Third Party Technique

Anti-Taxation with Tobacco Representation

by Anne Landman — March 5, 2008 - 11:56am

R.J. Reynolds (RJR) may be funding a South Carolina anti-tax group to oppose a cigarette tax for health care. The Cover Carolina Collaborative, a group of health care organizations, is proposing that the state's tax be raised to $1.00 a pack, to help cover uninsured employees. South Carolina currently has the lowest cigarette tax in the nation, at seven cents a pack.

Main Source: 
The State (South Carolina), March 3, 2008

Philip Morris Snuffs Out Controversial Research Program

by Anne Landman — March 4, 2008 - 4:23pm

Philip Morris has quietly disbanded its controversial External Research Program (PMERP), through which it funded academic and scientific research at major universities. The funds doled out by the program were substantial: in the 2006-07 fiscal year, the University of California system alone received around $16 million through PMERP.

Main Source: 
The Daily Californian, March 3, 2008

Pfizer Pulls Deceptive Lipitor Ads

by Anne Landman — February 28, 2008 - 6:21pm

Drug maker Pfizer yielded to pressure from a Congressional committee and pulled deceptive Lipitor ads featuring Dr. Robert Jarvik. In one of the ads, created by the Kaplan Thaler Group, Dr.

Main Source: 
Advertising Age, February 25, 2008

The Invisible Hands Guiding Doctors' Continuing Education

by Bob Burton — February 26, 2008 - 10:18pm

Ray Moynihan reveals that while educational events have been advertised to Australian medical practitioners as being independent, behind the scenes sponsoring drug companies were being offered the chance to nominate speakers and topics relating to their drugs.

Main Source: 
Australian Broadcasting Corporation, February 24, 2008

Without Academic Partnerships, the Tobacco Industry Loses Power

by Anne Landman — February 18, 2008 - 4:52pm
  • Topics: Third Party Technique, Children, Corporations, Ethics, Health, International, Public Relations, Tobacco, U.S. Government

    • A February 9 Los Angeles Times article about University of California, Los Angeles professor Edythe London taking a $6 million grant from Philip Morris to study the brains of child smokers and monkeys addicted to nicotine once again raises questions about the appropriateness of university researchers accepting tobacco industry funding. Philip Morris denied that they have a stake in this particular project, but the denial had little credibility since the company no doubt will benefit from understanding more about youth smoking and nicotine addiction. After all, the future of their business depends on these two topics. Still, we wonder why any person curious enough to be engaged in scientific research isn't also curious enough to find out what's in it for Philip Morris before they accept the funds? These days, the answer is as close as your computer.

    When "Social Values" Means Smoking

    by Anne Landman — February 18, 2008 - 12:56pm

    When the dangers of smoking first became widely known, cigarette companies secretly hired biomedical scientists to create confusion.

    Main Source: 
    New Scientist (sub req'd), February 16, 2008

    CMD and Consumer Reports WebWatch Launch Full Frontal Scrutiny

    by Judith Siers-Poisson — January 29, 2008 - 1:42pm
  • Topics: Astroturf, Internet, Front Groups, Third Party Technique, Corporations, Democracy, Environment, Health, Pharmaceuticals, Public Relations, Science, Secrecy, Tobacco

    • "The American public deserves to know when someone is trying to persuade them." — U.S. Federal Communications Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, Thursday, January 17, 2008

    Front Groups Beware of Full Frontal Scrutiny

    Today, the Center for Media and Democracy and our partners at Consumer Reports WebWatch launched an exciting new project: Full Frontal Scrutiny. The site seeks to shine a light on front groups -- organizations that state a particular agenda, while hiding or obscuring their identity, membership or sponsorship, or all three. Google the term "front groups" and the number one return is CMD's extensive articles on its SourceWatch site.

    Drug Ads Raise Legislators' Blood Pressure

    by Diane Farsetta — January 11, 2008 - 3:51pm

    The U.S. Congress is investigating "the pharmaceutical industry's use of celebrity endorsements in direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisements." First up are ads for Pfizer's cholesterol drug Lipitor, which feature the inventor of the artificial heart, Dr. Robert Jarvik.

    Main Source: 
    PM (Pharmaceutical Marketing) Live, January 9, 2008

    Unlocking One Think Tank's Oily Secrets

    by Diane Farsetta — November 15, 2007 - 5:29pm

    Why would the John Locke Foundation, a "conservative North Carolina-based think tank" launch a "series of scathing attacks" against the Center for Climate Strategies (CCS), a Pennsylvania-based "nonprofit group of scientists, engineers, business strategists and policy experts who guide states in figuring out how to best reduce greenhouse gas pollution"?

    Main Source: 
    Facing South (Institute for Southern Studies blog), November 13, 2007
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