Education

Canada's Groupthink Tanks on Afghanistan

by Diane Farsetta — February 27, 2008 - 11:27am

As the debate over Canada's military mission in Afghanistan continues, the country's "Department of National Defence is ... spending millions of dollars sponsoring think tanks and scholars to offer up agreeable commentary," writes University of Ottawa professor Amir Attaran. "Take the Conference of Defence Associations, a think tank that got $500,000 from DND last year. ...

Main Source: 
The Globe and Mail (Canada), February 21, 2008

Fake vs. Fakes

by Sheldon Rampton — February 21, 2008 - 8:48am

In a Youtube video, "Heidi Cee" lamented the loss of her Coach handbag, compared product counterfeiting to ter

Main Source: 
Ben Kessler's blog, February 19, 2008

Microsoft Tells Students: We Have Rights Too, You Know

by Diane Farsetta — February 14, 2008 - 11:17am

"Education is the key to stemming illegal downloads of music and other content," concluded a new study.

Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily (sub req'd), February 13, 2008

Why Don't We Talk About Smoking and Celebrity Deaths?

by Anne Landman — January 25, 2008 - 2:48pm
  • Topics: Arts / Culture, Education, Secrecy, Tobacco

    • Actress Suzanne Pleshette's recent death from "respiratory distress" was sad. Most of the articles about it briefly mention that she had been fighting lung cancer, but fail to mention that she had been a cigarette smoker in the past. Cigarette smoking is the single biggest cause of lung cancer.

    It is rarely discussed, but tobacco has taken an extraordinarily heavy toll on Hollywood. The list of beloved celebrities killed by smokers' diseases is huge, and growing: George Harrison, Johnny Carson, Dana Reeve, Yul Brynner, Lucille Ball, Walt Disney, Nat King Cole, Joe DiMaggio, Michael Landon, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, Betty Grable, and Babe Ruth to name just a few. Despite this, the failure to mention a person's smoking history in obituary columns is the norm in celebrity deaths. In just one glaring example, a four page obituary about the 2005 death of prominent news anchor Peter Jennings published by his own network, ABC, fails to mention the contribution that smoking made to Jennings' tragic and untimely death. A CNN's column about Jennings' death didn't mention it either. Something is up when major news organizations omit any mention the single most prominent cause of the death of a renowned news anchor.

    New Participatory Project: Classroom Propaganda of Yesteryear

    by Sheldon Rampton — January 1, 2008 - 12:45pm

    "Capitalism", a Coronet film, explained the American economy through the story of a corner grocer and kids buying supplies for a wienie roast.

    We've

    Main Source: 
    Sourcewatch

    Smithsonian: A Museum Acting Strangely

    by Diane Farsetta — November 19, 2007 - 3:32pm

    After two Smithsonian Institution board members questioned the appropriateness of accepting oil industry funding for its "Ocean Initiative," the American Petroleum Institute (API) withdrew its $5 million funding offer. "Circumstances within the Smithsonian have changed, to say the least," said an API spokesperson.

    Main Source: 
    Washington Post, November 17, 2007

    Water Exhibit and Oil Money May Not Mix

    by Diane Farsetta — November 5, 2007 - 5:20pm

    "The Smithsonian Institution has taken the rare step of putting on hold a $5 million donation from the American Petroleum Institute after two members of the museum complex's Board of Regents ...

    Main Source: 
    Washington Post, November 3, 2007

    University of California Praises Hill & Knowlton

    by Bob Burton — August 28, 2007 - 3:59pm

    The University of California (UC) has dismissed objections by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union to UC management's hiring of Hill & Knowlton to spin its labor record. UC's Executive Director of Systemwide Labor Relations, Howard J.

    Main Source: 
    University of California letter (PDF), August 20, 2007

    University Defends Using Hill & Knowlton

    by Bob Burton — August 9, 2007 - 5:06am

    The human rights group Friends of Maldives protests H&K

    A local branch of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) representing University of California (UC) employees is protesting against UC management's hiring Hill & Knowlton to spin its labor reco

    Main Source: 
    PR Week, August 7, 2007

    Hogging the Picture

    by Sheldon Rampton — May 31, 2007 - 6:49pm

    The Harley-Davidson motorcycle company has arranged a deal with the film school at the University of California-Santa Barbara that recruits students as cheap labor to make Harley ads in the form of "short sponsored videos for online media or for downloading to other digital media platforms such as cell phones, iPods, and PDAs." Under the terms of the "partnership," students submit proposals to Harley-Davidson, describing the type of video they plan to make. If approved, the company pays a stipend of up to $1,200 for each proposal, and a prize of $5,000 to the winner.

    Main Source: 
    UCSB website
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