is a paid
client, according to information posted on the sites Thursday.</P>
<P>Before Thursday, the authors of the blogs were not disclosed. But Web critics
had been skeptical of claims that the blogs were grass-roots efforts, and pushed
for greater transparency.</P>
<P>"In response to comments and emails, we've added author bylines to blog posts
here at forwalmart.com," said a recent post to the site.</P>
<P>Recent entries on Working Families for Wal-Mart are now attributed to
"Miranda," and a click reveals that this is Miranda Gill, an Edelman
employee.</P>
<P>Recent entries on Paid Critics, a site dedicated to drawing links between
Wal-mart critics and groups, such as unions, with vested interests are written
by Brian and Kate. These are Edelman employees Brian McNeill and Kate
Marshall.</P>
<P>Last week a blog called "Wal-Marting Across America," which appeared to be
created by a man and a woman traveling the country in an RV and staying in
Wal-Mart parking lots, also turned out to be underwritten by Working Families
for Wal-Mart.</P>
<P>Shares of <A href="http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=WMT"
target=_blank>Wal-Mart</A> (up $0.93 to $49.42, <A
href="http://money.cnn.com/quote/chart/chart.html?symb=WMT"
target=_blank>Charts</A>) rose 1.5 percent on the New York Stock Exchange
Friday.</P>
<P> </P>
<P> </P>
<P><A
href="http://money.cnn.com/2006/10/20/news/companies/walmart_blogs/index.htm?cnn=yes">http://money.cnn.com/2006/10/20/news/companies/walmart_blogs/index.htm?cnn=yes</A></P></DIV></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>