I ON THE PR-IZE Don Imus has hired Freud Communications U.S. chie 36617

I ON THE PR-IZE Don Imus has hired Freud Communications U.S. chief Matthew Hiltzik, who’s been responsible for keeping Katie Couric, Alec Baldwin, and Harvey Weinstein away from negative headlines. (Hey, zero out of three ain’t bad.) So now you know who to call when you need someone to explain how “nelly bottom” and “coon” can be used appropriately.

UPDATE: A source with knowledge of the client relationship says Hiltzik’s involvement is “primarily” with Imus and wife Diedre’s non-profit operations, including The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology and the Imus Ranch, which will benefit from ticket sales of the Dec. 3 “Imus Kicks Off at WABC” event at Town Hall. Hiltzik has, to be sure, been fielding calls for Don himself, but supposedly that is not at the core of their arrangement.