Health

A Cancer on the Presidency

by Sheldon Rampton — October 31, 2007 - 6:55pm

The fact-checkers at the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania have taken the trouble to check out radio ads by Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, in which he falsely claims that only 44 percent of men with prostate cancer survive under England's "socialized medicine" system. In reality, they report, this statistic is merely "the result of bad math by a Giuliani campaign adviser, who admits to us that his figure isn't 'technically' a survival rate at all.

Main Source: 
FactCheck.org, October 30, 2007

Featured Participatory Project: How did Your Member of Congress Vote on SCHIP?

by Conor Kenny — October 30, 2007 - 5:57pm

SCHIP - The State Children's Health Insurance Program, which covers more than 6 million U.S. kids from families whose income is too high to qualify for Medicaid but who are considered too poor to afford health insurance, has been all over the news this summer and fall as Congress debated the renewal and expansion of the program.

Only the Convenient Facts, Ma'am

by Diane Farsetta — October 25, 2007 - 4:06pm

Congressional testimony that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Julie Gerberding gave "about the impact of climate change and health was significantly edited by the White House," reports AP. "A CDC official familiar with both versions said Gerberding's draft 'was eviscerated,' cut from 14 pages to four," by the White House Office of Management and Budget.

Main Source: 
Associated Press, October 24, 2007

Ambassadors Needed for McDonaldLand

by Diane Farsetta — October 25, 2007 - 3:46pm

McDonald's director of U.S. marketing admits, "Going by what we're hearing from consumers, awareness is a little bit low about quality." So the fast food giant will launch a "McDonald's Brand Advocate program" in early 2008, with help from the PR firm GolinHarris.

Main Source: 
PR Week, October 22, 2007

Taking Consumers to the Cleaners

by Bob Burton — October 24, 2007 - 3:47am

The Hygiene Council, a "think tank" created and funded by the cleaning products company Reckitt Benckiser, touts the need for "good hygiene practice" in the "home and community." Ruth Pollard reports that the council "is pushing products that contain the expensive -- and potentially damaging -- antibacterial additive,

Main Source: 
Sydney Morning Herald, October 22, 2007

Lights, Camera, PhRMA

by Sheldon Rampton — October 23, 2007 - 11:10pm

Buffeted by bad press from recalls of dangerous drugs and public bitterness over high drug prices, the drug industry has decided to cure its ailing image by sponsoring its own TV talk show, hosted by Billy Tauzin, the former GOP congressman who now heads the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).

Main Source: 
The Hill, October 23, 2007

Teflon Lies Stick to DuPont

by Diane Farsetta — October 22, 2007 - 9:55am

"On Jan. 11, 2005, DuPont publicists invited reporters to the company's Washington Works plant south of Parkersburg (W. Va.) for a major announcement," reports the Charleston Gazette. DuPont claimed that a new study proved "there are no known human health effects associated with exposure to PFOA," also known as C8, a chemical used in Teflon and other nonstick products. DuPont promoted the study "as having the seal of approval from ...

Main Source: 
The Charleston Gazette (West Virginia), October 14, 2007

Retail Research Is Hurting Science

by Diane Farsetta — October 18, 2007 - 3:21pm

"The biggest threat to science," writes Jennifer Washburn, is "the decline of government support ... and the growing dominance of private spending over American research." In 1965, the U.S. government funded more than 60 percent of research, while in 2006, 65 percent of research was privately funded.

Main Source: 
Discover magazine, October 11, 2007

Working to Make A Difference (In Their Favor): The Arts Dollars of Philip Morris

by Anne Landman — October 10, 2007 - 5:59pm
  • Topics: Third Party Technique, Health, Public Relations, Tobacco

    • Cigarette maker Altria/Philip Morris (PM) recently announced that it is moving its New York headquarters to Richmond, Virginia, and that it will end its corporate sponsorship of the arts in New York. Predictably, New York arts organizations are crying over the loss of cigarette dollars. These organizations sadly believe that their acceptance of PM dollars has been benign. In truth, these organizations have helped PM advance its credibility and legitimacy with policymakers, and have done tremendous harm to the country.

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