Corporations

Sheep's Clothing

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

A group calling itself Partnership for the West (PFTW) was formally unveiled in late October and aims to influence environmental legislation in Washington. "The group plans to work on 'restoring a common sense balance to economic growth and conservation in the West,'" notes Bill Berkowitz, adding that this "sounds nice, until you see who's behind it. Claiming to be a grassroots lobby group, PFTW actually represents a kinder, gentler and more politically savvy brand of anti-environmentalism. ...

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Main Source: 
TomPaine.com, November 3, 2003
Topics: 
Front Groups
Corporations
Environment

Chemical Industry PR to Counter Health Activists

Submitted by John Stauber on

Monique Harden and Nathalie Walker, two public interest lawyers, report that they attended "the recent conference of the American Chemistry Council (ACC), called 'Communicating in a Volatile World.' ACC is the trade association for the 180 largest manufacturers of chemicals in the U.S. Until recently, ACC was known as the Chemical Manufacturers Association. The ACC conference was a real eye-opener. It revealed the ACC's genuine fears about the accomplishments of environmental health activists.

No
Main Source: 
Rachel's Environment & Health News, October 30, 2003
Topics: 
Activism
Crisis Management
Corporations
Environment

Fox Gets the Memo

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

Charlie Reina, a former producer for Fox News, has posted a letter to the Poynter Institute's online journalism forum, explaining how the network deliberately slants the news. "Editorially, the FNC newsroom is under the constant control and vigilance of management," he writes. "The pressure ranges from subtle to direct. First of all, it's a news network run by one of the most high-profile political operatives of recent times. ... The roots of FNC's day-to-day on-air bias are actual and direct.

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Main Source: 
Poynter Online Forums, October 29, 2003
Topics: 
Right Wing
Corporations
Media

This is Your Brain on Public Relations

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

The Environmental Working Group has obtained and analyzed documents from a briefing book assembled by Frank Luntz, a top public opinion researcher for corporate lobbyists. The briefing book offers a PR playbook on how to frame the current wholesale rollback of environmental and public health protections while avoiding a stinging public backlash.

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Main Source: 
Alternet, October 28, 2003
Topics: 
Corporations
Environment
Rhetoric

Buying Your Way Into Airline "Radio News"

Submitted by John Stauber on

"The caller to Joanne Doroshow's office last month described
himself as working for Sky Radio Network, a company that
produces programming for Forbes Radio, one of the audio
channels available to passengers on American Airlines. As the executive director of the Center for Justice and
Democracy, a nonprofit organization that casts itself as a
champion of consumer rights, Ms. Doroshow was asked if she
would be interviewed for a talk show examining the issue of
tort reform. When Ms. Doroshow agreed, she said, the caller

No
Main Source: 
New York Times, October 27, 2003
Topics: 
Tort Reform
Democracy
Media

Breast Cancer Action Vs. Corporate "Pinkwashing"

Submitted by John Stauber on

"To draw attention to the troubling trend of corporate 'pinkwashing,' Breast Cancer Action, a national grassroots breast cancer advocacy organization, is running an ad in the national edition of the New York Times questioning some high-profile corporate marketing campaigns launched in connection with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 'We're not opposed to companies raising money for the cause,' said Barbara Brenner, Breast Cancer Action's executive director.

No
Main Source: 
BCA news release, October 24, 2003
Topics: 
Corporations
Health
Women

Scientist Resigns Over EPA's 'Wetlands Pollute' Study

Submitted by John Stauber on

"A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency biologist has resigned in protest of his agency's acceptance of a developer-financed study concluding that wetlands discharge more pollutants than they absorb, according to a statement released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). EPA's approval of the study gives developers credit for improving water quality by replacing natural wetlands with golf courses and other developments. ...

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Main Source: 
PEER News Release, October 22, 2003
Topics: 
Corporations
Environment
Ethics
Science
U.S. Government

Exxon Tries to Shed Its Skin

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

ExxonMobil, which has a reputation as the least socially responsible oil country in the world (no small feat), has been holding "a series of secret meetings with environmental and human rights groups worldwide in an effort to change its hard-nosed public image," reports Terry Macalister. But critics such as Cindy Baxter, a spokeswoman for the Stop Esso campaign, remain unconvinced. "This looks like PR.

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Main Source: 
Guardian (UK), October 13, 2003
Topics: 
Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporations

Who Owns the Airwaves?

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

Curious about who owns your local media, telephone and cable company? The Center for Public Integrity has created a searchable database that contains basic information on every radio and television station in America as well as every cable television system and telephone company. You can search by company, by call sign or by area. Searchers will find basic information on some of the most important telecommunication companies, including a brief corporate profile and basic financial information.

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Main Source: 
http://www.openairwaves.org/telecom/analysis/default.aspx
Topics: 
Corporations
Media

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