Business

Walmart PR Firm Employee Gone After Posing as a Reporter and Infiltrating Labor Press Conference

LOS ANGELES (The Blaze/AP) — An associate at a lobbying firm tapped to bring a Walmart store to downtown Los Angeles has left the firm after she posed as a reporter at a news conference held by a labor group that opposed the big-box store.

Employee Stephanie Harnett Gone After Posing as Journalist at Labor Press Conference

A purported photo of the employee, Stephanie Harnett. (via Warehouse Workers United)

City Ethics Commission records show Stephanie Harnett worked for Mercury Public Affairs, which received $60,000 from Walmart to lobby for a Wal-Mart store to be built in Chinatown, the Los Angeles Times said in its Friday edition.

The project provoked opposition from labor groups, which complain about unfair conditions at the retailer.

Last week, one of those groups, Warehouse Workers United, held a news conference and Harnett signed a media sheet saying she was a student at the University of Southern California named “Zoe Mitchell.”

Employee Stephanie Harnett Gone After Posing as Journalist at Labor Press Conference

The picture on the Warehouse Workers United site showing the sign in sheet and the business card.

Union Spokeswoman Elizabeth Brennan said Harnett interviewed a warehouse worker using an audio recorder for 20 minutes without saying she was working for Wal-Mart.

“She told him she was a journalism student at USC and that she was a storyteller from the heart,” Brennan said.

Brennan said she saw Harnett again at another news conference, and an activist pointed out that she was actually a lobbyist.

Mercury released a statement saying Harnett’s actions were “in no way approved, authorized, or directed by Wal-Mart or Mercury.”

“Stephanie is a junior member of our team who made an immature decision,” Becky Warren, managing director for Mercury, said in the statement. “She showed very poor judgment, and Mercury takes full responsibility. We are taking the necessary disciplinary actions. This is an isolated incident that has never happened before and will not happen again.”

Warren would not confirm to the Times whether Harnett was fired or resigned, saying only she is “no longer with our firm.”

Employee Stephanie Harnett Gone After Posing as Journalist at Labor Press Conference

A cartoon from the Warehouse Workers United group's Facebook page.

Wal-Mart spokesman Steven Restivo said what Harnett did was “unacceptable, misleading and wrong.”

“Our culture of integrity is a constant at Wal-Mart, and by not properly identifying herself, this individual’s behavior was contrary to our values and the way we do business,” Restivo told the Times.

Harnett did not respond to an email seeking comment from the Times, and a phone message left by The Associated Press at a listing in her name was not immediately returned.

But this might not be the first time a firm associated with Walmart may have done such a thing. The website Gawker, which first broke the story to a national audience, received an email from a former PR firm employee that claims to have worked with Walmart in 2005. She alleges that she was told to do something similar:

My firm had me pose as a grad student studying the effect of big-box stores on rural identity, attend two anti-WalMart, open-to-the-public community meetings, take notes, and call the company immediately afterward with a summary. Other employees at my firm did similar work to the same end. I do want to be clear: my instructions to pretend to be someone else came to me from my firm, NOT from the Wal-Mart rep. It’s my understanding that the company does this kind of sketchy legwork in every single town with any kind of anti Wal-Mart sentiment, gathering, etc., and there must be dozens of flacks who have done variations of this.

I seriously doubt some flack thought to infiltrate Wal-Mart and pose as a journalist on her own when I received such a close variation on these instructions from my own then-bosses seven or eight years ago.

The meetings, she says, were about issuing permits to a Walmart in Ohio and were apparently open to the public.

“What strikes me is that with how totally innocuous and publicly accesible [sic] the meetings I attended were,” she told Gawker, “they still felt they should send someone to ‘spy.’”

“They didn’t offer a lot of interpretation-type info to me as a 26-year-old, just an Arkansas number to call when I was finished with the meetings. I read them my notes and everyone said thanks and hung up.”

—

Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com

Comments (59)

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  • Truthnotpolitics
    Posted on June 17, 2012 at 7:57am

    The hypocrisy runs deep with Unions. Ive seen first hand the handy work of these sons of bi****. It’s not pretty.

    Report Post »  
  • Ron Staiger
    Posted on June 17, 2012 at 6:52am

    So what? What was so secret that a journalist could know but a lobbiest can’t? Unions in this country have decimated industry after industry, all the while redirecting union dues from worker welfare functions to radical leftist political slush funds and we are supposed to be sympathetic to their cause? Buying union-made goods in this country supports the Communist Party, the Socialist Party and radical progressive democrats- I shop Walmart!

    Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on June 17, 2012 at 8:29am

      It’s because only union thugs can infiltrate, other people aren’t supposed to infiltrate them.

      Report Post »  
    • pattik
      Posted on June 17, 2012 at 12:25pm

      Right on!!

      Report Post » pattik  
  • GenOptimus
    Posted on June 17, 2012 at 2:49am

    She‘s got more courage and brains then our commander in chief but that doesn’t take much considering the turkey we got on the job.

