The Washingon Post reported NY-based PR firm Cohn & Wolfe's campaign for Glaxo SmithKline to promote its drug Paxil as a treatment for social anxiety disorder has raised concerns. The campaign calls into question whether pharmaceutical companies, traditionally in the business of finding new drugs for existing disorders, are increasingly in the business of seeking new disorders for existing drugs.

AlterNet, a left-leaning internet news site, has recently begun publishing clever fake news stories such as this report on an alleged memo detailing plans by the World Trade Organization "to remake its image, trading in the persona of global tyrant for that of a 'hip,' 'with it' agent of change." Among the proposals: launching a WTO line of trendy, youth-targeted fashion accessories; arranging "product placements" on reality TV shows such as Survivor 3; and developing a logo that associates the "WTO brand" with a "friendly talking frog." We hope that in the future AlterNet will put a discla

A California coalition of economic development groups has formed to correct what it sees as misperceptions about the state's energy crisis and its effect on the state's economy. Calling itself the California Association of Local Economic Development (CALED), the group has hired New York public relations firm Development Counsellors International -- a specialist in economic development -- to manage the $150,000 international campaign.