Still in public relations training mode, Wal-Mart is providing low-cost publicity for a
documentary critical of it--as well as for a tie-in book that appears
next month.
The huge retailer's p.r. agency has sent out information critical of the documentary maker, Robert Greenwald, and the trailer for the film, according to the New York Times. As sometimes happens in these situations, there have been more stories about the attacking than about the subject of the attack.
The documentary, called Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price, opens in Los Angeles and New York next Friday, November 4, and goes into wider distribution on Sunday, November 13, which marks the beginning of a grassroots campaign called "Wal-Mart Week." As part of the "Week," Greenwald and others aim to have more than 3,000 screenings of the film. The documentary will be available on DVD on Tuesday, November 15.
Carrying the same title, the tie-in book by Greg Spotts (The Disinformation Co., distributed by Consortium, $9.95, 1932857249) appears November 13 and focuses on the nine-month creation of the documentary. In addition, the book intends to act as a primer on how to make political and activist documentaries.
Wal-Mart is intentionally promoting a different documentary, Why Wal-Mart Works, which Ron Galloway is rushing to finish so that it can be released on DVD on November 15.
Of course, Wal-Mart has been in the news again this week. After launching a charm offensive and a public pledge to provide medical insurance for more of its workers, a leaked memo indicated that the company was considering ways to pay and insure less.
The huge retailer's p.r. agency has sent out information critical of the documentary maker, Robert Greenwald, and the trailer for the film, according to the New York Times. As sometimes happens in these situations, there have been more stories about the attacking than about the subject of the attack.
The documentary, called Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price, opens in Los Angeles and New York next Friday, November 4, and goes into wider distribution on Sunday, November 13, which marks the beginning of a grassroots campaign called "Wal-Mart Week." As part of the "Week," Greenwald and others aim to have more than 3,000 screenings of the film. The documentary will be available on DVD on Tuesday, November 15.
Carrying the same title, the tie-in book by Greg Spotts (The Disinformation Co., distributed by Consortium, $9.95, 1932857249) appears November 13 and focuses on the nine-month creation of the documentary. In addition, the book intends to act as a primer on how to make political and activist documentaries.
Wal-Mart is intentionally promoting a different documentary, Why Wal-Mart Works, which Ron Galloway is rushing to finish so that it can be released on DVD on November 15.
Of course, Wal-Mart has been in the news again this week. After launching a charm offensive and a public pledge to provide medical insurance for more of its workers, a leaked memo indicated that the company was considering ways to pay and insure less.