Social Justice

Lawsuits, Light Cigarettes and Fear-Based Marketing Strategies

by Anne Landman — April 8, 2008 - 11:38am
  • Topics: Advertising, Corporate Campaigns, Corporate Social Responsibility, Education, Ethics, Health, Human Rights, International, Public Relations, Science, Social Justice, Tobacco

    • The Second Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals missed a great opportunity this week to hold the tobacco industry accountable for one of its worst marketing tactics -- positioning cigarette brands in response to smokers' medical concerns. The April 7, 2008, issue of the New York Times has an article about the dismissal of a huge, class-action lawsuit against the tobacco industry that was brought by smokers of "light" cigarettes who claimed they were misled about the relative safety of "light" cigarettes compared to regular, "full flavor" cigarettes. The suit, and its dismissal by the court, brought to mind a little-recognized tobacco industry marketing survival tactic that weighs heavily on the public's perception of exactly what "light" means.

    The tobacco industry has long had a remarkable ability to rescue itself from damaging health claims by turning allegations against its products into marketing opportunities. Inside the industry, the fact that cigarettes cause widespread illness and death is referred to as the "smoking and health" issue, or "S&H issue" for short. Tobacco marketers consider "S&H issues" to be little more than "external marketing forces" that require re-positioning of products, through changes in advertising copy strategy, so that smokers will get an illusion of safety from the dangers they perceive.

    When "Civil Rights" Means Ending Affirmative Action

    by Anne Landman — April 2, 2008 - 11:07am

    People in Colorado who signed an anti-affirmative action ballot initiative petition are charging that petition circulators deceived them about the measure's real purpose and intent.

    Main Source: 
    New York Times, April 1, 2008

    Introducing the coalSwarm

    by Judith Siers-Poisson — March 21, 2008 - 4:19pm
  • Topics: Activism, Front Groups, Global Warming, Corporations, Democracy, Environment, Lobbying, Politics, Public Relations, Science, Social Justice, U.S. Government

    • In the spring of 2007, when author Ted Nace set out to profile the emerging No New Coal Plants movement for Orion magazine, he had no idea that the assignment would turn into more than just a single article.

    Taking a Stand for Their Communities' Health

    by Judith Siers-Poisson — February 20, 2008 - 2:32pm

    Low-income California communities concerned with environmental justice have launched a 21-point "Environmental Justice Movement Declaration." Their position is a challenge to the policies of Gov.

    Main Source: 
    Los Angeles Times, February 20, 2008

    Seeking Protection for Whistleblowers That's Worth Its Salt

    by Judith Siers-Poisson — January 30, 2008 - 2:01pm

    The case of Pierre Meneton is fueling demands for legal protections for whistleblowers in France. Meneton is a researcher for the National Institute of Health and the National Institute of Health and Medical Research. He is going to court on January 31, 2008, to face charges of defamation. Several industrial salt producers are suing Meneton for a comment he made during an interview in March 2006. "The lobbying of salt producers and agribusiness is very active.

    Main Source: 
    Le Monde (France), January 29, 2008

    They'd Like to Teach the World to Smoke

    by Anne Landman — January 29, 2008 - 3:07pm

    With marketing constraints increasing and cigarette usage declining in the developed world, Philip Morris (PM) is increasingly targeting smokers in other countries. PM now makes sweet-smelling cigarettes with cloves and other flavors that have twice the tar and nicotine as conventional products, created to appeal to smokers in developing countries.

    Main Source: 
    Wall Street Journal (sub req'd), January 29, 2008

    PR Adviser Praises Maldives Prisons

    by Bob Burton — September 12, 2007 - 4:55am

    Nic Careem, a London-based "public affairs consultant", recently proclaimed his interest in helping raise the profile of the President of the Maldives, Abdul Gayoom, on the issue of global warming.

    Main Source: 
    Minivan News (news on the Maldives), September 11, 2007
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