Health

Where's That Spoonful of Sugar?

by Diane Farsetta — July 5, 2005 - 5:21pm

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist called drug ads "fuel to America's skyrocketing drug costs" and asked companies to wait two years before advertising new drugs. Bristol-Myers Squibb set its own one-year moratorium on new drug ads.

Main Source: 
Wall Street Journal (sub. req'd.), July 5, 2005

The Invisible Hand of DuPont

by Bob Burton — July 4, 2005 - 12:06am

In March 2002, Andy Gallagher, then the spokesperson for West Virginia's Department of Environmental Protection, drafted a media release to inform residents in Wood County that the toxic chemical C8 was being emitted from DuPont's local plant. But the statement was never released.

Main Source: 
Charleston Gazette (sub. req'd.), July 03, 2005

Do Not Ask for Whom the Poll Trolls

by Diane Farsetta — June 27, 2005 - 4:29pm

This spring, a poll that found half of adult Americans have frequent sleeping problems was reported on "by virtually all of the country's major newspapers and television networks," as well as international media. "Lost in the somber warnings and survey results, however, was that the poll, the proclamations and the press kits that spread the information were paid for by sleeping pill manufacturers," reports the Sacramento Bee.

Main Source: 
Sacramento Bee, June 26, 2005

RJR Hoped Tomlinson and Readers Digest Could Rescue Its Dying Cigarette

by Bob Burton — June 26, 2005 - 2:20am
  • Topics: Health, Media, Public Relations

    • In January 1989 the R.J.Reynolds Tobacco Company (RJR) was desperately trying to salvage its 'smokeless' Premier cigarette from marketing oblivion. On behalf of RJR Matt Swetonic, then a Senior Vice President in Hill & Knowlton's New York office, set out to court Kenneth Tomlinson, the then Executive Editor of Readers Digest, in the hope of garnering favorable media coverage. (These days Tomlinson is the controversial Chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting).

    For RJR the attraction of pitching the Premier story to the Readers Digest was precisely because for decades it had relentlessly highlighted the deadly impact of smoking. Favorable media coverage of Premier could not only undermine tobacco control activists arguments against cigarettes but could help reverse the relentless march to market share dominance of Philip Morris's Marlboro brand.

    Spin Doctors

    by Diane Farsetta — June 23, 2005 - 4:53pm

    "Hoping to improve its image and boost sagging membership, the American Medical Association is launching a $60 million marketing campaign that includes heartstring-tugging ads that portray doctors as 'everyday heroes.'" The ads, which will be run nationally on television and radio and in magazines, "emphasize the nobility of the profession," explained an AMA marketing executive.

    Main Source: 
    Associated Press, June 16, 2005

    Brushing Up On PR

    by Bob Burton — June 20, 2005 - 5:06am

    Liu Xu, a staffer with Burson-Marsteller in China, told a reporter that in mid-April he only managed a few hours sleep a night while he helped Colgate reassure Chinese government agencies on the safety of using the suspected human carcinogen triclosan in toothpaste.

    Main Source: 
    ChinaDaily.com, June 20, 2005.

    Hustling Estrogen With Fake News

    by Bob Burton — June 14, 2005 - 5:24am

    The Australian Broadcasting Corporation's MediaWatch program has revealed that Estradot, an estrogen patch for women made by drug industry giant Novartis, has been promoted in Australia by a fake news package including a press release, a video news release (VNR) and an

    Main Source: 
    Australian Broadcasting Corporation, June 13, 2005.

    Merck Compiles Dossiers on Doctors

    by Diane Farsetta — June 13, 2005 - 1:04pm

    "I didn't realize how powerful the drug companies thought they were," said health policy professor Lisa Bero, regarding Merck's campaign to silence a prominent physician critical of their painkiller Vioxx. According to documents obtained by NPR, Merck first approached Stanford University's Dr. Gurkirpal Singh in 1998.

    Main Source: 
    National Public Radio, June 9, 2005

    Plain Talk About Drug Company PR

    by Diane Farsetta — June 13, 2005 - 12:05pm

    GlaxoSmithKline is undertaking yet another effort to improve its reputation - "an extensive state-by-state media blitz." Michael Pucci, GSK's vice-president of "external advocacy," told PR Week that local reporters were easier for the drug company to deal with. "These folks are hungry for news," he said. "They'll print everything we say ...

    Main Source: 
    PR Week (sub. req'd.), June 6, 2005

    Officials Opt for Cut-Price Penalty For Big Tobacco

    by Bob Burton — June 8, 2005 - 9:13pm

    Department of Justice lawyers prosecuting major tobacco companies on racketeering charges have sought only $10 billion for a five-year smoking cessation program. In earlier expert testimony the campaign had been costed at $130 billion over 25 years.

    Main Source: 
    Los Angeles Times, June 8, 2005.
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