Reply #24: no, I was thinking more of "opposition research"

[Cocoa]

PR firms offer this kind service. Here's a recent article about a state agency here in IL that signed up for such a service.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0308170378aug17,0,955110.story?coll=chi-news-hed

A Chicago public relations firm proposed that Maryville Academy improve its image with a campaign that includes using third parties to question the motives of its critics.

Project Sunshine, a strategy crafted by Thom Serafin of Serafin & Associates, Inc., proposed that the state's largest private child welfare agency tap an outside agent to "conduct opposition research."

Political experts define opposition research as an effort "to dig up dirt on an opponent," said Herbert Simons, a Temple University professor with a specialty in political communications.

Child welfare experts interpreted the proposal to suggest that Maryville, which has been under fire for the last year, should investigate critics using negative information to discredit them.