Tobacco, part 4: subpoenas and legal chill

As academic researchers examined the advertising activities of tobacco companies, the industry responded with accusations of scientific fraud, and ever more onerous demands for disclosure of researchers’ data and documents.

Pseudoscience and astroturfing: three leaked memos

Last week’s leaked memo from the American Petroleum Institute is the latest in a long line. A couple of these leaked memos reveal the motives and the methods of the oil and coal industries as they spread confusion about climate science.

Tobacco, part 3: “…smearing and belittling”

As the tobacco industry’s disinformation campaign ramps up, the PR agency ponders “smearing and belitting” the researchers who had established the smoking-cancer link.

Tobacco, part 2: “A Frank Statement”

It was 1953, the cancer-smoking link was now firmly established, and the tobacco industry faced ruin. It was time for the disinformation campaign to get serious.

Tobacco, part 1: “What cigarette do you smoke, Doctor?”

Post-war cigarette advertising:  lung cancer emerges as an existential threat to the tobacco industry, and pseudoscience becomes a valuable part of the public relations toolkit.

“Great global warming swindle” – Ofcom’s ruling

Ofcom has ruled on Martin Durkin’s “The Great Global Warming Swindle”. It’s argument about impartiality is rather amusing.

The Heartland Institute’s “500 scientist” list

The Heartland Institute’s Dennis Avery has produced a list of “500 Scientists Whose Research Contradicts Man-Made Global Warming Scares”. It turns out that many of those scientists don’t agree with him. DeSmogBlog is tracking the story.

PR versus science: the Luntz memo

From tobacco to global warming, the PR industry has a job to do.

“Doubt is our product”: PR versus science

How can a public relations campaign win against clear scientific evidence? The tobacco companies found the way to do it.