Ketchum if You Can: The Real Story Behind Putin's New York Times Op-Ed is PR Gold

September 12, 2013 · 1:45 PM EDT

By Justin Elliott

Russian President Vladimir Putin looks on during his meeting with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow September 12, 2013.
Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

If you read Russian President Vladimir Putin's op-ed in the New York Times on Thursday you may not have realized that behind the opinion piece was not just Putin but the PR company Ketchum.

The firm has been representing the Russian government since 2006, and as the New York Times public editor reported, the firm approached the New York Times with the op-ed.

Anchor Marco Werman spoke with journalist Justin Elliott who has been investigating Ketchum for ProPublica.

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