360 advantage launched

Quinn Gillespie & Associates and public-relations firm Burson-Marsteller are jointly launching a new “public affairs advocacy advertising organization” called 360Advantage, according to a news release announcing the combination.

Russ Schriefer and Stuart Stevens, both of whom worked on the Bush-Cheney ’04 reelection campaign, will head the new firm.

Schriefer was the program director for the 2004 Republican National Convention. Stevens worked as a media consultant for the campaign. He also co-produced the first episode of HBO’s ill-fated “K Street” and wrote the premiere of the better-received CBS show “Northern Exposure.”

It isn’t such a stretch that Quinn Gillespie and Burson-Marsteller are joining forces. The two are owned by communications-services giant WPP.

Jim Snyder