Submitted by Laura Miller on
"Soda industry touts school ban to quiet obesity critics," reads the PR Week headline on a story outlining the soft-drink industry's latest defensive move in response to national concerns about childhood obesity.
The American Beverage Association scored PR points recently when they unveiled a new voluntary "school vending policy." The trade association for soft drink manufacturers says it is encouraging beverage producers and school districts to provide "lower-calorie and/or nutritious beverages" to schools and limit the availability of soft drinks in schools. ABA's announcement snagged positive news stories across the country, but public health advocates questioned the group's commitment to preventing childhood obesity.
Submitted by Diane Farsetta on
"The first salvo in a broader public-relations counterattack by beverage companies to help the industry reverse its tarnished image" is voluntary restrictions on drink sales in schools. The guidelines, which will be touted "in full-page ads in several national newspapers," suggest that new school contracts remove carbonated soft drinks from elementary schools and remove sugary drinks from middle schools during school hours. All beverages will continue to be sold in high schools.
Submitted by Diane Farsetta on
Following the release of the industry group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America's (PhRMA's) suggested drug advertising guidelines, Pfizer pledged not to "directly promote any new product" for six months and "to target only adult audiences" with Viagra TV ads.
Submitted by Bob Burton on
Mediaweek reports that new voluntary guidelines issued by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) on Direct-to-consumer advertising "contain few requirements that will add to marketers' ethical and legal burdens in creating drug ads." The guidelines, it reports "do little to go beyond a press release PhRMA issued on July 21, which merely 'enco
Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on
Consumer groups are blasting the pharmaceutical industry's new plan to self-police its drug ads. At Commercial Alert, Gary Ruskin says the new "guiding principles" released by Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America is "are utterly lacking in principle.
Submitted by Bob Burton on
Writing in the UK newspaper the Daily Telegraph, Neil Collins takes British American Tobacco to task for its latest corporate social responsibility report.
Submitted by Laura Miller on
Drug companies have new top salesmen: doctors. According to the Wall Street Journal, hiring a doctor to speak about drug therapies to other doctors has proven to be a "highly effective" way for the pharmaceutical industry to market its drugs. "An internal study done by Merck & Co. several years ago calculated the 'return on investment' from doctor-led discussion groups was almost double the return on meetings led by the company's own sales force," the Journal reports.
Submitted by Diane Farsetta on
"Coca-Cola will work with Weber Shandwick this fall to promote its new, seemingly selfless, Live It children's fitness campaign in schools across the country." The PR firm will "focus on generating local publicity for schools that participate in the week-long program." Kirsten Witt, Coke's "nutrition communication manager," said the $4 million Live It campaign would not address childhood obesity or encourage students to dri
Submitted by Diane Farsetta on
"Health reporters should not rely on prepackaged stories," writes Maria Dorfner, whose company NewsMD Communications produces health-related videos. "Physicians who migrate to television news may lack actual reporting or producing skills." According to Dorfner, this results in their "relying heavily on prepackaged content.
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