Public relations is as big a business as lobbying in Washington, so we thought this story would be of interest to our readers.

Edelman was the largest independent public relations firm in 2008, reporting $449.2 million in billings, according to O'Dwyer's Public Relations annual survey of independent public relations companies. The firm's fees were up 13.1 percent over the year earlier.

The survey (subscription required) shows that the top ten PR firms all posted an increase in billings during the year, despite the souring economy. Number two on the list is Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, with $119.7 million in billings, followed by APCO Worldwide with $112.4 million in billings. The well-known DC firm Qorvis Communications came in sixth on the survey, reporting $34.9 million in billings.

PR firms that belong to publicly-traded parent companies, like Weber Shandwick, Burson-Marsteller, Hill & Knowlton, Fleishman-Hillard and Ketchum, declined to participate in the survey.

                                                                                                                     --Bara Vaida