Genetic Engineering

Welcome to the Spin Machine: BSMG Gets Busted

by Sheldon Rampton — April 5, 2001 - 12:00am

This article includes correspondence between editor Michael Manville and the PR firm of BSMG Worldwide, which tried to get Manville to publish "one or more bylined articles written by experts in the field" of biotechnology. After initial denials, the BSMG representative eventually admitted that its client was actually the industry-funded Council for Biotechnology Information.

Main Source: 
Freezerbox.com, April 5, 2001

GM Lobby Takes Root in Bush's Cabinet

by Sheldon Rampton — February 2, 2001 - 12:00am

When Bill Clinton was president, it was an open secret that his government favoured agricultural biotechnology and actively promoted it. But the strength of the genetically modified food lobby in George Bush's new cabinet, and its links with the GM global leader, Monsanto, are greater than anything that came before. The secretaries of defence, health and agriculture, the attorney general and the chairman of the House agriculture committee all have links with the firm or the wider industry.

Main Source: 
The Guardian, February 1, 2001

$100,000 vs $50-million -- Competing Biotech PR Campaigns

by Sheldon Rampton — April 2, 2000 - 12:00am

"This month, April 2000, biotech biggies Aventis CropScience, BASF, Dow Chemical, Dupont, Monsanto, Novartis, and Zeneca Ag Products, in conjunction with their trade association, launched at $50-million, multi-year, North American PR campaign to improve public understanding and acceptance of biotechnology, particularly genetically modified foods," notes PR pro and right-wing ideologue Ross Irvine (not to be confused with right-wing ideologue Reed Irvine).

Main Source: 
ePublic Relations, April 2000
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