    Report Post »  
    • antiprogressive
      Posted on June 17, 2012 at 4:19am

      To Jonathin Seidl – the author,

      Your storyline had me thinking she was kidnapped, murdered and her body missing.

      Great job misleading the readers and sensationalizing an otherwise boring story.

      You should write scripts for reality TV!!!
      Or get a job with The Enquirer.

      Report Post »  
  • mtnvortex
    Posted on June 17, 2012 at 2:43am

    You’ve got to admit, that was pretty crafty.

    Report Post »  
  • groundzero
    Posted on June 17, 2012 at 12:38am

    My question on this story is Would the person be in danger if she went as a Wal-mart representative to find out their complaints or unions points?? Would she have gotten the TRUE viewpoint if they knew who she was. Would she been allowed to be at the meeting?

    Report Post » groundzero  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 17, 2012 at 1:19am

      My Question is: Why… in a Free Republic… should there be any SECRET Meetings! To me… SECRECTS implies, from which I infer: EVIL!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • Cavallo
      Posted on June 18, 2012 at 2:30pm

      All non-Union members are in danger of Union members. Especially if you oppose their agenda. They’ll come after you, your property, and your family. They are Bolshevik thugs. So yes, it is wise to conceal who you are among them, lest you end up in the hospital or dead. They have no problems attacking young girls either, especially if the girl has a camera.

      Report Post » Cavallo  
  • lukerw
    Posted on June 16, 2012 at 11:21pm

    There is nothing in the Word SPEECH… that implies SECRET, RESTRICTED, or OWNED!

    Report Post » lukerw  
    • Jaycen
      Posted on June 16, 2012 at 11:55pm

      Yeah, I don’t understand what the problem was. The union members pose as Americans. Why can’t this girl pose as a journalist?

      Hell, we’ve got Communist Activists posing as journalists every night on the television. What in the world is wrong with what this young lady did?

      Report Post » Jaycen  
    • Pigpen
      Posted on June 17, 2012 at 1:41am

      Awesome post, JAYCEN, awesome post.

      Report Post » Pigpen  
  • blackyb
    Posted on June 16, 2012 at 10:17pm

    Everyone wants to mind everyone elses’ business any more, it seems. Everyone just needs to back off and put the pressure where it needs to be and that is on Obama and cohorts.

    Report Post » blackyb  
    • marhee9
      Posted on June 16, 2012 at 11:20pm

      So let me get this straight. Walmart uses the same tactic that the unions have been using for years and somehow this is a major new story? Someone explain that to me. The time for games is all over. This is for keeps now. If the war against capitalism ever suceeds……we all lose!
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KYopiOWbjs

      Report Post »  
  • blackyb
    Posted on June 16, 2012 at 10:14pm

    I don’t like that. If it was somethink else where people were plotting and planning some bad thing, I could run with it, but just Wal Mart Workers, etc, I have to go with not doing it unless there was something going on to endanger America or something. Everyone is not into ruining this country, just those who are running the WH and those they put in government positions, and those who are unknowingly being used as tools of their WH agenda.

    Report Post » blackyb  
  • RightPolitically
    Posted on June 16, 2012 at 10:01pm

    It did more bad than good. She shouldn’t have done it.

    Report Post » RightPolitically  
  • TheBurningTruth
    Posted on June 16, 2012 at 10:01pm

    If only she had “high cheekbones” and a family story about being American Indian. Then everything would have been OK and she’d be welcomed with open arms regardless of all else.

    Report Post » TheBurningTruth  
  • tootsie roll
    Posted on June 16, 2012 at 10:00pm

    Why this girl is an ABSOLUTE CRIMINAL HA HA.
    NOTE THEY GIVE A PHOTO, NAME AND show the horrible clip board why she lied lied to find out what we (the unions are up to)
    She is a criminal meanwhile we destroy our gov. capitols, Wis. we picket people’s homes and scare their children. We destroy non-union workers on docks and stop delivery of good while we curse people out destroy their front loaders.
    BUT THIS GIRL IS A CROOK NOT US

    Report Post »  
  • tootsie roll
    Posted on June 16, 2012 at 9:56pm

    Notice just Notice if the unions or Obama or his Dems are caught in an act by undercover reporting the REPORTER IS THE CROOK. JUST LIKE: PLANNED PARENTHOOD TAPES, LIKE THE VOTING FRAUDS. IT’S NEVER them it is always the person ucovering the crimes they are doing

    Report Post »  
  • RollyBones
    Posted on June 16, 2012 at 9:52pm

    Ya..like Walmart has integrity! It isn‘t like they don’t spy on every business in the area they intend to build in and then undercut every Mom and Pop store till they go out of business! No they have integrity. and honest business practices! Right! Unions would not help either but Walmart is fair game in my estimation!

