Laura Ries, co-author of The Fall of Advertising and the Rise of PR, will address New Jersey Advertising Club members and guests April 16 in a luncheon gathering that has all the potential of high-dudgeon controversy. Set for 11:30 am at Mayfair Farms, the event is part of the Club’s Smartalk series led by Gary Denburg.(click for pdf)

Ms. Ries is president of Ries & Ries, an Atlanta-based marketing firm she co-founded with her father of Ries and Trout fame. Together they have worked for numerous major corporations, many of them Fortune 500 ilk. They’ve also authored three books, including the latest which was published in September.

As a team they demonstrate why advertising is lacking in credibility and why they consider public relations the most effective source to earn the believability required in building powerful brands in today’s marketplace. They claim that PR has the power to build strong brands like Starbucks, Coca Cola, Hertz and McDonald’s and that it’s advertising’s role to defend those brands.

As an example Ms. Ries cites the “Got Milk” campaign. Even though it earned the accolade “the year’s best advertising” and had high recognition, milk sales dropped; Ries claims the same is true for many other products.

PRSA co-sponsors
The program is being held jointly with the Public Relations Society of America, New Jersey chapter. Sponsors include New Jersey Broadcasters Association, RPI multi-media duplication, Viacom Outdoor, TAG Online Inc. and U1.NET. To become a sponsor and Click to register online or, contact Pat Hanley at 201.998.5133. Tickets are $40.00 in advance, $50.00 at the door. American Express, MasterCard and Visa are accepted.

Ms. Ries will be available following her talk to sign copies of her book.