Controversial Wall Street Journal Article Spurs Lively Debate: Executives from GE and Campbell Soup, Academics and CSR Thought Leaders to Discuss Merits of CSR

NEW YORK, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Fenton, the leading public interest communications firm, announces "State of CSR in Business Today", an online video webcast featuring a roster of CSR experts from academia, corporate, foundation and nonprofit professions scheduled on Friday, September 17th from 10:30 am -12 noon ET. The fully interactive session will directly examine and speak to the thoughts and opinions laid out in the recent Wall Street Journal OpEd, written by Dr. Karnani, entitled "The Case Against Social Responsibility".  The event is complimentary and individuals may register now at http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=72278

Speakers include:

Christine Arena – CSR blogger, author and CEO of "sparkUp"

Matthew Bishop – U.S. Business Editor and New York Bureau Chief, The Economist

Bob Corcoran - Vice President, Corporate Citizenship, President & Chairman, GE Foundation

Aron Cramer - President and CEO, BSR

Chrystia Freeland – Global Editor-at-Large, ThomsonReuters

Georg Kell – Executive Director, UN Global Compact

Dr. Aneel Karnani – Associate Professor of Strategy, Stephen M. Ross School of Business, University of Michigan

Susan McPherson, Senior Vice President, Fenton

Dave Stangis – Vice President, CSR and Sustainability, Campbell Soup Company

The webinar will provide a platform for the healthy debate on whether CSR should be a material, rather than a separate and indirect business unit. Audience members will be encouraged to participate and submit questions during the live session. An archive will be provided for 90 days following the event.

"At Fenton, we love a good debate and especially one focused on the authenticity of real corporate social responsibility," said David Fenton, Fenton CEO. "We're hosting this event because we believe that Dr. Karnani's recent post provided solid 'fodder' to encourage an open dialogue for the field."

"I am delighted to contribute to what should be a lively and insightful debate," commented Aron Cramer, BSR's President and CEO and a sponsor of the webinar. "As CSR is becoming more main stream, it's coming under the same scrutiny and accountability that other core business units experience. Fenton is providing an important forum for testing ideas, which is essential to sharpening the meaning and impact of sustainable business."

About Fenton

Fenton opened its doors in 1982 to create issue campaigns that serve the public interest. It has been part of some of the defining movements of the past quarter century, from ending apartheid to curbing global warming. With offices in New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., Fenton combines decades of expertise with creativity and innovation to accelerate progress on today's most pressing global and national issues. Visit www.fenton.com.

SOURCE Fenton