    Rolly

    Report Post » RollyBones  
    • Misty Williams
      Posted on June 17, 2012 at 12:08am

      I get so sick of hearing about how evil Wal-mart is. In our town, they are the second largest employer, right behind the university. 450 individuals, most of whom have families that they need to look after, work at the Wal-mart here. The five or six mom and pop shops that have closed in town since the Wal-mart went super center here could NEVER have employed those 450 people. For that matter, two of those went belly up because someone in management embezzled them out of business. Businesses close. It happens. You can’t always blame Wal-mart or some other big chain. The mines closed here in 68, thank you labor unions, and for almost 30 years, this place was so depressed it was pitiful. No, Wal-mart didn’t do it all, but employing as many as they did was a turning point for this area.450 people here for whom there were no jobs until there was a Wal-mart. Since then, because the town has become more of a shopping hub to outlying, more rural communities, we have seen two more big chain stores come in, and four new chain restaurants, three new fast food joints, and many, many new mom and pop type restaurants and designer clothing stores and specialty shops open up in the downtown. There has been a resurgence of entrepreneurship in this area, because there is more money flowing around, because people who couldn’t get work before, can get work now. Capitalism works.

      Report Post » Misty Williams  
    • Flag-Man
      Posted on June 17, 2012 at 1:35am

      I am just a little guy among the big guys.
      But I compete quite well against the big guys.
      It’s called high product quality and good service

      Report Post » Flag-Man  
  • Netsurfer2
    Posted on June 16, 2012 at 8:41pm

    Is there anything wrong with letting the truth be known? Or was it a cover up in showing the truth of what the actual workers truly think? Either way, the truth is big corporations would not promote you at all if you truly said what you wanted to say and not what they wanted to hear! In fact they would hold it against you instead of improving your working conditions!

    Report Post » Netsurfer2  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on June 16, 2012 at 8:39pm

    I say use whatever means necessary to destroy all unions they’re bad for business and the country.
    Hell union thugs get away with murder literally and they can’t be touched especially with the bisexual Marxist pig in the white house watching their backside.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • Melika
    Posted on June 16, 2012 at 8:19pm

    I don’t understand why this is a big deal. So what if she told someone she was a reporter? Are they trying to say that they will lie to PR reps, but tell the truth to a reporter (or vice versa)? If you are honestly trying to get some good information from people who will hate your occupation (such as a PR rep), then it would make sense to pretend to be something else so people are at ease. If I was running a PR firm, the only thing I would do is have a dedicated staff who do nothing but pretend they are journalists or bloggers.

    Report Post »  
    • Do Not Panic All is Well
      Posted on June 16, 2012 at 9:27pm

      So if a PR firm finds out what workers feel, that is wrong why? They pass that onto theirclientwho can then either address issues or not. Seemsmlikemmuch ado about nothing.

      Report Post »  
  • toomuchgovt
    Posted on June 16, 2012 at 8:15pm

    Oh please, it is not like the union doesn’t call, show up, participate and even join tea parties, to get informations. I hope Walmart got some good information. I also hope they send more in.

    Report Post » toomuchgovt  
  • randy
    Posted on June 16, 2012 at 8:07pm

    Hmmmm Spying by a lobbyist, but don’t unions want to do away with secret ballots?

    Report Post » randy  
  • macpappy
    Posted on June 16, 2012 at 8:04pm

    A company with more back bone will put this young woman on the team and be better for it. See how individualism is smacked down at every turn.

    Report Post » macpappy  
  • Snaker
    Posted on June 16, 2012 at 7:58pm

    OH! the horror! the lying! the deceit! the gross misrepresentation!
    And that‘s the UNIONS we’re talking about!
    Better get used to it boys…. Life’s gonna be a lot different, now that the jig is up
    and people don’t NEED unions anymore, or the big-shot-fat-cat-union bosses
    that come with them!
    You GO, Stephanie! Keep “rootin around” in the pig stye and pretty soon you’ll find…. well,
    you know the answer to THAT! WalMart can sell inexpensive goods because the
    UNIONS aren’t holding them hostage!

    Report Post »  
  • rickc34
    Posted on June 16, 2012 at 7:53pm

    Monkey see monkey do. She was just using the same tactics the left has put in play. I refuse to shop at wal-mart anyway since they went to the left and pro gay themselves.

    Report Post »  
  • chips1
    Posted on June 16, 2012 at 7:46pm

    Sounds like we need to ask Walmart to loan the Republicians an intelligent person. RINOs don’t understand.

    Report Post »  
  • JQCitizen
    Posted on June 16, 2012 at 7:42pm

    I am AGHAST that someone would use these tactics against such PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY as the Labor Unions!

    Shocked; Shocked I tell you!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • txjb
    Posted on June 16, 2012 at 7:36pm

    I don’t see the problem ! we’re in the information age now and everyone needs to know what the other is doing .

    Report Post »  
  • booger71
    Posted on June 16, 2012 at 7:32pm

    Big deal, what do the labor organizations have to hide, being so transparent and all

    Report Post » booger71  
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