Public Relations

Heal Thyself, Medical Journals Told

Submitted by Bob Burton on

In an essay for the Public Library of Science, the former editor of the British Medical Journal, Richard Smith, argues that while corporate advertising may be the most obvious source of revenue for medical journals, they are "the least corrupting." More significant, he writes, are the clinical trials the journal publishes which carry "the journal's stamp of approval (unlike the advertising)." While journals can more tightly screen what gets published, Smith thinks more fundamental steps are required to "stop journals from being beholden to

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Main Source: 
Public Library of Science, May 2005
Topics: 
Health
Public Relations

Political Conformity on Social Security

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

A worker who knows Social Security "could run out before they retire," a couple with children who like "the idea of leaving something behind to the family," and a single parent who wants "more retirement options and security" than Social Security offers - all younger than 29.

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Main Source: 
Los Angeles Times, May 20, 2005
Topics: 
Right Wing
Lobbying
Public Relations

Still in the Torturers' Lobby

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

The London office of U.S.-based PR giant Hill & Knowlton signed a $600,000 contract with the government of Uganda, "to improve Uganda's stained reputation as a human rights abuser and democracy laggard." Foreign Minister Sam Kuteesa confirmed the contract, which calls for Hill & Knowlton "to improve Uganda's image with donors and to help blunt damaging reports from human rights watchdogs that have been highly critical of the government." In Uganda, political activity is "restricted" and plann

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Main Source: 
Agence France-Presse, May 21, 2005
Topics: 
Human Rights
International
Public Relations

Edelman's Rescue Plan for the PR Industry

Over the last four months, Richard Edelman, the CEO, president and chair of the privately-owned PR firm Edelman, has been busy blogging away about how the public standing of the PR industry is in free-fall.

In a May 2nd post, he was incredulous that blogger David Weinberger - who has been a consultant to Edelman's firm - doesn't think that PR people have a role in the blogosphere, because they are, by their very nature, propagandists.

A few weeks back, Edelman blogged about spending a weekend smarting after CNN/US president Jon Klein referred to "sophisticated corporate PR departments, marketers and politicians" as "propagandists," during his speech to the National Association of Broadcasters.

While it might seem self-evident to most people that the PR industry is in the propaganda business, these incidents led an agitated Edelman to propose a five-point plan to rescue the PR industry’s tarnished credentials.

British PR Firms Go Nuclear

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

"In the year or so before the general election" in Britain, "the nuclear industry slowly but surely put together a classy public relations act," report Jonathan Leake and Dan Box. "Last October, British Energy appointed Craig Stevenson, formerly Monsanto's top UK lobbyist, as head of government affairs. ...

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Main Source: 
The New Statesman (sub. req'd.), May 23, 2005
Topics: 
Nuclear Power
International
Public Relations

American Diabetes Association Makes Sweet Deal with Cadbury Schweppes

Submitted by Laura Miller on

"If you are wondering why Americans are losing the wars on cancer, heart disease and diabetes, you might look at the funding sources of the major public health groups," Russell Mokhiber and Robert Weissman write. "Big corporations dump big money into these groups. And pretty soon, the groups start taking the line of the big corporations. Case in point: the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Earlier this month, the ADA cut a deal with candy and soda pop maker Cadbury Schweppes.

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Main Source: 
Corp-Focus, May 16, 2005
Topics: 
Health
Public Relations

Ecomagine That: GE Stalls on PCB Cleanup

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on

"The National Academy of Sciences would investigate the effectiveness of dredging PCB-contaminated sediment under a directive written largely by General Electric Co. and attached to a House of Representatives spending bill last week," reported the Poughkeepsie Journal.

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Main Source: 
Poughkeepsie Journal, May 17, 2005
Topics: 
Corporations
Environment
Public Relations

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