Health

ABA's School Vending Policy Fizzes On Obesity Prevention

by Laura Miller — August 24, 2005 - 12:27am
  • Topics: Obesity, Children, Health, Public Relations

    • The American Beverage Association scored PR points recently when they unveiled a new voluntary "school vending policy." The trade association for soft drink manufacturers says it is encouraging beverage producers and school districts to provide "lower-calorie and/or nutritious beverages" to schools and limit the availability of soft drinks in schools. ABA's announcement snagged positive news stories across the country, but public health advocates questioned the group's commitment to preventing childhood obesity.

    Voluntary Soda Jerks as PR

    by Diane Farsetta — August 17, 2005 - 10:51am

    "The first salvo in a broader public-relations counterattack by beverage companies to help the industry reverse its tarnished image" is voluntary restrictions on drink sales in schools. The guidelines, which will be touted "in full-page ads in several national newspapers," suggest that new school contracts remove carbonated soft drinks from elementary schools and remove sugary drinks from middle schools during school hours. All beverages will continue to be sold in high schools.

    Main Source: 
    Wall Street Journal (sub. req'd.), August 17, 2005

    Making Ads to Promote Drug Companies that Make Ads

    by Diane Farsetta — August 12, 2005 - 11:32am

    Following the release of the industry group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America's (PhRMA's) suggested drug advertising guidelines, Pfizer pledged not to "directly promote any new product" for six months and "to target only adult audiences" with Viagra TV ads.

    Main Source: 
    Associated Press, August 12, 2005

    Drug Industry Embraces Human Rights ... For Ads

    by Bob Burton — August 5, 2005 - 2:11am

    Mediaweek reports that new voluntary guidelines issued by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) on Direct-to-consumer advertising "contain few requirements that will add to marketers' ethical and legal burdens in creating drug ads." The guidelines, it reports "do little to go beyond a press release PhRMA issued on July 21, which merely 'encourage

    Main Source: 
    Mediaweek, August 02, 2005

    Drug Plan a Placebo

    by Sheldon Rampton — August 3, 2005 - 11:02am

    Consumer groups are blasting the pharmaceutical industry's new plan to self-police its drug ads. At Commercial Alert, Gary Ruskin says the new "guiding principles" released by Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America is "are utterly lacking in principle.

    Main Source: 
    Commercial Alert, August 2, 2005

    British American Tobacco's social reporting "gobbledegook"

    by Bob Burton — August 1, 2005 - 5:32am

    Writing in the UK newspaper the Daily Telegraph, Neil Collins takes British American Tobacco to task for its latest corporate social responsibility report.

    Main Source: 
    Daily Telegraph (UK), 28 July 2005

    Dr. Pitchman Sells More Drugs

    by Laura Miller — July 18, 2005 - 6:35pm

    Drug companies have new top salesmen: doctors. According to the Wall Street Journal, hiring a doctor to speak about drug therapies to other doctors has proven to be a "highly effective" way for the pharmaceutical industry to market its drugs. "An internal study done by Merck & Co. several years ago calculated the 'return on investment' from doctor-led discussion groups was almost double the return on meetings led by the company's own sales force," the Journal reports.

    Main Source: 
    Wall Street Journal (sub req'd), July 15, 2005

    Coke's Sweet Intentions

    by Diane Farsetta — July 14, 2005 - 5:37pm

    "Coca-Cola will work with Weber Shandwick this fall to promote its new, seemingly selfless, Live It children's fitness campaign in schools across the country." The PR firm will "focus on generating local publicity for schools that participate in the week-long program." Kirsten Witt, Coke's "nutrition communication manager," said the $4 million Live It campaign would not address childhood obesity or encourage students to drink Co

    Main Source: 
    PR Week (sub. req'd.), July 13, 2005

    Doctored Health News

    by Diane Farsetta — July 13, 2005 - 10:27am

    "Health reporters should not rely on prepackaged stories," writes Maria Dorfner, whose company NewsMD Communications produces health-related videos. "Physicians who migrate to television news may lack actual reporting or producing skills." According to Dorfner, this results in their "relying heavily on prepackaged content.

    Main Source: 
    Broadcasting & Cable (sub. req'd.), July 11, 2005

    Your Government on Drugs

    by Sheldon Rampton — July 10, 2005 - 5:29pm

    The Center for Public Integrity (CPI) has released the results of its year-long investigation into lobbying by the pharmaceutical industry, which found that the industry has spent more than $800 million since 1998 on lobbyists and political campaigns. In the past year alone, the industry hired nearly 1,300 lobbyists, including hundred of former public officials.

    Main Source: 
    Center for Public Integrity, July 7, 2005
    Syndicate content