Dodgers seek court permission to hire P.R. firm

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The Dodgers asked court permission Friday to retain the New York public relations firm Kekst as its ‘corporate communications advisor’ during the bankruptcy process.

The two primary spokespersons for the team charge $750 and $400 per hour, according to the filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

‘Much of the media reporting on off-field issues has been inaccurate or misleading, and LAD requires a seasoned communications firm such as Kekst to better ensure that media coverage of LAD is more evenhanded and accurate going forward,’ according to the filing, using the ‘LAD’ abbreviation for the Dodgers.

The filing does not include any examples of inaccurate or misleading coverage.

The Dodgers called it ‘necessary’ to hire a firm such as Kekst as the team navigates the bankruptcy process and ultimately emerges from it.

‘It is self evident that the financial success of the Dodgers depends heavily on the goodwill of its fan base,’ the filing read. ‘This is true not only for revenues that are derived from attendance at games, but also for ratings on its television and radio broadcasts and in the sale of its merchandise.

‘The ability to derive revenues from all of those sources is impacted heavily by media coverage of the team, as best evidenced by the decline in attendance, which many attribute to the negative publicity surrounding the team.’

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